Perhaps one of the more humbling experiences as an adult is making friends and building a social circle that is supportive, genuine, and engaging. After the last few years of turtling (not a word, but I’m making it one anyways) with personal projects, adjusting to remote work, and establishing a new home…I came up for air to realize that my social circle, well, dwindled a bit.

This wasn’t on purpose, and yet, it was a great opportunity to ‘do less, better’.

Approach

It wasn’t an out with the old and in with the new kind of approach. It was simply keeping a few questions in mind.

• Who am I most myself around?

• Who do I feel the best around?

• Who inspires, uplifts, and supports?

• Who challenges me to reach for higher goals?

• Who brings about new ideas, re-thinking, and creativity?

• Who is able to sit with me during the hard times?

After mulling over your own key questions, you can take that list and figure out how to nurture those relationships. Not all friendships are the same, and nor do they have to be. There are texting and meme buddies, phone calls and virtual coffees friends, neighbourly and community support circles, etc. While other friends you meet up with once a year with for a crazy road trip adventure.

Another one of my closest friends and I meet up whenever her kids have a hockey game near my end of town. It works for us both, for now, and that’s all that matters.

There could be a lot to dive into with social bonding, but I thought I’d share quick thoughts and leave you time to check out the resources below from experts instead.

Dr Andrew Huberman breaks down the science behind social bonding with episode 51 on the Huberman Lab Podcast: ‘Science of Social Bonding in Family, Friendship & Romantic Love’

Take a read of this recent article in the Washington Post; ‘Want to be healthier? Hang out with your friends. For better health, tending to your friendships is as important as getting to bed early or eating well’.