spending quality time with friends essay

SIGN UP FOR EMAIL AND TEXT & SAVE 15%

• Cart ( 0 ) cart
• 2024-25 | Daily
• 2024-25 | Mini Daily
• 2024 | Daily SALE
• 2024 | Mini Daily SALE
• 2024-25 | Weekly
• 2024-25 | Mini Weekly
• A5 Planners
• Accessories
• Digital Wallpapers
• Productivity
• Living Organized

Why It’s Important to Spend More Time with Friends and Family

Productivity 10/22/2019

While alone time is important for creativity and inspiration, spending quality time with friends and family is just as important.

Research shows that spending time with friends and family makes a big difference when it comes to happiness. Social time is especially important for happiness, even for introverts. Studies have proven that the amount of time spent with friends and family goes a long way towards boosting happiness – even more so than an increased income!  

Spending time with family and friends can even help you cope with stress. As Harvard happiness expert, Daniel Gilbert explains : “We are happy when we have family, we are happy when we have friends and almost all the other things we think make us happy are actually just ways of getting more family and friends.” So while money can’t buy you happiness, spending time with the ones you love, is always a good investment!

Spend Time with Family

Spending time with family is one of the best ways to create memorable experiences. Nothing can replace the time you spend with your family. This is especially true if you have children. With younger children, there’s a good chance that you already spend a lot of time with them. With older children and teenagers who may prefer to spend time with their friends, it can be more difficult to carve out family time.

If you don’t know where to start, consider starting small: dinner at the table or a board game in the evening. If games aren’t your family’s idea of a good time, try outside activities – perhaps a walk to the park. Even projects around the house can be a great way to get everyone involved and working towards a goal. Encourage your family to spend time together by looking out for opportunities to do things that everyone would be interested in. It may be a challenge at first, but soon it will become second nature.

Spend Time with Friends

As we get older and life gets faster, the time we once had for our friends seems to diminish. You might not notice it at first, but soon your coffee dates are being replaced by school meetings. Your carefree mornings are busy and rushed, and the phone calls you used to make daily to chat with your best friend are slowly turning into every other week (or month!) catch-up calls. Fitting in time for friends is sadly one of the first things to go when life gets busy, and before you know it – you hardly know the person you used to call your best friend.

This fact is though, that while this is tragic, it’s also preventable! Spending time with friends is one of the few pleasures in life that can cost you very little, but reward you substantially. It is also proven to be one of the best ways to combat stress. Spending time with your friends can help melt away the cares of the world and leave you a better person all around.

Carve out time for your friends, by scheduling it in. One way to do this successfully is to find common goals you both might have and spend your time together working on reaching those goals – accomplishing two things at the same time and making it easier to find time to spend with friends. An example would be working out together, walking the pets together, trying new things together, or scheduling the kids’ play dates with each other. You could also look out for special occasions to spend time with each other. These events don’t have to be huge social events. It could be as simple as inviting friends over to watch the Super Bowl or having your spouse look after the kids so you can go out for coffee.

Additional Benefits of Spending Time With Friends and Family

Some health benefits of maintaining a healthy quality time with your friends and family include:  

Spending time with family and friends relieves stress: According to a study by Carnegie Mellon University, individuals who spend more time with family and friends tend to have better coping mechanisms when it comes to handling stress . They tend to use their social group as a stress buffer, allowing them to communicate their stress instead of seeking negative coping mechanisms like alcohol and tobacco. 

Helps your overall well-being: Social groups provide emotional support, which helps you feel better about yourself. In fact, people who view their friends and family as supportive tend to have a greater feeling of meaning in life and a stronger sense of purpose than those who did not.

It’s great for heart health: Stress can encourage the development of inflammation in the arteries, which is a precursor to clogged arteries. A study found that when individuals have the support of family and friends, they actually have a lower pulse and blood pressure which, in time, helps to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Now go call a friend or family member!

Spending more time with your friends and family is beneficial to your mental wellbeing, as well as your relationships. With friends and family, your good times are better, and your sorrows are shared – so don’t overlook this important area in life!

« Back to Blog

Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Mind & Body Articles & More

Why your friends are more important than you think, how can you sustain your friendships in life the first step is recognizing their importance, argues author lydia denworth..

Researchers and philosophers have explored in great detail the emotional dramas of love and family. But they’ve spent much less time pondering the deep satisfaction of a good friend.

A similar thing happens in our own lives, writes science journalist Lydia Denworth. When something’s gotta give, it’s often our friendships, which take a backseat to our family and work obligations—or our latest fling.

But that’s a mistake, she argues in her new book, Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life’s Fundamental Bond . In fact, research suggests that friendships can help us find purpose and meaning, stay healthy, and live longer. The intimacy, support, equality, and emotional bonds we have in our friendships are unique.

Her book honors the relationships forged through slumber parties, shoulders cried upon, and kindnesses that don’t need to be repaid. “The science of friendship gives you permission to hang out with your friends and call it healthy,” she says. “You’re not being indulgent.” In a conversation with Greater Good , Denworth explains why we need our friends and how to keep those connections strong—even in a pandemic.

Kira Newman: How does friendship change for people across their lifespan?  


Lydia Denworth:  When you’re very young, of course, your primary social relationship is with your parents or caregivers. But when kids go to school, they start to have deeper friendships that involve, first, doing things together, and then a deeper, shared emotional element. Then in adolescence, it becomes even more abstract and relational.

All the way through high school and college, friendships can feel easy because you are thrown into an environment where you have lots of same-age peers and the pool of potential friends is big. Also, when you’re an adolescent, your brain is as attuned to social signals and connection as it will ever be. You are really hyper-interested in social activity.


Then in adulthood, as people start to have jobs and maybe get married or have a family, it can become harder to spend time with your friends. Toward the end of life, we tend to come back around to having a little bit more time once kids are grown and careers and jobs are less demanding.


There are these transition points in life when it’s easier or harder to spend time with friends, but what is important for people to know is that friendship is a lifelong endeavor and that it is something that people should be paying attention to at all points in life. I think that people sometimes think (especially in their 30s and 40s), “I just don’t have time for friends right now,” and that’s a mistake.

If you get to be 65 and then now you’re ready to start paying attention to friends, well, it’s a little bit like stopping smoking when you’re 65. If you go from 15 to 65 and you smoke the whole time, it’s still better to stop than not, but some damage will have been done. And if you don’t pay attention to friends all the way along, the same thing is true. 

KN: You observe in your book that we tend to neglect our friendships when we get busy, more so than other relationships. Can you say more about that?

LD:  The reason we do that is that we feel more beholden to our family that we’re related to, and that makes plenty of sense—we’re legally and biologically connected to our family members. So, I’m not saying that we should be spending a lot less time with family. But we also feel that spending time with friends, instead of working, is indulgent.

My message is that it is not necessarily indulgent because having good, strong friendships is as important for yourself as diet and exercise, and so it’s something you need to prioritize. If you are forever canceling on your friends or failing to make a point of seeing them or talking to them or interacting with them, then you are not being a good friend and you are not maintaining a strong relationship. You need your friends to be there down the road. But you have to do the work along the way, or they won’t be there. Friendship does take some time, but that’s kind of good news because (mostly) hanging out with your friends is fun.

The second half of the story, though, is that it’s quite normal for there to be change in our friendships over the course of a lifetime, and that’s OK. Friendship does need to be a relationship that’s longstanding, but you can cycle through several longstanding friendships in the course of your life. So, it isn’t that you can only stay friends with the people you knew when you were young, of course, because plenty of people do make friends in adulthood and those can become closer friends.

If a relationship is not healthy or even if it’s just not serving you well—if it’s not positive, if it’s really draining, or if it’s lopsided and one of you is always helping the other but not vice versa—that’s not so great. I think people need to realize that it is OK to walk away from friendships that aren’t good ones.  
 KN: That seems like the flipside of all the amazing benefits that we get when we have strong friendships: There’s a lot of potential for pain when we have difficult, conflict-ridden relationships. 


LD:  Just like a strong relationship is good for you, a negative relationship is bad for you. Even an ambivalent relationship is bad for you, it turns out, biologically. 

An ambivalent relationship is a relationship where you have positive feelings and negative feelings about the person or about your interactions with them. And that’s true of a lot of our relationships—almost half. 


Researchers had a scale of one to five: How positive does this relationship make you feel, and how negative does this relationship make you feel? Anybody who was two or above on both things counted as ambivalent, which is really broad. You could be five on the good and two on the bad. What was interesting was that any relationship that was categorized as ambivalent seemed to generate cardiovascular issues and other kinds of health problems. 


It’s not as surprising that a toxic relationship would be bad for your health. But I think that the problem with ambivalent relationships, which a lot of us have many of, is more surprising. I think most people suspect that the good outweighs the bad, and so far (it’s early days in that research) it doesn’t look that way. 

I think that all this is a reminder of the importance of working on relationships—all of them, but including your friendships. There’s real value in a positive friendship.

If it isn’t positive, then you can do a couple of things. One is you can try to make it better, work on it, have a hard conversation, perhaps. Two is you quit and you say, “I’m not going to have this person in my life,” but that can be very dramatic. And three would be that you shuffle that friend to the outer circles of your social life. Maybe it’s not someone you can easily stop seeing, but if you don’t rely on them emotionally anymore, then that’s better for you. 


KN: Are there some practices you would suggest or steps that you take in your own life to put more time and energy into friendship?  


LD:  It really does just begin as simply as paying attention and prioritizing. I try regularly to plan to get together with my close friends and the people I care about seeing a lot. We all have relatively busy lives, but I, first of all, make an effort to make the plan, and then I make an effort to get there—to show up. I think showing up is a really critical piece of friendship, in every sense of the phrase. 


It could just be that you don’t have time to get together with someone for dinner for weeks, so you have a phone call and you catch up that way. Taking time to catch up on somebody’s life and hear what’s going on with them is an important indicator of it’s worth my time to know what’s going on in your life .


In addition, I think it’s useful to remember that science has clarified the definition of a quality relationship. It has to have these minimum three things: It’s a stable, longstanding bond; it’s positive; and it’s cooperative—it’s helpful, reciprocal, I’m there for you, you’re there for me . 


When you’re interacting with your friends, you should be thinking about your side of it. Am I contributing to that? Have I been helpful lately? When was the last time I said something nice or told somebody why I appreciated them or did something nice for someone? Am I a reliable presence in that person’s life? You can think about the way you interact with your friends as needing to fall into those buckets, at a minimum. 

The same thing goes for the online, as well: being positive, being helpful, showing up from a distance, whether that’s just checking in by text or sending a funny joke or forwarding an article or calling—making time. People have been stressed and anxious lately, so we need to be there and provide an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, even virtually. 


KN: Right now, people in many places haven’t seen their friends for months. What do we miss out on when we can’t be around our friends in person?  


LD:  There’s a richness to being with your friends in person, and it hits all your senses. So, we’re not getting any of the tactile sense of being with our friends, and there’s a difference when you see them on a screen vs. when you see them in person, although we don’t entirely know in neuroscientific terms what those differences are yet. 


One of the things our brains do automatically when we’re having a conversation with someone in person is this natural sense of “call and response,” that I’m talking, and then you respond, and then you talk and I respond. We are reading each other’s cues in a way that makes it easier to do that.

When you’re online, sometimes not only is there a little bit of an artificialness to the interaction but there’s literally a lag that’s built in from the technology, and that is quite off-putting for our brains. Our brains recognize that as a different kind of interaction, and they don’t like it very much. I think that’s one reason why some people are being driven crazy by Zoom. And if you have a group on Zoom, it’s very hard figuring out who’s going to speak next. There’s a way that we handle that with nonverbal cues in person that is harder to pull off virtually. 


When you’re in person, you can have a much more natural conversation. There’s an ease and a warmth and a naturalness that we get when we’re with our friends, and I think we really are missing the ability to hug them and high five—that’s big stuff that matters a lot. So, it’s a loss. 

That said, people are reporting a lot of positive experiences, even remotely. We’re being forced to interact virtually, but we’re getting a lot of benefits out of it. It’s not the same, but it’s a whole lot better than nothing. Limited though it is, technology has been a lifesaver in this moment. I can’t imagine what this would have been like if we didn’t have it. 


KN: What do you most hope people will take away from the book?  

LD:  That they will make friendship a priority, that they will call a friend and work harder on thinking about the importance of being a good friend, that parents will think about talking to kids about the importance of friendship and modeling being a good friend and prioritizing it. Parents are full of messages about achievement, and not as many messages about what it means to be a good friend, but I think it’s one of the most important skills that a child can develop. Through all our lives, the importance of friendship has been hiding in plain sight.

About the Author

Kira M. Newman

Kira M. Newman is the managing editor of Greater Good . Her work has been published in outlets including the Washington Post , Mindful magazine, Social Media Monthly , and Tech.co, and she is the co-editor of The Gratitude Project . Follow her on Twitter!

You May Also Enjoy

This article — and everything on this site — is funded by readers like you.

Become a subscribing member today. Help us continue to bring “the science of a meaningful life” to you and to millions around the globe.

Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Friendship — The Importance of Friendship: Ways to Nurture and Strengthen Relationships

The Importance of Friendship: Ways to Nurture and Strengthen Relationships

• Categories: Friendship

About this sample

Words: 873 |

Published: Feb 7, 2024

Words: 873 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Definition of friendship, discuss the importance of friendship in people's lives, mention different types of friends, characteristics of a good friend, benefits of friendship, challenges in maintaining a friendship, ways to nurture and strengthen friendships.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Sociology

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 1009 words

1 pages / 571 words

2 pages / 1035 words

1 pages / 1683 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Friendship

In John Steinbeck's classic novel, "Of Mice and Men," one of the most controversial and heartbreaking moments is when George makes the difficult decision to kill his friend Lennie. The question that arises is, why did George [...]

"A true friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you." - Elbert Hubbard Friendship is a fundamental aspect of human life. It provides comfort, support, and a sense of belonging, making life more fulfilling and [...]

Friendship is one of the most important aspects of life. It's a bond that can bring joy, comfort, and support to an individual. Friends are an integral part of our lives, and we all have different types of friends. In this [...]

Friendship is an essential aspect of human life, which is characterized by mutual affection, trust, and support. It is a bond that is formed between two or more individuals who share common interests, experiences, and goals. [...]

The significance of friendship in life Introduction to the best friend, Katy Initial impressions of Katy Formation of friendship Encouragement and positive outlook during poor test grades [...]

“True friends walk in when the rest of the world walks out” Walter Winchell . Best friends are those who show that they will there as proven in The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Throughout the book Chbosky [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Student Opinion

Do You Spend Enough Time With Other People?

By Shannon Doyne

• Oct. 30, 2017

Do you think you have a good balance of time spent with others and time spent alone in your life? Does more of the time you spend with your friends happen in person or via social media and texts?

What, if anything, would you change about your social life if you could?

In the Opinion essay “ Happiness Is Other People ,” Ruth Whippman writes:

But while placing more and more emphasis on seeking happiness within, Americans in general are spending less and less time actually connecting with other people. Nearly half of all meals eaten in this country are now eaten alone. Teenagers and young millennials are spending less time just “hanging out” with their friends than any generation in recent history, replacing real-world interaction with smartphones. And it’s not just young people. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Time Use Survey shows that the average American now spends less than four minutes a day “hosting and attending social events,” a category that covers all types of parties and other organized social occasions. That’s 24 hours a year, barely enough to cover Thanksgiving dinner, and your own child’s birthday party. ... Study after study shows that good social relationships are the strongest, most consistent predictor there is of a happy life, even going so far as to call them a “necessary condition for happiness,” meaning that humans can’t actually be happy without them. This is a finding that cuts across race, age, gender, income and social class so overwhelmingly that it dwarfs any other factor. And according to research, if we want to be happy, we should really be aiming to spend less time alone. Despite claiming to crave solitude when asked in the abstract, when sampled in the moment, people across the board consistently report themselves as happier when they are around other people than when they are on their own. Surprisingly this effect is not just true for people who consider themselves extroverts but equally strong for introverts as well.

Students: Read the entire essay, then tell us:

— How do you feel about the amount of time spent—and the quality of that time—with other people? Is it enough? Would you prefer to have more or less time socializing? Why?

— Have you ever heard “happiness lies within”? What does that mean to you? Do you agree?

— The essay addresses the conflicting impulses to seek solitude and spend time with others. Have you ever felt torn between wanting to be alone and seeking the company of others? What conclusions have you drawn about which may work better for you?

— The essay also states that today’s teenagers are ”replacing real-world interaction with smartphones.” Do you feel that this is true? For comparison, ask people who are older than you about their habits of socializing when they were in their teens. What did you learn?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Spending time with friends

Sometimes when we are feeling low or anxious it can be really easy to slowly stop getting out and seeing our friends as much as we used to. For some people, it can be really helpful to try and break that habit by purposefully spending more time with friends and people you get along with.

‘Ringing for a chat helps you get away from how you’re feeling’. 

 There are lots of things you can do with your friends including:

Have regular film nights or start a book club.

Go for long walks or exercise together.

Host a games night or play games together online.

Make dinner together - each bringing a dish!

Volunteer or attend a class or course together.

Making new friends can sometimes be difficult especially if you've recently moved or started studying somewhere new.  A great, free site to help you find new friends with similar interests in your area is  Meetup .

In this video, Dr. Roslyn Law gives some advice about how being around supportive friends and family or other trusted individuals can help you if you're feeling low or anxious or struggling with poor mental health:

What young people have told us:

'Being with people who make you feel confident and good about yourself can really boost your mental health. Having a laugh really helps me to feel happier.'

'You might not feel like being around people, but sometimes not thinking about how you're feeling and them taking your mind off things can be really helpful.'

There isn’t much academic research in the area of self-care for young people who are living with mental health issues. We are trying to find out more about what works for different people so we can better advise other young people what to try.

If you’ve tried this activity when you were struggling in relation to your mental health, please let us know if it helped you and how by clicking on the ‘Did this activity help you’ button.

Try something similar

Try something different

Why Spending Time With Friends Is One of the Best Things You Can Do for Your Health

W hen someone sets out to improve their health, they usually take a familiar path: starting a healthy diet, adopting a new workout regimen, getting better sleep, drinking more water. Each of these behaviors is important, of course, but they all focus on physical health—and a growing body of research suggests that social health is just as, if not more, important to overall well-being.

One 2019 study published in the journal PLOS ONE , for example, found that the strength of a person’s social circle—as measured by inbound and outbound cell phone activity—was a better predictor of self-reported stress, happiness and well-being levels than fitness tracker data on physical activity, heart rate and sleep. That finding suggests that the “quantified self” portrayed by endless amounts of health data doesn’t tell the whole story, says study co-author Nitesh Chawla, a professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Notre Dame.

“There’s also a qualified self, which is who I am, what are my activities, my social network, and all of these aspects that are not reflected in any of these measurements,” Chawla says. “My lifestyle, my enjoyment, my social network—all of those are strong determinants of my well-being.”

Chawla’s theory is supported by plenty of prior research. Studies have shown that social support—whether it comes from friends , family members or a spouse —is strongly associated with better mental and physical health. A robust social life, these studies suggest, can lower stress levels; improve mood; encourage positive health behaviors and discourage damaging ones; boost cardiovascular health; improve illness recovery rates; and aid virtually everything in between. Research has even shown that a social component can boost the effects of already-healthy behaviors such as exercise .

Social isolation, meanwhile, is linked to higher rates of chronic diseases and mental health conditions, and may even catalyze cellular-level changes that promote chronic inflammation and suppress immunity. The detrimental health effects of loneliness have been likened to smoking 15 cigarettes a day . It’s a significant problem, especially since loneliness is emerging as a public health epidemic in the U.S. According to recent surveys, almost half of Americans , including large numbers of the country’s youngest and oldest adults, are lonely.

A 2019 study conducted by health insurer Cigna and published in the American Journal of Health Promotion set out to determine what’s driving those high rates of loneliness. Unsurprisingly, it found that social media , when used so much that it infringes on face-to-face quality time, was tied to greater loneliness, while having meaningful in-person interactions, reporting high levels of social support and being in a committed relationship were associated with less loneliness. Gender and income didn’t seem to have a strong effect, but loneliness tended to decrease with age, perhaps because of the wisdom and perspective afforded by years of life lived, says Dr. Stuart Lustig, one of the report’s authors and Cigna’s national medical executive for behavioral health.

Lustig says the report underscores the importance of carving out time for family and friends, especially since loneliness was inversely related to self-reported health and well-being. Reviving a dormant social life may be best and most easily done by finding partners for enjoyable activities like exercising, volunteering , or sharing a meal, he says.

“Real, face-to-face time with people [is important], and the activity part of it makes it fun and enjoyable and gives people an excuse to get together,” Lustig says.

Lustig emphasizes that social media should be used judiciously and strategically, and not as a replacement for in-person relationships. Instead, he says, we should use technology “to seek out meaningful connections and people that you are going to be able to keep in your social sphere. It’s easy enough to find groups such as Meetups, or to find places to go where you’ll find folks doing what you want to do.” That advice is particularly important for young people, he says, for whom heavy social media use is common.

Finally, Lustig stresses that even small social changes can have a large impact. Striking up post-meeting conversations with co-workers, or even engaging in micro-interactions with strangers, can make your social life feel more rewarding.

“There’s an opportunity to grow those kinds of quick exchanges into conversations and into more meaningful friendships over time,” Lustig says. “People should take those opportunities wherever they possibly can, because all of us, innately, are wired from birth to connect”—and because doing so may pay dividends for your health.

More Must-Reads From TIME

• The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
• The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
• 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
• Stop Looking for Your Forever Home
• If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
• The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
• Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
• Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Write to Jamie Ducharme at [email protected]

• About rtor.org
• Advisory Board
• 2023 Fact Card
• About the Resource Specialists
• Crisis & Recognition
• Understanding & Diagnosis
• Directory of Family-Endorsed Providers
• Getting Help: Treatment & Services
• Recovery Resource Collection
• Best Practices Mental Health Papers
• Recovery & Hope
• Young Adult & Student Resources
• BIPOC Mental Health Fact Sheet
• BIPOC Mental Health Resources
• All Articles
• The Family Side
• Close to Home: The Fairfield County Mental Health Blog
• Contact a Resource Specialist
• Guest Blog With Us

Our Latest Blogs

Provider search, meta data and taxonomies filter, the mental health benefits of spending quality time with friends and family.

When you think about managing your mental health, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many people, it might be seeing a therapist or counselor, taking medication, or practicing deep breathing exercises or meditation .

Those things can help your mental well-being, and other mental health boosters such as spending time outdoors and exercising are also important. However, don’t ignore the benefits of quality time with your friends and family.

By spending more time with the people you care about, you’ll have a built-in support system for anything you might be struggling with.

You probably didn’t need an excuse to spend more time with friends and family, but whether you’ve been struggling with your mental wellness or just want to make it a priority, let’s cover some of the most significant benefits you can expect.

You’ll Reduce Your Stress

Stress impacts everyone in different ways. Eliminating stress completely from your life is next to impossible. However, too much stress can cause a variety of physical and mental health issues, including:

• Heart disease
• Gastrointestinal issues

When you spend time with people you love, you can openly discuss your emotions and anything that might be causing stress in your life. Your friends and family can’t necessarily take the stressors away. However, allowing yourself to be vulnerable and feeling comfortable enough to talk with people can help reduce your stress levels and make them easier to manage.

Additionally, the emotional support you’ll get from those people helps to improve your psychological wellness. Studies have shown that people who spend more time with family members and friends have a greater sense of purpose and find life more meaningful . What’s a better stress reducer than that?

You’ll Boost Your Self-Esteem

Whether you’ve dealt with self-esteem issues your entire life or it’s a recent problem, spending time with people you care about can boost your confidence.

Quality time with friends and family can remind you how special and important you are. It’s not necessarily about having people compliment you or tell you you’re great. It’s the time itself that bolsters you and helps you recognize you have much to give.

It’s a positive cycle, too, since people with close friends and family ties are more likely to have deeply-rooted, supportive friendships. That kind of support can make it easier to deal with things like:

If you’ve started to experience symptoms of those issues due to low self-esteem, consider spending more time with those closest to you.

It Combats Loneliness

If there’s one thing the COVID-19 pandemic reminded us of, it was the devastating effects of loneliness and isolation. Loneliness can be an incredibly harmful issue, leading to symptoms of anxiety and depression . It has even been found to increase suicide rates and affect mortality.

Loneliness is nothing new, of course, but because the COVID-19 pandemic caused so many of us to isolate and stay away from others for so long, it became a huge problem for millions of people.

Technology can help to fight loneliness and keep you from feeling isolated. We’re lucky to live in a time that allows us to connect in other ways beyond face-to-face meetings. However, there is no replacement for spending quality in-person time with people. Whether you’re struggling with loneliness or feeling the effects of the pandemic, it’s important for your mental well-being to spend more intentional time with friends and family.

How to Spend More Intentional Time With Friends and Family

So, how do you do that?

There’s no ideal activity you can do with friends and family that makes a difference in your mental well-being. It’s more about doing those activities with a sense of mindfulness and intentionality. Pay attention to the people around you. Put your cell phone away and be an active listener and strong communicator .

Some of the best activities for spending intentional time with people and strengthening your bonds include:

• Going on a vacation together
• Family dinner (this can help with your kids/teens’ mental health, too!)
• Breakfast with friends
• Camping or hiking
• Cooking together
• Spending a day at the park

It’s not uncommon for everyone to have busy schedules nowadays, so make your time together a priority by scheduling it in advance. Doing so will make it easier for you to create a healthy habit of getting together with people regularly.

It’s not hard to convince most people to spend more time with their friends and family. However, when you understand the mental health benefits it can provide, you might start to take that time more seriously and focus on being more “in the moment” when you’re around the important people in your life.

Whether you’re currently struggling with mental health issues or want to prioritize wellness, don’t hesitate to stay connected to friends and family and make spending regular time together a top priority in your life.

Get our latest articles direct to your mailbox.

Join our mailing list for more articles written by family members, people with lived experience, and mental health professionals..

About the Author: Dan Matthews is a writer, content consultant, and conservationist. While Dan writes on a variety of topics, he loves to focus on issues that look inward on mankind and that help make the surrounding world a better place to reside. When Dan isn’t working on new content, you can find him with a coffee cup in one hand and searching for new music with the other.

rtor.org and Our Sponsor Laurel House, Inc. Celebrate Pride in June

On June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay nightclub in Greenwich Village, sparking a riot and six days of protests. This incident, known as the Stonewall Uprising, marks a turning point in the gay rights movement, now celebrated as Pride Month in June.

This Pride Month, www.rtor.org and Laurel House affirm their commitment to supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community in their quest for equity and justice, especially in their fight for accessible, safe health and mental health care.

www.rtor.org and Laurel House are committed to the advancement of racial equity and social justice, and to making mental health services available to all.

Image Source: Pexels

The opinions and views expressed in any guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of www.rtor.org or its sponsor, Laurel House, Inc. The author and www.rtor.org have no affiliations with any products or services mentioned in the article or linked to therein. Guest Authors may have affiliations to products mentioned or linked to in their author bios.

Recommended for You

Behind the Anger: Why You Need to Meet Your Needs Before You Can Calm Down

Two is Not Necessarily Better Than One: An Alternative Perspective on Comorbidity and “Behavioral” Health Diagnoses

Finding the Right Therapist: A Practical Guide To Navigating Outpatient Mental Health Services

• Recent Posts

• Behind the Anger: Why You Need to Meet Your Needs Before You Can Calm Down - April 15, 2024
• Two is Not Necessarily Better Than One: An Alternative Perspective on Comorbidity and “Behavioral” Health Diagnoses - April 11, 2024
• Finding the Right Therapist: A Practical Guide ToNavigating Outpatient Mental Health Services - April 8, 2024

Guest Author for www.rtor.org

Leave a reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Up to Date

Fill out the form to get close to home in your inbox..

• First Name *
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

• Entertainment

Why Is It Important To Spend Time With Friends

Time can sometimes seem like an unanswerable question.

A child grows up, and the world is laid out before them, full of potential.

How much time does a person have to do all that needs to be done? How much time do they need to pursue every dream they have?

One of the questions a person asks himself is, “When do I have enough time to spend on things that are important to me?”

This can lead to the same question with friends: “When do I have time for my friends?”

Friendships are important

The answer to the question, “When do I have enough time to spend on things that are important to me?” involves different things for different people.

For some people, it may include having a full-time job, being active in a couple of activities at school, or doing another chore, such as folding laundry.

But some people have so many activities to juggle that it is hard for them to find time to devote to one person.

And also, some people feel that their friendships may interfere with their own goal to get everything else done.

In some cases, relationships with friends can feel like time stealers. But that is a choice a person makes.

All relationships have their pros and cons.

Friends come in all shapes and sizes

Whether we spend time with friends, family, or coworkers, the value of friends is fundamental.

There are many reasons to spend time with friends. Here are a few.

Friendships can improve mental health

Being social can improve a person’s quality of life.

Research indicates that it is good for people to interact with others, such as hanging out with a group of friends.

However, this is not just about simply spending time with others.

Positive social interactions can also have long-term benefits for people’s health, such as reducing stress levels.

Friends are like coaches

With the rise of social media, many people spend less time with friends, but rather use their devices to seek entertainment.

A recent study suggests that friends provide people with a necessary support system that helps them overcome the feeling of loneliness.

Friends can be a source of knowledge and support

One of the major benefits of having a group of friends is that it can be a source of knowledge and support.

Being surrounded by people who have similar interests, lifestyles, and values can provide a sense of belonging and a better understanding of who you are.

A better understanding of who you are is an important aspect of emotional intelligence or EQ.

EQ can have a huge impact on how people respond to life’s difficulties.

Making friends

Making friends as a child is a challenging process.

Children are often different from one another in many ways. But being part of a group helps in a big way.

After we have learned the basics of how to make friends and become comfortable being around other people, we can think about making and maintaining more social relationships.

Choosing to interact with a friend is an important decision.

Social skills

With time, most children can make friends and relate to people positively.

One key factor that helps is having social skills, such as the ability to listen, express interest, and talk.

As a person becomes more social and learns to relate to others, the amount of time spent with friends will decrease.

Still, making friends continues throughout life, and it is important to make friends when young.

Although children are naturally more social than adults, many adults are still shy in group settings.

Shy adults may not be able to form new friendships, but they can gain social skills by being more social when they are around friends and family.

It is possible to maintain friendships

The fact is that while a person may stop spending time with their friends because of a busy schedule, it does not mean they should forget about their friendships.

The key is to make sure that the friendship is valued, and continues to have a positive impact on the individual.

Loving relationships

Even if a person feels like there is little value in making time for friends, they should still value the relationships they do have.

In fact, loving relationships are more than just friendships.

Social media

As people interact more through social media, relationships with friends will always be important, regardless of how people spend their time.

Friends of friends

Social media has made it easy to form social relationships, but the same potential to create social relationships is now available through friends of friends.

By knowing people through social media, you can make new friends and link up with old friends.

The key is to use social media to form friendships and make them last longer.

Friends from home

While social media can be a great tool to make friends, it is also important to maintain friendships with friends from home.

It is useful to see friends from home during the holidays and for short trips, especially if you live far away.

The benefit is that you can talk to them whenever you want and see how they are doing.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

How to live sustainability, how can sustainable living be achieved, how does sustainable living affect the environment, j jill sustainability, how sustainable is columbia.

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

Unforgettable Experience, Trips & Memories With My Friends Essay

The student reflects on the importance of friends in our lives, recalling his own experiences shared with them. From engaging conversations to memorable trips, he details how a friendship can bring meaningful joy and comfort that lasts beyond any momentary pleasure or adversity.

Table of Contents

Essay 1: My Friends

Having friends to share our laughter, tears, and adventures with is something we often take for granted. As a student I was lucky enough to make some of the best pals around who have helped form me into the person I am today – truly invaluable!

My friends are my sounding board; I can always open up and share whatever is on my mind, from silly secrets to life-changing dreams. They pick me up when things get tough and cheer for me even louder than I do whenever I reach a milestone! With them by my side, every day of life becomes an adventure full of joys big or small.

My friends are a beautiful bouquet of uniqueness – a diverse array of personalities, passions and capabilities. But the most precious petals in this bunch have to be their kindness, loyalty and unwavering support for me through thick and thin!

Spending quality time with my friends is an absolute blast! From playing sports, to watching movies and discovering new places, it’s never a dull moment. Even when we don’t agree 100%, our friendship always manages to pull us through whatever challenge comes its way.

I’m continually blessed with the most remarkable friends who constantly encourage and support me through thick and thin. They lift my spirits, help make me a better version of myself, as well as motivate me to really reach for all that life has to offer, it’s truly priceless! For this beautiful friendship we share, I am forever thankful- cherished moments together are something no one can ever take away from us.

From bouncing laughter to unflinching support, friends are the ultimate source of comfort and joy. And I’m so glad for mine -: they make life a blast! What would we do without them? So let’s take this moment to appreciate our connections with each other; it is these relationships that bring us such immense happiness.

Essay 2: Unforgettable Experience with My Friends

My friends are the greatest blessing I’ve ever received! Last summer, we decided to take a break from everyday life and sneak away into nature. We all loaded up on camping supplies – tents, food you name it – before setting off for our adventure in the woods. It was an unforgettable experience that none of us will soon forget!

After a long day of fun and exploration, our group found ourselves huddled around the campfire. We swapped stories and shared plenty of laughs as we cooked marshmallows to perfection over the crackling flames! Plus, who can resist hot chocolate on a chilly evening? Needless to say, it was one for the books – an unforgettable night that I’ll cherish forever.

We kicked off the morning with a plunge into icy lake waters, but nothing could dampen our enthusiasm for this special adventure. With sun-kissed faces and hearts full of happy memories, we departed – each one looking forward to many more days just like this!

Essay 3: The Last Time I Saw My Friends

It was an unforgettable party night with my crew! We celebrated the occasion with dinner and karaoke. All of a sudden there was a pandemic. Dinner is forever etched in our memory as a special time that we all share.

Then everything changed. A pandemic hit and we were all stuck at home. We had to cancel all plans and meetings. It was hard not being able to see my friends, but I kept in touch with them through social media and video calls.

We will meet again when the situation improves. I can’t wait to see my friends and catch up on everything that has happened to her this past year. I miss her.

Essay 4: An Adventure Trip with My Friends

Last summer, I went on an adventure trip with my friends. We decided to take a road trip to explore the countryside. We rented a van and packed up. We were so excited to start our journey.

I had a great time hiking, exploring new places, and enjoying the beauty of nature. It was the perfect mix of adventure, fun and friendship. We clicked lots of pictures, played games, and sang songs around the campfire in the evenings.

On the last day, we exchanged presents and thanked each other for making wonderful friends in our lives. Traveling was not just about having fun. It was about creating memories to cherish for a lifetime.

In summary, an adventure trip with friends is one of life’s most beautiful experiences. It helps you relax, reconnect with nature, and strengthen your bond with your friends. I am blessed to have wonderful friends who always inspire me to explore new horizons and make the most of life.

Essay 5: I Love My Friends Essay

Friends are the most important part of our lives. They are the ones who stand by us through thick and thin, and we can always count on them to be there for us. I am lucky to have such amazing friends in my life, and I am grateful for each and every one of them.

My friends are my support system, and they are always there to cheer me up when I am feeling down. We share many memories together, from fun nights out to heart-to-heart conversations over coffee. No matter what we are doing, we always have a great time together.

One of the reasons I love my friends so much is that they accept me for who I am. They never judge me, and they are always there to offer a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. We may have our differences, but we always find a way to work through them.

Another reason I love my friends is that they make me a better person. They inspire me to be my best self, and they encourage me to pursue my dreams. I am constantly learning from them, and I know that I would not be where I am today without their love and support.

In conclusion, I love my friends more than words can express. They have brought so much joy and happiness into my life, and I am truly blessed to have them. I look forward to creating many more memories with them in the future and am grateful for the wonderful gift of their friendship.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

Related Posts:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Child Development

How Spending Quality Time Can Really Strengthen Families

There can be significant benefits to shared family activities and traditions..

Posted February 7, 2021

When children are growing up, what they see in their families is what they tend to consider normal. Whether a child grows up in a large home or a small apartment, a large family or a home with a single parent, they tend to accept their situation because that is all they’ve known.

My family did not own a color television during my entire childhood . During those years we had a small, 12-inch black-and-white television. Did I feel deprived that I didn’t have a larger TV, or that it wasn’t in color? I did not, because to me this small television was just right. It was the only TV we had in our home and as such, I was satisfied to watch shows on it and didn’t worry about it having a small screen and black and white images. It was just our TV and it worked fine.

The point here is that I accepted what we had and was comfortable with it. When children are growing up, they just know what is shown to them. That means family traditions and other activities are generally seen as just normal. If a family eats dinner together, goes to religious services together, or spends time talking with each other, that’s what the child absorbs and internalizes.

More and more, our family traditions are shrinking as we move toward a more isolated society. Social norms seem to be eroding at an ever-faster pace. How many families no longer share meals around the dinner table, instead opting to watch TV or text friends on their phones? How many families no longer sit and talk? This tends to isolate and disconnect family members from each other. It also stops families from communicating and catching up on each other’s lives.

It is this emotional separation that can lead to a lack of connectedness. This in turn can become internalized in children seen as normal. Then when they grow up, they take it with them into their own families and this lack of family connectedness becomes normalized in the society.

For those of us who grew up in a household where families shared meals together and spent time talking with each other, chances are we are passing along those traditions to our own families. The problem is, children today often want to spend their time in front of screens rather than people. Cell phones, video games, computers, and other attention -grabbing devices often mean parents get resistance to traditional family togetherness time. This pressure can lead to parents giving in and letting children do what they want rather than fight with them over sitting at the dinner table.

This creates a new normal that no longer values the idea of families and the society at large, connecting with each other. We are already a society that has fewer and fewer things that are shared societal experiences. While this year things have changed due to the pandemic, events like the Super Bowl have for decades created shared experiences between generations. Unfortunately, events like this are becoming fewer and fewer in their number. Life is increasingly becoming more and more solitary, with people staring at screens rather than sharing experiences with each other.

Children are not the only ones who become lost in their own computerized world. Parents also spend much of their day on their computers or smartphones. Remember, that with each year discussing things verbally gets pushed further and further into the past and is often replaced with texts and emojis. While there is nothing wrong with technology and new ways of communication, there is something that is being lost every time we separate ourselves from the people in our lives. Family and community traditions are important, not just for the current shared experiences, but for the future as well. Since children internalize their experiences which define what they feel is“normal,” that means generations to come may not know what it’s like to sit together around the dinner table and truly connect as a family. We may be trading that connectedness for the isolation of the computer screen.

That is why it is so important that parents and caregivers create boundaries of behavior that help to keep family traditions alive. If you remember the shared experiences you had with your parents and grandparents you know the important bonding that took place during those times. The warmth and love you felt belonging to something bigger than yourself. The security of knowing you were part of a supportive family that cared for you. That is what family traditions give us, the closeness and connectedness of truly having people that hear us and care about us. It is this shared experience that brings people closer together and is well worth preserving.

David Schwartz, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families in Westlake Village, California.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Support Group
• International
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

• Trying to Conceive
• Signs & Symptoms
• Pregnancy Tests
• Fertility Testing
• Fertility Treatment
• Weeks & Trimesters
• Staying Healthy
• Preparing for Baby
• Complications & Concerns
• Pregnancy Loss
• Breastfeeding
• School-Aged Kids
• Raising Kids
• Personal Stories
• Everyday Wellness
• Safety & First Aid
• Immunizations
• Food & Nutrition
• Active Play
• Pregnancy Products
• Nursery & Sleep Products
• Nursing & Feeding Products
• Clothing & Accessories
• Toys & Gifts
• Ovulation Calculator
• Pregnancy Due Date Calculator
• How to Talk About Postpartum Depression
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board

How to Create Quality Time With Your Family

 bernardbodo / Getty Images

• Establish Family Time
• Let Kids Choose
• Consider Commitments
• Assign Chores
• Encourage Support
• Schedule Downtime

Help With Schoolwork

• Start a Project

Prioritize the Family

The struggle to balance family time with outside commitments and activities is one of the most challenging aspects of parenting, especially as your kids get older. You want to spend time as a family so that you can establish secure relationships, but sometimes trying to carve out family time is harder than expected with all your work commitments and your kids' activities.

If your nightly refrain is how tired you and the kids are, perhaps your family is struggling with balancing work, school, and everyone's activities. Here are some quick tips for juggling your family's schedule while creating some quality time together as a family.

Establish Regular Family Time

Whether you set aside one afternoon or evening a week, establishing set family time can create memories that last a lifetime. Whether it's movie night, take-out night, game night, or even a weekly family bike ride, the key is that at least once a week you have time designated for togetherness.

Spend the time relaxing and talking with each other. You might be surprised by the things you learn about your kids on your special night or how you connect as a family. Here are some other things you can do during your designated family time:

• Attend a community event : Whether you take in a concert in the park or attend a local festival, spending time together outside of the home can be a great way to enjoy some time together.
• Make rainy days or snow days special : It's not often that events get rained out or school is cancelled due to snow, but when it does happen, take advantage of the unexpected time together. Plan rainy-day activities , build a snowman, spend the day in PJs eating snacks and binge-watching your favorite shows, bake cookies, make indoor s'mores, or work on a puzzle together. The key is that you spend time together as a family.
• Prioritize mealtime : Whether it's breakfast or dinner, try to prioritize having meals together as a family. As schedules get busy and kids get older, this becomes more of a challenge, but research has consistently shown that having a meal together has a positive impact on kids. Even if you can only have dinner together once or twice a week, it's better than nothing at all.

Let Your Child Choose Their Activities

Too many well-meaning parents sign their kids up for activities they're genuinely not interested in or good at and then face conflicts and power struggles. Not only is this counterproductive, but signing kids up for activities just for the sake of it can eat into potential family time.

Of course, it's another issue altogether if your child continually begs to sign up for activities and then wants to quit. Make sure your child is truly interested in the activity before committing to it.

Also, keep in mind that even at a young age kids develop certain interests and dreams that they want to pursue. It's likely that they won't be the same dreams you have for them. Be careful to choose your battles and accommodate activity requests where practical.

Determine Your Child's Interest

If your kid says an activity "might" be fun, avoid committing to a full season or year. Not only could it present a problem for your child if they don't like it, but it will infringe on the other kids participating in the activity.

Many teams rely on a certain number of players or kids to form a group, and a last-minute pull-out could impact everyone else. If you're not sure, consider signing your child up for a mini-camp, a week-long session, or shorter time period instead. If your kid loves it, then you can always seek something more in the future.

Signs of Being Overextended

Watch for signs that your child is overscheduled. If your kid's grades start plummeting or you get a note that says they often fall asleep after mid-morning snack time, you may be asking too much of them. Keep in mind your child's age, personality, and organizational skills before committing to an activity. Some kids can successfully manage lots of commitments while others will get overwhelmed.

Consider Time Commitments

Saying yes to too many extras can eat into valuable family time. Whether you are involved in multiple volunteer projects or your child is participating in a competitive sport or playing an instrument, additional practices and time requirements may be necessary.

You have to decide if these time commitments are worth it. Time-pressed families might prefer to sign kids up for a recreation league instead of a select season, or they might consider saying no to volunteer requests that stretch them too thin.

The key is trying to ensure you still have some downtime as a family.

Of course, plenty of family bonding can occur when kids are playing on travel teams if you make the most of your trips and plan some time together as a family then too. Just make sure you are intentional about spending time together, even if it is just sharing a meal on the way home.

Share Household Chores

If everyone in the family participates in extracurricular activities or has outside commitments, then general household chores may be harder to complete. Have a family meeting and explain how everyone will pitch in to complete family chores. It's unfair that all household responsibilities should fall on one person. Plus, it makes it harder to prioritize family time. 

If you set expectations upfront, any grumbling will be minimized. Even small kids can help set the table, clear dishes, or take the trash cans to the curb. You also can look for ways to maximize your family's time when completing chores. Here are some ways to make the most of your efforts:

• Break down chores into smaller tasks : Instead of trying to clean the entire house in one day, try designating a day for each 15-20 minute task and assign it to someone in the family. Perhaps you will dust on Mondays, mop on Tuesdays, vacuum on Wednesdays, clean the toilets on Thursdays, and so on.
• Complete chores as a family : If the snow needs shoveling, the leaves need raking, or the garage needs to be cleaned out, try to take time to do these things as a family. Working together builds teamwork and the job can be completed much more quickly. Plus, there are bound to be a few laughs along the way. Even though it may not sound fun at first, how you approach it can make all the difference.
• Create a system for completing large tasks : It is unrealistic to try to complete 10 loads of laundry on a Saturday, especially if you want to spend time together as a family or one of your kids has a game. You could try doing a load of laundry each day and folding it together as a family while watching a favorite television program after dinner.
• Decide what you can let go : There are times when it's perfectly acceptable to let some chores go, especially if you opt to spend time as a family instead. This might mean skipping the dusting and playing a board game instead. The key is that you don't let a long list of chores bog you down. Look for ways to lighten the load and prioritize your family.

Encourage Mutual Support

When schedules allow, encourage your kids to come and cheer on their siblings every chance they get. Whether they play sports, participate in the arts, or are involved on a tech team, it's important that the entire family support one another. Of course, this support should not come at the expense of their own activities or commitments, but it should be a regular occurrence when their schedules allow.

There is something really meaningful to a child when their entire family is there to support them and cheer them on. Be sure you are creating opportunities for this type of encouragement and family support as often as you can.

Schedule Family Downtime

Whether you plan a family vacation, take one day a month to explore a nearby area, or organize a technology-free day for the whole family, it's important that everyone in the family have regular opportunities to decompress and reconnect. Just like adults, kids are not exempt from feeling the pressures of life.

They experience stress, frustration, confusion, anger, and exhaustion just like you do. For this reason, it's important to schedule relaxing activities or downtime where they can unwind and let go of the things that are bothering them.

Vacations also are a great way to unwind while spending quality time together.

Vacations can help break family members away from the normal routine while exposing them to new areas, foods, and activities. There also are a number of health benefits to taking a family vacation. A family vacation can reduce stress levels and help everyone relax; and if you are hiking, swimming, and doing other aerobic exercises, your family's hearts and lungs will benefit too.

When kids are little, there are lots of opportunities to practice their spelling words, math facts , and reading assignments . But even as kids get older, there are still things you can do to help. Instead of competing with schoolwork for family time, why not come alongside them and help them where needed?

Help them study for a test by quizzing them on the material. Or, if your child is working on a research paper, sit down with them and help them find reputable sources. Of course, you should not do their schoolwork for them, but helping them and talking with them about what they are thinking are great ways to bond.

Start a Hobby or Project Together

Whether you read a book as a family, build a birdhouse, collect something, or commit to visiting all the state capitols, working toward a common goal or having a family project can open the door to quality family time.

Even committing to volunteering once a month at the local food pantry is a great way to spend time together as a family.

Not only are you teaching your kids about the importance of giving back to the community, but you're also spending time together doing something meaningful and beneficial. After all, nothing instills kindness , improves moods , and increases gratitude more than helping those that are less fortunate.

Prioritizing family over other obligations is an important element of finding quality time together as a family. This may mean establishing work boundaries and taking time away from technology. But, protecting your family time will help keep your priorities straight and will ensure a happier, better-adjusted family.

In order to develop deep, meaningful relationships with your kids, you need to invest time in them. Even just committing to being home for family dinner several nights a week or taking a 30-minute walk most evenings together can make a significant impact on family relationships in the long run.

The time commitment doesn't have to be huge, but it does need to be consistent.

Just prioritizing your family on holidays and vacations is not enough. Your relationships will only skim the surface. You need regular time together to develop deep bonds.

A Word From Verywell

The bonds you create with your kids before they leave the nest can last a lifetime. The key to developing those bonds, though, is to spend consistent quality time together. Whether that's playing a board game every night after dinner, having regular pizza nights, or volunteering to clean up the park, the key is that you are building relationships with one another through positive experiences.

As your kids get older, involve them in the decision-making and allow them to choose activities from time to time. If you invest in and protect your time together as a family, you will have built a foundation of meaningful moments and memories that will keep you connected to your kids as they enter their adult lives.

Harrison ME, Norris ML, Obeid N, Fu M, Weinstangel H, Sampson M. Systematic review of the effects of family meal frequency on psychosocial outcomes in youth .  Can Fam Physician . 2015;61(2):e96-e106. PMID:25676655

Glauser W. Overscheduled and glued to screens - children are sleeping less than ever before .  CMAJ . 2018;190(48):E1428-E1429. doi:10.1503/cmaj.109-5676

John Hopkins All Children Hospital. Is your child too busy? .

American Academy of Pediatrics. Chores and responsibility .

National Institute of Health. Summer travel .

By Robin McClure  Robin McClure is a public school administrator and author of 6 parenting books.

• Bipolar Disorder
• Therapy Center
• When To See a Therapist
• Types of Therapy
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Couples Therapy
• Best Family Therapy
• Managing Stress
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Understanding Emotions
• Self-Improvement
• Healthy Relationships
• Student Resources
• Personality Types
• Guided Meditations
• Verywell Mind Insights
• 2023 Verywell Mind 25
• Mental Health in the Classroom
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board
• Crisis Support

The Quality Time Love Language and Your Relationship

Sherri Gordon, CLC is a published author, certified professional life coach, and bullying prevention expert. She's also the former editor of Columbus Parent and has countless years of experience writing and researching health and social issues.

Adah Chung is a fact checker, writer, researcher, and occupational therapist. 

Verywell / Laura Porter

Take the Quiz to Identify Your Love Language

Understanding quality time.

• Showing Love With Quality Time
• Showing Your 'Quality Time' Oriented Partner You Love Them

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Every couple needs quality time together in order for the relationship to grow and develop. Moments of connection are born out of intentional activities and those hours chatting in bed, cooking, or enjoying hobbies together.

But for some people who have quality time as their love language, the time can take on even greater significance. So how does that desire for time spent together impact the relationship especially when hectic lives get in the way?

Here's a closer look at how expressing the love language of quality time can not only improve your relationship but also show your "quality time" partner that you are fluent in their love language and know what they need.

At a Glance

When it comes to the love language of quality time, most people assume it means spending a lot of time together or going out a lot. If that were the case, trying to show your partner you care through quality time could get exhausting—and expensive.

But loving a partner who craves quality time actually has very little to do with the amount of time you are together. It's also not based on activities. Quality time is all about how you spend the time that you have together. No matter what you are doing, if you are attentive and focused, your partner will feel loved.

This fast, free quiz will help you determine your love language:

This love languages quiz was medically reviewed by Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD.

When it comes to Gary Chapman's five love languages , quality time is the one that centers around togetherness. It's all about expressing your love and affection with your undivided attention.

When you're with your partner, you put down the cell phone , turn off the tablet, and focus on them. And, when you do that, it touches their heart in a way that really matters. They feel important, loved, and special—like you were intentional in setting aside time just for them.

Unfortunately, thanks to technology, quality time with our partners is becoming more and more scarce. Even when we are together, we are someplace else—usually in cyberspace or deep in our own thoughts.

But being in close proximity to one another while doing something else does not always constitute quality time, no matter how long you sit there. And for someone whose primary love language is quality time, this lack of connectedness can leave them feeling empty and alone.

How to Give Your Partner Quality Time

When it comes to speaking your partner's love language, it's important that you do things that will make your partner feel loved and appreciated.

If your partner's primary love language is quality time, you need to not only set aside time for your partner, but also be intentional about how you are spending that time.

If you don't share the same love language as your partner, don't be surprised if these efforts seem a little unnatural at first. With time and effort though, you will be doing these things for your partner without a second thought.

Showing Your 'Quality Time' Oriented Partner You Love Them

Make eye contact.

When it comes to quality time, eye contact is the gateway to loving your quality time partner. In fact, maintaining eye contact tells your partner that they have your full attention, which will make them feel loved, important, and understood. It also communicates that you care about what they have to say.

But when you are distracted and scrolling through your phone while your partner talks about their day, they will feel like you just don't care about what they have to say and, by extension, that you just don't care about them.

Use Active Listening Skills

Active listening is one of the most loving things you can do for your partner, but for many people, this doesn't come naturally. Instead, most people think about their own thoughts and opinions more than they think about their partner's.

When quality time people are talking, try the following active listening skills:

• Focus on what they are saying.
• Lean in slightly.
• Affirm what they are saying.
• Ask thoughtful questions.
• Avoid trying to offer advice, unless they ask for it.
• Try putting yourself in their shoes or thinking about how you might feel in the same situation.

Quality time partners are more interested in feeling understood. They are looking for empathy and compassion and don't always want to have their situations fixed.

Set Limits on Technology

Nothing hurts a quality time person more than to share something they feel is really important, and then to look up and realize their partner is only half paying attention while trying to answer an e-mail from a co-worker or respond to a text.

Make it a habit to put away your phone at dinner or during a coffee break and really focus on what your partner has to say. Even though you may not discuss anything earth-shattering, you are making an important and loving gesture by choosing your partner over technology.

Focus on Quality, Not Quantity

When it comes to quality time, it's not about the amount of time you spend together but instead the quality of your interactions that count. And with so much going on in your life, carving out a few minutes for a meaningful and uninterrupted conversation can be a wonderful way to show the person you love that you care.

The key is that you take the time to enjoy one another's company, even if it is just sitting on the couch enjoying a cup of coffee before work. Remember, it's not about the quantity of time you spend together, but rather the quality.

Make a Plan

While it never hurts to be spontaneous, planning to do something together can be just as fun and exciting as a last-minute dinner or movie, especially for a quality time partner. It's often too easy for couples to get in a rut after they have been together for a while.

Instead of settling for the "same old, same old," try making plans. Taking steps to initiate quality time will mean a lot to your partner. Plus, the anticipation of spending time together will really speak love to them.

It doesn't matter what you do, just plan something different. A few suggestions:

• Try the new restaurant in town.
• Schedule a bike ride on a Saturday morning.
• Plan a leisurely walk along the riverbank after work.

Remember, just because spending time together is expected when people have been together a while doesn't mean you cannot also be intentional about how you spend that time.

Develop a Routine

Look for small ways to connect with your partner on a daily basis. For instance, you could pray or meditate together every morning or read the Sunday funnies together each week.

Finding a small way to regularly connect will help your quality time partner feel fulfilled and appreciated. Plus, it's something you can both look forward to doing together.

Be Present and Available

When your partner is feeling insecure or going through a tough time, you can really show you care by simply being there and spending some quality time together. Even though you won't be able to take all the discomfort away—nor should you be expected to—you will be able to demonstrate that you are present and available when they need you.

Stay in the Moment

For people whose primary love language is quality time, they never lose sight of the fact that time is limited and tomorrow is not promised. As a result, they view time together as a priceless gift that they want to give and receive in relationships.

To them, life is about being in the moment more than it is about what you are doing. It's also about prioritizing the people you love over everything else.

Get Creative

Everyone has days when their to-do list is a mile long. Rather than run all your errands by yourself, invite your quality time partner to come along. Even though you are doing something mundane and boring, you can sneak in some quality time.

For instance, turn off the radio and talk to one another. Ask how your partner's life is going and what is stressing them out right now. You can turn just about any activity into a chance to sneak in some quality time if you are creative.

At times, it can be hard to communicate love to your partner through quality time, especially if it is not your primary love language. But you will eventually get the hang of it. The key is to avoid a few of these common mistakes.

• Don't complain about the time you spend together.
• Resist the urge to do something else while your partner is talking.
• Don't view your quality time partner as needy.
• Keep your technology stowed away when you have time planned together.
• Don't forget to ask what your partner needs in order to feel loved.

By Sherri Gordon Sherri Gordon, CLC is a published author, certified professional life coach, and bullying prevention expert. She's also the former editor of Columbus Parent and has countless years of experience writing and researching health and social issues.

IELTS Mentor "IELTS Preparation & Sample Answer"

• Skip to content
• Jump to main navigation and login

Nav view search

• IELTS Sample

Cue Card Sample

How you spend time with your friends - cue card # 605, describe how you usually spend time with your friends..

• how often you meet them
• what you do together
• where you go together

More Ideas to talk about this Cue Card topic:

Cue card topic: describe how you usually spend time with your friends..

• IELTS Cue Card
• IELTS Speaking
• Candidate Task Card
• Speaking Part 2

IELTS Materials

• IELTS Bar Graph
• IELTS Line Graph
• IELTS Table Chart
• IELTS Flow Chart
• IELTS Pie Chart
• IELTS Letter Writing
• IELTS Essay
• Academic Reading

Useful Links

• IELTS Secrets
• Band Score Calculator
• Exam Specific Tips
• Useful Websites
• IELTS Preparation Tips
• Academic Reading Tips
• Academic Writing Tips
• GT Writing Tips
• Listening Tips
• Speaking Tips
• IELTS Grammar Review
• IELTS Vocabulary
• IELTS Cue Cards
• IELTS Life Skills
• Letter Types

• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Copyright Notice
• HTML Sitemap

• EssayBasics.com
• Pay For Essay
• Write My Essay
• Homework Writing Help
• Essay Editing Service
• Thesis Writing Help
• Write My College Essay
• Do My Essay
• Term Paper Writing Service
• Coursework Writing Service
• Write My Research Paper
• Assignment Writing Help
• Essay Writing Help
• Call Now! (USA) Login Order now
• EssayBasics.com Call Now! (USA) Order now
• Writing Guides

Spending Time With Family (Essay Sample) 2023

Where Can I Get Free Essays Without Paying and Is it realistic to expect a low-cost, High-Quality Essay from a Cheap Paper Writing Service ?

In this digital world of pervasive screen time and social media, people are getting less social every day. Fewer physical interactions mean that everyone is becoming more prone to physical and mental health challenges. One of the best remedies to excess usage of social media is to spend some quality time with your friends and family members.

Families are the pillars of the community and there is no doubt that families are one of the most valuable gifts in life. Spending time with your family not only improves your physical well-being but also promotes physical adaptability. In this essay, I will discuss why and how to spend time with your family.

Table of Contents

Long and Short Spending Time With Family Essay for Primary, Secondary and High School Students

Why waste your whole weekend completing long & boring essay assignments? Reach out to Essay Basics and allow our essay writing experts to write you a plagiarism-free essay.

700 Word Essay About Spending Time With Family

Family is the pillar of society. If we don’t have an organized, stable, and united family structure then our society, community, and even our whole nation would crumble. Keeping this in mind, everyone must spare a couple of hours every day to reunite with their families.

The basic family structure comprises mother, father, and children. In addition to this, the cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandparents, etc form an outer ring of the family. This essay will highlight the need to regroup and spend some quality time with all the family members.

According to the latest research , social media is the biggest cause of mental and physical problems among the young generation. A good family gathering every now and then can help boost morale and help out against loneliness anxiety. One must always find some spare time to connect with friends and family members.

The best option for spending quality time is to go and visit a relative or some other family member who lives nearby. An hour or two of family bonding time every week can help strengthen the bond between all family members. A stronger emotional bond provides a sense of comfort, security, safety, and of course love. A family reunion also lets the younger ones know about the family values, cultures, and traditions of the elderly.

The positive memories from family reunions also provide emotional support for the whole family. When the elderly share ideas in the family get-togethers, these ideas have a big influence on the kids and teens. A family reunion also serves as a place to solve old grievances between family members. It’s usually the perfect event for the elders to do patch-ups between cousins and in-laws. 

All these efforts keep the family spirit high and make them feel rejuvenated and reinvigorated.

Most Important Benefits of Spending Time with Family:

There are many benefits of spending time together with your family. Taking some time out of your busy schedule to spend it with family members is never a bad idea. Recent studies have highlighted the benefits you get when you spend quality time with family. These studies have proved that family time is not only enjoyable but also beneficial for physical and mental health. Following are some benefits of family time:

• It strengthens family bonding
• Teens and adolescents start to know about family values
• It helps young children and kids better adapt to school activities.
• Children and kids become less addicted to cell phones and social media.
• It offers a sense of relief and security to all family members.
• Eating lunch and dinner together helps teens and kids develop good communication skills.
• Family time enables parents to keep a close eye on what’s happening in their child’s life.

Different Ways to Spend Time With Family:

Holidays are the perfect time to get in close with friends and family members. There are many fun ways to engage with your loved ones, some of them are stated below:

Plan a Family Vacation

Plan a vacation ahead of a long weekend or take some days off to go out with your kids and family members. Family vacations always bring out the best in you and your children which is why they shouldn’t be ignored.

Play a Board Game

Board games are one of the best things to indulge in leisure activities with your family members. Board games help improve your children’s brainstorming ability and focus. These games also help them build life skills like teamwork, sportsman spirit, and knowing how to honor a loss.

Visit a Friend or Relative

Visiting a friend or relative is always a refreshing and soothing experience. Sharing old stories, recalling past events, and reliving those memories always ignite laughter and good cheer among the whole family.

In conclusion, spending time together is a key element in the unity of the family. No one should be too busy to miss out on family gatherings. Everyone knows about the famous saying that reads “A Family That Eats Together Stays Together”. Well, it’s time to honor that quote by throwing our cell phones away and start connecting with our loved ones.

FAQ’s About Spending Time With Your Family Essay 

Q: ways to spend time with family.

Answer: Visiting a relative, planning a vacation, playing a board game, or indulging in any leisure activity are some of the best ways to spend time with family.

Q: Benefits of Spending Time With Family 

Answer: good family bonding, less anxiety, better physical and mental health, a sense of relief, and security are some notable benefits of spending time with family.

Q: How to Write a Conclusion of a Family Essay

Answer: Just sum up everything you said in the body and introduction and stress upon why you should always take some time to spend it with your family as your closing statement.

Essay on Importance of Spending Time With Family

Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Spending Time With Family in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Importance of Spending Time With Family

Introduction.

Family is a crucial part of our lives. Spending time with family helps us form strong bonds, develop self-esteem, and create lifelong memories.

Learning Values

Family time is a learning experience. It’s when we learn values, understand our culture, and develop social skills.

Emotional Support

Being with family gives us emotional support. It’s a safe space where we can share our feelings and get comfort during tough times.

Building Strong Bonds

Regular interaction strengthens family ties. It fosters love, respect, and understanding among members.

In conclusion, spending time with family is essential. It offers emotional security, teaches values, and helps build strong relationships.

250 Words Essay on Importance of Spending Time With Family

The significance of family time.

The family is an irreplaceable component of human life, serving as a nurturing environment for personal growth and development. Spending time with family is not just a social obligation, but a crucial factor that contributes to our overall well-being.

Emotional Health and Bonding

Quality time with family fortifies emotional health by fostering a sense of belonging. It encourages open communication and understanding, allowing individuals to express their feelings freely. This emotional exchange is essential for developing empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence.

Stress Alleviation

In today’s fast-paced world, stress is inevitable. Spending time with family can be an effective stress buster. The comfort and security offered by loved ones can help alleviate anxiety and promote mental tranquility.

Life Skills and Values

Family time is also an opportunity to impart and learn life skills and values. It’s a platform for parents to guide their children, and for children to observe and assimilate behaviors, attitudes, and principles that will shape their future.

Resilience and Support

Families provide a safety net during life’s adversities. This shared resilience and support system can boost an individual’s confidence to face challenges, enhancing their ability to adapt and recover.

In conclusion, spending time with family is a vital aspect of human life. It strengthens emotional health, reduces stress, imparts life skills, and builds resilience. As we navigate through the complexities of life, let’s not forget to cherish and invest in these precious moments with our families.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Spending Time With Family

The essence of family time.

Family is the bedrock of society, a fundamental unit that shapes us as individuals. Spending time with family is not just a social expectation, but an essential ingredient in the recipe of personal growth and societal development.

Strengthening Bonds

When we spend time with family, we fortify the bonds that tie us together. These bonds are not just emotional, but also cognitive and behavioral. They influence our thoughts, actions, and reactions to different life situations. Engaging in shared activities, be it a simple meal or a vacation, creates shared memories and experiences. These shared moments become a part of our identity and help in deepening our connection with our family members.

Learning and Development

Family time is a fertile ground for learning and development. It is within the family that we first learn how to communicate, empathize, and cooperate. The family serves as a microcosm of society, helping us understand and navigate complex social dynamics. Moreover, the diverse experiences and perspectives within a family can stimulate intellectual growth, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Family time also plays a crucial role in providing emotional support. In an increasingly complex and stressful world, the family can serve as a sanctuary. It is a space where we can express our feelings without fear of judgment, seek advice, and find solace. This emotional support can significantly enhance our mental wellbeing, making us resilient in the face of life’s challenges.

Instilling Values

Spending time with family is instrumental in instilling values. The family serves as the first school of morality, where we learn about right and wrong, fairness, and justice. These values, absorbed during family interactions, shape our ethical compass and guide our actions in broader society.

Health Benefits

The importance of family time extends to physical health as well. Research suggests that people who spend more time with their families tend to have better health outcomes. Shared meals, for instance, often lead to healthier eating habits. Additionally, the emotional stability provided by strong family bonds can mitigate stress, reducing the risk of various health issues.

In conclusion, spending time with family is not a mere social convention, but a necessity for individual and societal wellbeing. It strengthens bonds, fosters learning and development, provides emotional support, instills values, and even promotes physical health. As we navigate the challenges and complexities of the modern world, let us not forget the importance of this fundamental social unit and the invaluable benefits of spending time with family.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Picnic With Family
• Essay on Vacation With Family
• Essay on My Favourite Festival Holi

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.