sept 19/21 - How to be a social butterfly NOW and find happiness for years to come…

I am still in Canada and reconnecting with friends I have had for decades. I love going out, I love socializing but how can I do this and not sabotage my healthy lifestyle? Being a Social Butterfly is actually a healthy thing!!  This blog is an extension of last week’s blog `How to eat out and stay healthy’ which covers all the tips for eating out so read that one if you want to learn about the food side of socializing. This blog is why being a Social Butterfly may help you live a longer and happy life. 
​
Want to be happy until you are 100? Be a Social Butterfly at 20!
Social butterflies are FUN, they have great energy, they are outgoing, they connect easily with others but how does this contribute to a healthy lifestyle when the idea of being social generally comes with cocktails, party food and late nights? It’s all about the mental wellbeing that comes along with having friends and a social life. 

Why having close relationships is important. Feeling the sense of belonging, having a sense of purpose and being with the right “tribe” is actually one of the traits of many of the people living in the Blue Zones of the world where people tend to live 100 years and beyond. The people that we surround ourselves with should make us feel cared about and supported and increase our happiness which in turn can increase our longevity. 

Choose your friends wisely early on! As we age our social goals will change and the friends we once had in our 20’s may not “meld” with our life in our 30’s, 40’s and beyond unless you have things in common that go further than cocktails and nightclubs. Choose your friends wisely early on and ditch the ones that “suck” the energy out of you or do not serve your best interests. Good friends that you meet at 20 will be with you throughout your 30’s, 40’s and beyond. Think of who you want to be gray haired with, playing games and drinking martinis with when you are 100 and surround yourself with those people. 

Just think of what's happening in our world now. Our social circles have been diminished, mental health issues are rising. We are people that need people and even the most introverted people are craving some social interactions. Remember the days when you are on an airplane, sitting next to a complete stranger and you end up chatting the entire flight? Most people just put their air pods in their ears and watch their ipad. Technology has definitely changed the way we react with others and it could mean the demise of socializing in a positive and healthy way so it's up to us to change that!

Try reaching out to friends this week and nurture those relationships you can see going on for as long as you are alive. The science is there that the more you socialize, the happier and healthier you will be.

Thank you for following my journey to writing a book series!
Stay balanced,
​LeeAnna