Making new friends AT ANY AGE

Are your social skills in need of a boost? Here's how to get out there again!

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Leading a healthy lifestyle is about more than what you eat or how much exercise you get. One of the single best things that you can do for your wellbeing is to spend lots of time with mates!

As we get older, making new friends can also become more challenging. However, that doesn't mean you should give up.

"Having friends greatly enhances both physical and mental health," says psychologist Gordon Spence.

"In fact, only smoking cessation has a bigger positive effect on health than friendships."

Not only do friends give you emotional support when you need it, social bonding can also trigger feelgood endorphins and even bolster our immune system.

"Friendships are very important," tells Gordon. "Not only do they provide practical and emotional support, the stimulation of friends can also help to keep people mentally sharp and physically active."

Making connections

If you've been out of the mix for a while, socialising can seem daunting. But just like any other skill, it's something that gets better with practice.

"Show some interest in their story, and try to find what's common in your life experience and theirs," suggests Gordon.