Consider the effort and investment put into events like birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, and weddings – it’s huge, and the ratio of prep time to event time is insane! But people from everywhere seem compelled to come together for special moments. Even on a small scale, the process is strange: why go out for coffee when there is a reasonably good version at home?

Socializing, as it is formally called, produces feelings of happiness, reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, and even improves cognitive function, quality of life, and longevity. Human beings are by nature social creatures: in the past we needed each other to increase the probability of survival and the strength that comes from cooperation. So being with others is a deeply relaxing experience on a primal neurological level, creating a sense of security and trust.

Socializing also gives us the opportunity to learn and reinforce our identity, the idea we have of who we are. When people move to other countries, they often seek the company of people from their homeland. At first glance it seems absurd that English people residing in Spain seek out the company of those with a family accent and who also like sausage for breakfast, having bothered to travel away from home in the first place. However, when considered from a psychological point of view, it makes sense that they may need to reinforce a sense of identity when surrounded by strangeness that confuses and creates uncertainty; we prefer to feel safe and, short of being in a safe environment, we can reinforce that by feeling safer inside: our identity.

While people of all ages, genders, and personalities benefit from interacting with others, there are different needs for social stimulation. Some people, classified as extroverts, need constant social stimulation. Extroverts regularly attend parties and social events. They thrive on interactions with others; The more talk and action, the better. Introverts, on the other hand, need socialization but also require alone time. Extraverts and introverts derive the same benefits from engaging in social interactions, although the volume and frequency of mingling with others varies. Both personality types reap the benefits of happiness and the sense of fulfillment that comes from engaging in conversations and sharing ideas and opinions with others. Introverts don’t spread their social network as wide, but they are more likely to deepen it, which friends and family will appreciate.

Engaging in small talk brings about happy feelings, but deep, meaningful conversations bring more. Research suggests that happier people have twice as many substantive conversations and engage in far less small talk than unhappier people.

Women benefit from social interaction by caring for others and acting as friends. They even enjoy a longer life expectancy thanks to emotional connections and intimate interactions (going to the starting point of calming the mind and body). More social people of all ages see higher levels of mental and physical activity than their less social peers. According to the National Institute on Aging, social stimulation improves health and minimizes cognitive decline among the elderly. Even small doses of human interaction produce results. Activities such as group exercise, board games, and eating with others produce stimulation and social satisfaction.

So the recipe is clear: make socializing part of your health and wellness intentions…calms, reassures, and protects mind and body. Enjoy with your friends knowing that you have a deep value both given and received.