Spending Time With Loved Ones Reduces Stress

Your time is valuable. Who you choose to spend it with is a very important decision. Especially when you put it into perspective: if you’re awake 16 hours a day, and you spend 8 hours with someone in a given week, you’ve spent 7.1% of your waking hours with that person for the week. If you work 40 hours a week, you spend 35.7% of your weekly waking hours with coworkers. So it’s a good idea to think about who you share your time with.

Jim Rohn says “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” They influence your behaviors, attitudes, and mindsets. It’s important to make sure you place yourself in an environment where you feel you can be your best self. Jordan Peterson emphasizes this in his Self Authoring workshop. He encourages participants to list the best and worst qualities of the five people they spend the most time around. Do they bring out your best qualities? If the answer is yes, then you’re off to a good start.

During the holidays, your closest five people probably shifts to family and friends. You may even get to see loved ones who live far away. Good news! This can actually help lower your stress levels. Studies show “face-to-face interaction…counteracts the body’s defensive ‘fight-or-flight’ response.” In other words, quality time spent with loved ones is nature’s stress reliever.

Besides good conversation, hugs and kisses and cuddles all release oxytocin (the feel-good hormone) and lower blood pressure and cortisol levels (the stress hormone). So the more love you show, the better you will feel!

Enjoying the company of loved ones is the real magic of the holiday season. So sit back, relax, and let the feel-good times begin!