It’s no secret that developing and maintaining healthy relationships is a huge driver for happiness and longevity. An 87-year-long Harvard study found that social fitness is the No. 1 thing that leads to a long and happy life.
“When you boil it all down, building the right social network is arguably the most powerful thing you can do to add good years to your life and be happy,” Dan Buettner, an expert who researches longevity in “blue zones,” said on his podcast.
Buettner interviewed Vanessa Van Edwards, a psychology expert who teaches research-backed people skills, to learn the “roadmap for building the right social network.”
Here’s what Van Edwards recommends for making friendships that last.
To find your community, it’s important to keep in mind that you won’t click with every single person you meet, Van Edwards said.
