{"id":28109,"date":"2021-12-13T19:18:35","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T19:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=28109"},"modified":"2021-12-14T02:36:24","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T02:36:24","slug":"how-to-be-a-better-friend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-be-a-better-friend\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Ways to Be a Better Friend, According to Experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

The pandemic has changed all of our relationships, but especially friendships. If you’re wondering how to be a better friend, read this expert-approved guide.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

Socializing hasn’t felt normal for the past 21 months, which has made it easy to feel isolated\u2014even from our closest friends. If you\u2019re wondering how to be a better friend, you\u2019re not alone. Yes, you may have seen your coworkers when you popped into the office and attended several Zoom happy hours, but that\u2019s probably not the same as the face-to-face connection you\u2019ve been craving these last two years. There\u2019s also a chance those casual friendships with people you\u2019d catch up with in-person over a drink have lapsed, and closer friends might now be a plane ride away.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019ve drifted apart, your friendship doesn\u2019t have to be over. But it will take a commitment on both ends to mend things. \u201cFriendships are all about reciprocity, and if a relationship is totally one-sided, it\u2019s not really a true friendship,\u201d says Suzanne Degges-White, PhD, LCPC<\/a>, Professor and Chair of the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University. Other keys to being a better best friend are self-work and self-awareness, too, psychologists say.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Studies<\/a> have shown that close friendships are beneficial to your health because they enhance your mental functioning and well-being. That\u2019s why we put together an expert-backed guide on how to be a better friend to your best pals, long-distance buddies, and acquaintances alike.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Work on yourself first.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

Before you can show up for any friend, you have to show up for yourself first. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to be able to be a healthy friend if you\u2019re not working on your own growth journey,\u201d says Shainna Ali, PhD, LMHC, NCC<\/a>. You should get to know your own communication style, needs, and boundaries, Dr. Ali advises. Consider journaling or speaking with a professional to fully understand all of these aspects of yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n

2. Define your needs.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

Wondering how else to be a better friend? Assess what you\u2019re really looking for in a friendship. Dr. Ali recommends answering some questions you can start with on your quest to be a better friend, such as:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n