REASONS TO GET YOUR GROUP ON

The benefits of spending time with your squad go beyond just catching up; friend time is food for the soul. A landmark University of California at Los Angeles study found that women’s friendships not only assuage loneliness but also fill emotional gaps in romantic relationships, reduce stress and help us lead more joyful lives. So when a girls’ night finally comes together after weeks (or months) of planning, the reconnection can be so revitalizing that it prompts a flurry of next-day emails that read, “So great to see you guys! Let’s do it again soon!”

That’s no coincidence, says Montreal developmental psychologist and newspaper columnist Susan Pinker, author of The Village Effect: How Face-to-face Contact Can Make Us Healthier, Happier, and Smarter. “Women have more oxytocin pathways than men, so we secrete more of that hormone,” she says. A natural feel-good hormone, oxytocin can reduce pain, stress and inflammation. “When we reach out to other people, look after them or share information, oxytocin is released, which makes us feel better and provides physiological protection,” says Pinker.

But women also hang out with friends because, well, it’s fun, and prioritizing relationships outside of immediate family creates an even wider social network that can provide advice and support. “We are a social species,” says Pinker, “evolved to interact in person.” Time spent together may be more meaningful than your usual Facebook updates or Instagram posts. “Online connections are great for setting up get-togethers,” says Pinker, “but it’s the in-person events that are extremely important for mental and physical health and longevity.”