Why work friends are crucial for your health

Plus more health news | Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Health Matters]( [The case for social support at work]( I’ve met some of my closest friends at work, and I’ve always treasured those relationships. Having good pals with whom I can laugh over lunch and trade memes on Slack really makes a difference in my happiness on the job. And it’s not just me: There’s a large body of research to suggest that social support in the workplace is linked to a slew of benefits, from better job performance to improved mental and physical health. Even better, you don’t need to make an office BFF to reap these benefits, experts told me. Virtually any amount of social support—from a compliment on a job well done to a chat in the office kitchen—can bolster your well-being and ward off the effects of stress. If your workplace relationships are lacking, experts recommended starting small. Check in with a coworker after a tough meeting or follow up to ask about something they told you last week. Even little gestures like these can do wonders for both of you. [READ MORE]( Share This Story What Else to Read [FDA Approves Drug to Treat Rare Form of ALS]( By Fiona Rutherford and Robert Langreth/Bloomberg Biogen's drug, Qalsody, was cleared through an accelerated approval pathway, meaning more research is needed for it to stay on the market. [Read More »]( [Study: Some Melatonin Supplements Have Dramatically Different Dosages Than Advertised]( By Haley Weiss In a study of 25 gummy melatonin supplements, 22 didn't match the dose listed on the label. [Read More »]( [Exercise May Help People Cut Back on Drugs and Alcohol, Study Suggests]( By Jamie Ducharme Physical fitness can improve psychological health, a new study suggests. [Read More »]( [The Mysteries and Underdiagnosis of SIBO]( By Meaghan Beatley Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can cause symptoms such as bloating and stomach pain. [Read More »]( [Here’s Why You Always Feel Sicker at Night]( By Markham Heid You're not imagining it. (Originally published in 2019.) [Read More »]( An Expert Voice "It’s probably going to be easier to reverse aging than it is to cure HIV. Our bodies are like a computer, and we can reset the software to be young again. We’re not [there] in humans yet, but we’re getting close." —David Sinclair, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, at the [TIME100 Summit]( on Tuesday --------------------------------------------------------------- If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, [click here](. Today's newsletter was written by Jamie Ducharme and edited by Angela Haupt. [Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.]( [Subscribe to TIME]( TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via [Facebook]( | [Twitter]( | [Newsletters]( [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS]( TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508 Questions? Contact health@time.com Copyright © 2023 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.