We often talk about the importance of staying physically active as we age. But what about staying socially active?
When we think about living a long, healthy life, our minds naturally turn to exercise, nutrition, sleep and maintaining a healthy weight.
And rightly so. These are all important ingredients for healthy aging.
However, there’s another piece of the puzzle that doesn’t always receive the attention it deserves.
Human connection.
The friendships we build, the communities we belong to and the relationships we nurture can have a profound impact on our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
And sometimes, we don’t realise just how important those connections are until we reconnect with someone from our past.
Life Gets Busy, But Friendships Don’t Have to Disappear
Think about someone you were once incredibly close to.
Perhaps it was a school friend, an old work colleague, a former training partner or even a family member you haven’t spoken to in years.
At one point, you probably spoke regularly, shared experiences, laughed together and supported each other through life’s challenges.
Then life happened.
Careers became demanding. Families grew. Children arrived. People moved houses, changed jobs and developed different routines.
Before you knew it, weeks turned into months, and months turned into years.
Not because anything went wrong.
Not because the friendship ended.
But simply because life got in the way.
The beautiful thing about genuine friendships is that time apart doesn’t necessarily weaken the connection.
Sometimes, one phone call is all it takes to feel like you were together yesterday.
The Science Behind Social Connection and Longevity
We know that regular exercise helps maintain muscle mass, bone density, cardiovascular fitness and mobility as we age.
But research increasingly shows that strong social relationships are another important part of healthy ageing.
A major research review published in PLOS Medicine in 2010, which examined data from more than 300,000 participants across 148 studies, found that people with stronger social relationships had a 50% greater likelihood of survival over the periods studied compared with those with weaker social relationships.
That’s a remarkable finding.
It doesn’t mean friendships replace exercise or good nutrition. Rather, it highlights that our relationships deserve attention alongside the other healthy habits we practise.
Strong social connections can help:
- Reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, particularly as we get older.
- Support mental wellbeing, providing a sense of belonging, purpose and emotional security.
- Improve resilience, giving us people to lean on during challenging times.
- Encourage healthier behaviours, especially when we’re surrounded by people who value staying active.
- Support healthy ageing, with social relationships associated with better long-term health outcomes.
The message is simple.
Being socially connected isn’t just good for the soul. It’s an important part of looking after your health.
Why Community Makes Exercise More Enjoyable
Over the past 20 years at Live Well, I’ve witnessed something interesting.
People often join a fitness studio because they want to lose weight, improve their strength, manage a health condition or simply feel better.
But many stay because of the relationships they develop.
It’s the familiar faces when they walk through the door.
The coach who remembers what they did on the weekend.
The fellow member who notices when they’ve missed a session.
The conversations, encouragement, laughter and occasional friendly banter.
These little interactions might seem insignificant, but collectively they create something powerful.
A sense of belonging.
And when people feel connected to a community, exercise becomes more than another task on their weekly to-do list.
It becomes something they genuinely look forward to.
That sense of accountability and enjoyment can make it easier to remain consistent with exercise, which is particularly important as we get older.
After all, the best exercise program isn’t necessarily the most complicated or intense.
It’s the one you can consistently maintain for years and decades.
As We Age, Our Social Connections Matter Even More
One of the challenges of ageing is that our social circles can naturally become smaller.
Retirement can remove daily interactions with work colleagues.
Children grow up and leave home.
Friends relocate, and some relationships gradually fade.
At the same time, opportunities to meet new people can become less frequent.
This is why being proactive about maintaining friendships and participating in community activities is so important.
Joining a walking group, volunteering, playing a sport, attending a fitness class or simply catching up with friends for coffee can all provide valuable opportunities for connection.
And it’s never too late to build new relationships.
At Live Well, we see people in their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond developing new friendships through their shared commitment to health and fitness.
It’s a wonderful reminder that you’re never too old to make new friends, try something different or become part of a community.
The 20-Year Reminder
As we prepare to celebrate Live Well’s 20th birthday, I’ve been reconnecting with former members who trained with us at different stages of our journey.
Some I haven’t spoken to in years.
Yet the conversations have felt so familiar.
We’ve shared stories, laughed about old memories and caught up on what life has brought our way.
It’s been particularly rewarding to hear that many are still exercising, keeping active and looking after their health.
These conversations have reinforced something I’ve always believed.
While we measure fitness progress through improvements in strength, endurance, mobility and body composition, some of the most meaningful outcomes can’t be measured.
The friendships formed.
The confidence gained.
The sense of belonging.
And the memories created along the way.
These are the things that make a community special.
A Simple Challenge: Make That Phone Call
We often set ourselves health and fitness challenges.
Walk 10,000 steps.
Complete three strength sessions.
Eat more protein.
Get eight hours of sleep.
But this week, I’d like to suggest a different kind of health challenge.
Reconnect with someone.
Think of an old friend, family member or former colleague you’ve been meaning to contact.
Pick up the phone.
Ask how they’re going.
Reminisce about the good old days.
Perhaps even organise to catch up for a walk, coffee or meal.
You don’t need a special occasion or an elaborate reason to reach out.
Sometimes, the simple act of showing someone you’re thinking about them can make a tremendous difference.
And who knows? That phone call might be the beginning of reconnecting a friendship that lasts another 20 years.
Stronger Together, For Life
At Live Well, our philosophy is built around LIFT, SPRINT and PLAY, helping people remain strong, fit and capable as they age.
But there’s another element that brings everything together.
Community.
Because living well isn’t just about how much weight you can lift, how far you can run or how many years you live.
It’s also about the people you share those years with.
So continue lifting weights, moving your body, eating well and challenging yourself.
But don’t forget to invest time in your friendships and relationships.
After all, what’s the point of living a long, healthy life if we don’t have people to share it with?
And to our Live Well community, past and present, we look forward to celebrating 20 years of strength, friendships and memories with you on Saturday, 21st November 2026, at our Kogarah studio.
Stay Strong & Fit As You Age!
Matt Mazzaferro
Founder – Live Well Health & Fitness Studio
Related blog post:
- Stick to the Plan: Why Consistency Is the Secret to Long-Term Fitness Success
- Couples Who Train Together Stay Stronger Together
- What Has Held You Back from Making Changes in the Past?
- How to Build Healthy Habits This Year with the Help of a Personal Trainer
- What to Know Before Engaging with a Personal Trainer
