Resilience, or the ability to cope and adapt in stressful situations, has been shown to be an essential factor in overall mental and physical wellbeing. People who are more resilient have better health outcomes, cope better with loss, and have improved decision making skills. Fortunately, resilience is a trait that can be learned, and a large contributor to building resilience is strong friendships. Studies show that those with strong friendships are able to bounce back more easily from a difficult work situation, a serious medical illness, or even the loss of a loved one.

Interested in building your resilience through better friendships? Here are a few tips on how to do it:

• First things first, create connections. Various special interest groups and social clubs make it easier than ever to connect with like-minded people. Consider reaching out to people you might not know very well, such as people at work that you might pass in the hallway, and strike up a conversation. Who knows, you may have a lot more in common than you thought.
• Strengthen connections you already have. Reach out to good friends you haven't spoken to in a while, even if it's just to connect over coffee or a quick FaceTime/Skype session. Consider carving out an extra hour or two each week to schedule lunch or dinner regularly with a close friend. You might be surprised at how impactful this could be.
• Try to focus on more time in person. The internet is a powerful tool that connects us with friends and family around the world. But people who spend excessive amounts of time on social media report feeling lonely and more depressed. There is no substitute for ample face-to-face time when nurturing our relationships.
• When stressed, reach out to a friend. An important part of building resilience is accepting help from people you care about. Leaning on a friend during a tough time can make you feel better and help you strengthen the bond you have with that friend.