Relationships & Friendships

When you were a kid, relationships came together easily. You noticed someone with the same superhero on his backpack and you immediately hit it off. No self-consciousness; no snobbery; no last-minute excuses. Whatever happened to that?

As men get older, they tend to let their connections wither, like flowers by a fire hydrant. Whether they’re too nervous to strike up new relationships or too unmotivated to maintain their current ones, men often watch their friendships lapse and either avoid romantic relationships altogether or take their existing partner for granted.

It’s gotten so bad lately that the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness to be a public health epidemic in 2023. Even if you think you prefer lone-wolfing it, I promise that you’d be better off in a pack. The research couldn’t be clearer: solid relationships are a non-negotiable part of a longer, happier, and more successful life.

With the right attitude, a few tips, and a little push, you can build and maintain those relationships, with your crew, your family, and your better half (if you have one).