It may come as no surprise that social connection plays a crucial role in your happiness.
Indeed, being able to spend meaningful time with those around you, especially your loved ones, can help to develop a more profound sense of belonging and wellbeing.
One of the most effective ways to create these connections is simply by sitting down and sharing a meal together.
According to the World Happiness Report, there’s a strong link between happiness and the number of shared meals you have.
This could be due to the fact that when you take the time to eat with others, you create space for honest conversation and connections.
Unfortunately, this tradition seems to be in decline in the UK. A report from the Guardian found that just 1 in 3 families sit down together to eat every day.
Meanwhile, 66% of children aged between 8 and 16 said they’d rather sit in front of the TV or computer rather than with their parents. More than half used their devices while eating as well.
Worryingly, it isn’t just children who are being drawn to electronics during mealtimes. 39% of children surveyed said they had asked a parent to put down their phones at the table.
As your life is likely busy, it’s understandable that you might struggle to find time to eat with your loved ones.
Yet, it might be worth putting in the effort to revive this tradition, as your happiness might benefit more than you realise.
Continue reading to discover why shared meals can have such a powerful effect on your mental wellbeing, and how you can make more time for them in your day-to-day life.
Sharing meals has some powerful benefits for your mental wellbeing
Sharing food with others can offer more than just a delicious and nutritious meal, as it also has some significant emotional and mental benefits – read on to discover three.
1. It can cause positive neurochemical releases
Eating together can help trigger several neurochemical responses in the brain, all of which could promote positive feelings.
Oxytocin is released during social interactions and can increase feelings of trust, empathy, and emotional connection. Sitting around a table and engaging in conversation is the perfect environment for this.
Meanwhile, endorphins – which can be released when you’re enjoying a tasty meal – help you feel more relaxed, content, and uplifted.
At the same time, serotonin, a neurotransmitter directly linked to happiness, is often released during positive social interactions, including at mealtime.
2. It reduces stress and promotes mindfulness
Regularly sharing meals may also help reduce your stress levels. When your life feels rushed or chaotic, your body may respond by releasing more cortisol, your brain’s stress hormone.
Making plenty of time to slow down and enjoy a peaceful meal without distraction could help you avoid this.
You might even find it easier to step away from everyday pressures and fully immerse yourself in the moment.
It can also encourage mindfulness. Rather than simply sitting down in front of a screen and eating for the sake of eating, sharing a meal enables you to pay closer attention to what you’re consuming.
This mindful approach to eating could improve your relationship with food.
3. It improves communication and strengthens relationships
On a more social level, shared meals are the perfect opportunity for conversation.
Indeed, they create a relaxed setting where dialogue can easily flow, especially with children or teens, and can even help combat loneliness.
Over time, this consistent connection could strengthen your existing relationships and foster a sense of community and belonging.
While life can get busy, there are ways to make more time for shared meals
While the benefits are clear, it isn’t always easy to make time for regular shared meals. Yet, there are ways to prioritise them more in your routine – here are three tips for doing so.
1. Set firm boundaries at the table
A helpful first step is setting clear boundaries at the table.
If screens are present, the quality of interactions typically suffers, so you could introduce a family rule that all devices should be put away before sitting down to eat.
You might want to use a basket or tub away from the dining area where everyone can place their phones until after the meal.
It may be helpful to involve the whole family when establishing these boundaries. Children might be more likely to engage when they feel they’ve been heard, and establishing these expectations together could reinforce the idea that shared meals are a time for connection.
2. Establish a routine
If you’re finding it especially challenging to carve out time for shared meals, consider creating a routine around mealtimes.
Even if dinner isn’t realistic, you could start small, perhaps with Sunday lunch or a Friday night takeaway.
Regardless, consistency is key. Scheduling regular meals into your calendar, just as you would with any other commitment, can help turn it into a habit.
The meals themselves don’t have to be elaborate, either. Even a bowl of soup or a basic pasta dish could become meaningful when shared. Then, you can develop your cooking skills as time goes on.
3. Make it a ritual
Turning meals into a ritual can also help make the habit more straightforward to stick to.
Make sure to switch off any background noises, such as the TV or radio, and let the conversation be the main entertainment of the meal.
You can even prepare a few topics in advance to keep the interactions flowing nicely, including interesting facts and simple questions about your loved ones’ days.
It’s wise to encourage active listening at the table, too, as this could help children develop essential communication skills.
You may also want to make meal prep a joint effort. Getting your children or grandchildren involved in tasks like chopping, laying the table, or even planning the menu can make them feel more involved in the entire effort.
Get in touch
Working closely with a financial planner can give you a sense of clarity and purpose, much like sharing meals.
If you’d like some support in doing so, please call 01992 500261 or fill in our online contact form to organise a meeting, and we’ll be in touch.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
Production