On the days when he’s not in front of a classroom of students, University of Kansas professor Jeffrey Hall is heads down in his office writing, reviewing studies and papers, answering emails, combing through data. Before he knows it, he hasn’t spoken to a single person in hours. When he finally emerges, he has two options: to grind away and continue ignoring fellow faculty and students, or, to pop into a colleague’s office to see how they’re doing, to offer a quick hello to passersby.
Hall has co-authored numerous studies, and now a new book, that urges all of us to pick the latter option, and to reap the benefits of a life lived socially. One study, for example, found that people who had more social interactions over the course of four weeks had greater well-being. Another showed that having just one quality conversation with a friend each day can improve mental health.
These habits help form what Hall and his co-author…