Going out for meals with friends and family is nearly always enjoyable and memorable, but what about all the other meals we have? With people becoming more accustomed to eating alone, new data reveals how social eating can actually improve happiness and the connections you have in your life.
Why don’t we always eat together?
New research by the University of Oxford reveals that social eating directly correlates with happiness and general satisfaction with life. The study found that social eaters had more friends, were more connected to their community and were more satisfied with their lives on average.
Interestingly, when asked about whether sharing a meal is a good way of bringing people together, 76% agreed. And yet, many people continue to eat meals alone, with 10 out of 21 meals being eaten alone by the average adult each week, and a fifth of people having not eaten a meal with their parents in over six months.
Despite knowing that eating together is good for us, we rarely actually get around to doing it.
How does this link to networking?
Not only do social eaters feel better about themselves on average, but they also have wider social connections. Additionally, these connections provide both social and emotional support, covering multiple facets of contentment in life.
The prime contributor to isolated meals is simply busyness. With our daily lives packed with tasks that we can’t avoid, we often neglect our meal times, leading to rushed eating in isolation.
Finding a balance in the workplace could help bridge this gap, with arranged office lunches allowing everyone to eat together. Online delivery services such as www.crumbsdelivered.co.uk/index.php/product-category/lunch often specialise in bundles and deals for large office groups.
With an office that’s well-connected and eating together at the same time, not only can you get your team onto the same schedule, but happiness, productivity and sociability will all increase.
It can also be a good opportunity to cheer up lonelier co-workers. People over 55 are the most likely to eat alone, but shared lunchtimes can help provide the connection and enjoyment that they may be missing.
