Making friends becomes more challenging as we age, often requiring a significant investment of time—about 50 hours for a casual acquaintance and up to 200 hours for a closest friend. Maintaining strong social ties is crucial for both physical and mental health, with studies showing that those with weaker relationships are significantly more likely to face health risks. It's recommended to cultivate around five intimate friendships, with regular communication every other day being key to sustaining those connections.
