#IMHO: Spend Time With Your Girlfriends During Mental Health Awareness Month

Do you want to dive into a new book? Craving to get lost in a captivating podcast or TV show? The Women and the Law Division's #IMHO has just what you're looking for! Lucy Dollens has our recommendation for this month.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and Women's Health Month. In light of this, I wanted to focus this month's In My Humble Opinion (IMHO) on the value of spending time with your girlfriends given the mental and physical health benefits to be gained from such activities.

Science has confirmed that spending time with your girlfriends is essential to maintain emotional equilibrium and sanity, especially as we age and in dealing with stress. Don’t believe me? Check out this article in Forbes: Hanging With Your Girlfriends Helps You Live Longer And Happier. Indeed, the author emphasizes, "Research confirms that socializing improves your happiness and positivity. It helps you deal with stress and calms you down. Some experts recommend that you spend time with your girlfriends twice a week." So hang with your girlfriends in order to reduce stress, promote positivity and mental health and support your overall physical health and longevity.

And in light of the benefits to be derived from hanging out with our girlfriends, I offer a few suggestions to get the ball rolling for this summer. Take the research to heart, and use it as justification to schedule some activities with your girlfriends!

• Catch an outdoor movie at Newfields: The National Bank of Indianapolis Summer Nights Film Series
• Take the plunge at one of the Adult-Only Nights at Freedom Springs Greenwood Aquatics Park
• Try your hand at the original football bowling pin game at the Fowling Warehouse
• Devour some outstanding grub at the Garage Food Hall
• Float away your stress on a tubing float trip in Indiana
• Take in a concert at Symphony on the Prairie

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