Health Matters

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The case for social support at work

I’ve met some of my closest friends at work, and I’ve always treasured those relationships. Having good pals with whom I can laugh over lunch and trade memes on Slack really makes a difference in my happiness on the job.

And it’s not just me: There’s a large body of research to suggest that social support in the workplace is linked to a slew of benefits, from better job performance to improved mental and physical health. Even better, you don’t need to make an office BFF to reap these benefits, experts told me. Virtually any amount of social support—from a compliment on a job well done to a chat in the office kitchen—can bolster your well-being and ward off the effects of stress.

If your workplace relationships are lacking, experts recommended starting small. Check in with a coworker after a tough meeting or follow up to ask about something they told you last week. Even little gestures like these can do wonders for both of you.

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An Expert Voice

"It’s probably going to be easier to reverse aging than it is to cure HIV. Our bodies are like a computer, and we can reset the software to be young again. We’re not [there] in humans yet, but we’re getting close."

—David Sinclair, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, at the TIME100 Summit on Tuesday

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Today's newsletter was written by Jamie Ducharme and edited by Angela Haupt.

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"It’s probably going to be easier to reverse aging than it is to cure HIV. Our bodies are like a computer, and we can reset the software to be young again. We’re not [there] in humans yet, but we’re getting close."

—David Sinclair, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, at the TIME100 Summit on Tuesday