Why spending time with your girlfriends is the best form self-care

This isn’t just emotional wisdom, it’s backed by science!

13 January, 2026

Why spending time with your girlfriends is the best form self-care

As someone who grew up attending an all-girls school until the 10th grade, take it from me: your girls are everything. You can have boyfriends, situationships, or even a husband, but the value your girl group holds isn't like anything else. And this is something I can say with conviction: one of the most important things in your life is your friends, more specifically, your girlfriends. They are usually your first understanding of love outside of your family. Sit with that thought for a second.

Anything and everything flies with the girls. You’re allowed to be yourself in every shape and form, without overthinking it. It’s a space where your wins are celebrated loudly, your losses are held gently, and even the smallest moments are given importance. With girlfriends, you are heard, validated, corrected when needed, and, most importantly, reassured. It’s a relationship rooted in emotional honesty, security, and vulnerability.

And yet, as life gets busier, this is often the first thing to slip. Careers demand more time, relationships take centre stage, and everyday responsibilities pile up. Slowly, without realising it, you stop carving out time for the girls because there always seems to be something more urgent, and they will always be there no matter what. But the truth is, this is exactly what needs prioritising. Time with your girlfriends is the kind of gathering that replenishes you. It’s where laughter replaces a bad day; where stresses soften, and where your nervous system finally gets a break.

What’s interesting is that this isn’t just emotional wisdom; it’s backed by science. Women today are more connected than ever. Group chats buzz endlessly, voice notes stack up, and video calls happen at the drop of a hat. Yet despite this constant digital closeness, many women still feel emotionally depleted, unsettled, and oddly isolated. The reason is simple: being in touch isn’t the same as being present.

Research backs what many of us already feel. Anthropologist Robin Dunbar’s work at Oxford University shows that strong, meaningful relationships are built through real-life, face-to-face time rather than messages and screens. Our nervous systems are wired for this kind of physical connection. And when women spend time with people they feel safe with, especially other women they trust, their body responds in noticeable ways: stress levels drop, emotions feel more balanced, and even blood pressure can improve. Put simply, togetherness signals safety to the body.

This is why sisterhood is perhaps one of the most overlooked wellness practices of our time. Modern life places an enormous emotional and mental load on women, balancing work, relationships, expectations, and invisible labour. Time spent with girlfriends becomes more than socialising; it becomes restoration. While digital communication keeps us informed, physical presence creates a sense of ease and grounding. Sitting across from one another allows the brain to pick up on tone, facial expressions, and subtle emotional cues that reinforce trust and belonging, elements that no screen can fully capture.

From a biological standpoint, showing up for each other isn’t about nostalgia or sentimentality. It’s an act of care rooted in how the body and mind function. In a world that constantly demands women be available, capable, and composed, choosing to gather, to actually be together, becomes a quiet form of self-preservation.

So no, making time for your girlfriends isn’t indulgent or something to put off until life feels more “in control.” It isn’t a phase you outgrow or a habit you abandon once you hit certain societal milestones. Prioritising your girls is how women stay emotionally resilient, physically balanced, and deeply connected to who they are. Take this as your sign to make a plan with your girls this week, and to pause for a moment to truly appreciate the women who show up for you, always.

Lead Image: IMDb

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