Saying hello to neighbors could boost your well-being, a new survey says

Saying hello to your neighbors can lead to social success, and improve a person’s physical, financial, career, and community health. Sounds unbelievable right? But, this is what the recent findings of a new Gallup survey revealed.

The Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index, a large, national poll on career, finance, social, physical, and community well-being, has been conducted quarterly in the United States since 2008. A recent survey found that people who say hello to their neighbors have a higher well-being compared to people who kept to themselves.
The optimal number of greetings is six and after six, there aren’t any greater benefits from greeting your neighbors beyond that.

Young vs adults

It’s interesting to note that most Americans interact with an average of five neighbors on a regular basis, with some even greeting six or more. However, the survey found that this varied by age group.

Young adults under 30 seem to greet fewer neighbors, only around 2.9, while only 14% of them greet six or more. Perhaps this is due to their financial situation and location, as they often live in high-rise apartments or condos in the inner city. They may not even know their neighbors, let alone greet them. It’s possible that smartphones also play a role in this trend. Younger generations may be more focused on their devices instead of looking up and greeting their neighbors.

On the other hand, adults over 65 are more likely to greet their neighbors, with 41% of them speaking to an average of 6.5 or more neighbors. This trend seems to increase steadily with age. Older Americans may relocate to smaller towns or rural areas upon retirement, where opportunities to interact with neighbors are greater.

The connection between saying hello and community, financial, and career well-being

One’s career well-being is intricately tied to their sense of satisfaction, including how well they fit into their job and whether they are utilizing their strengths. Financial well-being, on the other hand, is not solely defined by how much money one makes, but rather, by their ability to maintain responsible spending habits and work towards achieving financial security. It’s understandable to assume that the increase in financial well-being that comes with greeting neighbors is due to the fact that individuals with higher levels of financial security may be more likely to reside in a safer area, which allows them to feel more comfortable being out and about.

On the other hand, the concept of community well-being is all about feeling secure, having a sense of belonging, and giving back to the neighborhood. When your community’s well-being is strong, it is more likely that you will greet your neighbors with a warm hello. This simple act of greeting can go a long way in improving your overall well-being.