Philosophers and scientists agree, one of the key lessons about happiness is that having strong social bonds is a critical – probably THE critical – element of a happy life.

Over and over, studies show that relationships with other people make us happy. The more friends we have, the more likely we are to be happy. Even short interactions with other people boost mood — and this is true, perhaps surprisingly, even for introverts. It’s really important to work on your connections with other people.

Now it turns out that talking to other people not only makes you happier, it improves your memory and intellectual performance, as shown by an interesting study.

So if you ever feel guilty for spending ten minutes in idle conversation with a colleague, or for having a long chat on the phone with a friend, now you can chalk it up to brain exercise. It will make you happier AND smarter.

The days are long, but the years are short.