Gathering with friends is fun and can give new spirit in life. This activity is generally called hangout or “nongkrong” by young people. Hangout can be done with peers, work friends, or with community friends, for example in a cycling community. This activity can be done in various places, both in cafes, restaurants, and in the open air.¹

The following are some of the positive impacts of hanging out:^1,2,3

1. Get a strong social support system.

Hanging out with friends can have a significant impact on mental health. Research shows that teenagers who often hang out feel a sense of togetherness and comfort when interacting with friends.

2. Improve social skills.

Hangouts expand the reach of friendships and hone the ability to communicate with various types of people.

3. Sharpen creativity

Interaction with various groups can trigger new ideas and encourage someone to have a different mindset.

4. Increase self-confidence

Hanging out with friends who respect and accept yourself can have an impact on self-confidence.

5. As a means of recreation

Research shows that teenagers who often hang out can share funny stories or joke together, which creates a harmonious atmosphere and makes hangouts a means of recreation to relieve stress from tiring study assignments.

However, hanging out also has negative impacts, including:^1,3

1. Reduces productivity

Hanging out for too long can also reduce productivity where time that should be used to do assignments or study is instead used to hang out with friends. Research shows that teenagers who hang out with their friends often lose track of time for hours and don't complete the tasks they have completed.

2. Leads to unhealthy behavior

Hanging out is sometimes done in inappropriate places or getting friends who lead to negative behavior and involve things that should be avoided, such as alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs.

3. Disrupts finances

Hanging out can also disrupt finances, especially if hanging out is done often, such as the high cost of food when meeting friends or transportation costs to the meeting location.

4. Can disrupt health

Hanging out activities, such as staying up too late at night or consuming dishes that are not necessarily healthy, can cause health problems, such as lung health problems due to exposure to cigarette smoke when hanging out. 

Healthy Hangout Tips

To create a healthy hangout experience, here are some tips that can be applied:^3,4

1. Choose healthy dishes, such as mineral water, fruit juice without added sugar, or low-fat foods.

2. Limit food and drink intake when hanging out, such as ordering small portions of food.

3. Choose a hangout that provides healthy dishes or is in an open space, such as recreation at a tourist spot, cycling together, or an open-air dining place.

4. Avoid hanging out for too long, for example, not staying up until early morning when hanging out with friends.

 

Hangouts have various benefits and negative impacts, both in terms of health and future life journey. Therefore, make the most of this activity and make sure it does not interfere with important tasks that must be completed.

References:

1. Habib Husein. Dampak "Hangout" dan "Nongkrong" bagi masyarakat. Kompasiana. Last reviewed on March 15, 2023. Available at: https://www.kompasiana.com/habib55102/6411f0323555e42e7f519796/dampak-hangout-dan-nongkrong-bagi-masyarakat?page=all#section1

2. SecondMedic Expert. Why Hanging Out With Friends Boosts Your Mental Health!. SecondMedic. Last reviewed on April 3, 2024. Available at: https://www.secondmedic.com/blogs/why-hanging-out-with-friends-boosts-your-mental-health

3. Nuraziza, et.al. 2023. Nongkrong dan Gaya Hidup (Kajian Tentang Aktivitas Nongkrong Sebagai Gaya Hidup di Kalangan Remaja Pasar Segar Pengayoman Kota Makassar). Jurnal Predestination. 4(2): 48-54

4. Nurbaya Nuby. Panduan Nongkrong Cantik dan Sehat. Indonesiana. Last reviewed on March 2, 2024. Available at: https://www.indonesiana.id/read/171273/panduan-nongkrong-cantik-dan-sehat