June 8 rolls around every year, and if you're looking at your calendar wondering why everyone is posting photos with their roommates or childhood pals, it’s because it is National Best Friends Day. Honestly, it's one of those holidays that people kind of roll their eyes at until they realize they actually have someone they want to shout out. It isn't just some corporate invention to sell greeting cards, though the card companies definitely don't mind the extra business.
It’s about the "ride or dies."
Most of us have a lot of "friends." We have work friends, gym friends, and people we haven't spoken to since high school but still follow on Instagram. But a best friend? That’s a different tier of human existence. Science actually backs this up, showing that having a close confidant isn't just nice—it’s a biological necessity for staying sane in a world that feels increasingly chaotic.
The Weird History of National Best Friends Day
You might think this started with a viral hashtag in 2012, but it goes back way further than the iPhone. In 1935, the U.S. Congress actually met and decided to designate June 8 as a day to honor close friendships. It was a weird time. The country was pulling itself out of the Great Depression. People were struggling. Maybe the government realized that when the economy is trashed and the future looks bleak, the only thing keeping people tethered to reality is the person sitting next to them on the porch.
For decades, the day stayed pretty quiet. It didn't have the marketing engine of Valentine's Day or the historical weight of Memorial Day. Then came the internet.
Social media basically breathed new life into June 8. It became the perfect excuse for a "photo dump." But beneath the filtered photos of brunch and hiking trips, there’s a real human need being met here. We’re lonelier than we used to be. Studies from the Survey Center on American Life show that Americans have fewer close friends than they did thirty years ago. In 1990, only 3% of people said they had no close friends. By 2021, that number jumped to 12%.
That’s why a day like this matters. It’s a nudge. It’s a reminder to text the person who knows your darkest secrets and hasn't blocked you yet.
Why Your Brain Needs a Best Friend (Literally)
We talk about friendship in sentimental terms, but the biology is fascinating. When you hang out with a best friend, your brain is basically a chemical factory.
Oxytocin is the big player here. Often called the "cuddle hormone," it’s what bonds mothers to infants, but it’s also what bonds you to your bestie. When you’re stressed, your cortisol levels spike. Your heart rate goes up. Your blood pressure climbs. But researchers at the University of Virginia found something incredible: when people were faced with a steep hill to climb, they perceived it as less steep if they were standing next to a friend.
It’s a literal shift in perception.
Having a best friend makes the world look less threatening. If you have someone to vent to about your boss or your weird dating life, your body recovers from stress faster. It’s a protective buffer. Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychologist at Brigham Young University, famously conducted a meta-analysis showing that social isolation is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Basically, your best friend is keeping you alive.
The Different "Types" of Best Friends We Celebrate on June 8
Not every best friendship looks the same. We tend to categorize them, even if we don't realize it.
There is the "Legacy Friend." This is the person who knew you when you had braces and thought neon leggings were a good idea. They have "the vault" of your most embarrassing moments. You don't have to explain your family drama to them because they were there when it happened. Even if you don't talk for six months, you pick up exactly where you left off.
Then you’ve got the "Work Bestie." This is a specific kind of trauma-bonding. You spend 40 hours a week together. You have a telepathic language of eye rolls in meetings. Without them, that job would be a soul-crushing void. June 8 is the day you finally tell them, "Hey, thanks for making sure I didn't quit on Tuesday."
Don't forget the "Lifer." This is the person you met in adulthood who just gets it. You share the same values, the same humor, and the same disdain for people who talk loudly in movie theaters.
How to Actually "Do" June 8 (Without Being Cringe)
Look, not everyone wants to post a 10-slide carousel on Instagram with a sappy caption. That’s fine. Honestly, it's often more meaningful to do something low-key.
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A "maintenance text" goes a long way. Just a simple "Hey, saw this and thought of you" or "Thanks for being a real one" is enough. If you’re feeling ambitious, a phone call—like a real, voice-to-voice conversation—is basically a luxury in 2026.
Some people use the day to do a "friendship audit." It sounds cold, but it’s healthy. Are you putting energy into people who don't give it back? Are you being a good friend? Friendship is a muscle. If you don't exercise it, it withers. Use June 8 as the day you go to the "friendship gym."
Common Misconceptions About National Best Friends Day
One big mistake people make is thinking you can only have one best friend. That’s a playground rule that we should have left in third grade. You can have a "best" friend for different areas of your life.
Another misconception is that it’s only for young people. If anything, friendship becomes more vital as we age. For seniors, a best friend is often the primary source of cognitive stimulation and emotional support. It’s not just for teenagers taking selfies; it’s for the 70-year-olds who meet for coffee every Wednesday morning at the same diner.
Also, it's not World Friendship Day. That's in July. June 8 is specifically about the best ones. The top-tier, inner-circle, emergency-contact people.
Actionable Steps for Your Social Health
If you want to take National Best Friends Day seriously, don't just scroll past it. Do something that actually strengthens the bond.
- The 10-Minute Catch-Up: Call them while you're driving or folding laundry. Don't wait for a "good time" because a good time never comes.
- The "Remember When" Text: Send a specific memory. "Remember that time we got lost in Chicago?" It triggers a hit of nostalgia that reinforces the bond.
- Plan the Next Thing: Friendships often die in the "we should hang out soon" phase. Be the person who picks a date and a place.
- Small Gestures: Send a $5 Venmo for a coffee. It’s not about the money; it’s about the fact that you were thinking of them during your day.
Friendship is the only relationship we choose entirely for ourselves. We don't choose our family. We often "fall" into romantic relationships based on proximity or chemistry. But a best friend? You looked at that person and said, "Yeah, I like your brand of crazy. Let's hang out forever."
That's worth a day on the calendar.
Whether it's June 8 or any other Tuesday, the reality is that your social circle is the strongest predictor of your long-term happiness. If you’ve got one person you can call at 3:00 AM who will actually pick up, you’re doing better than most. Celebrate that. Protect it. And maybe, just this once, post the embarrassing photo. They’ll forgive you. That’s what best friends do.
Next Steps for Your Inner Circle:
Check your phone right now. Look at the last person you had a deep conversation with. If you haven't seen them in over a month, open your calendar and propose a specific time to meet—not a "someday," but a real Tuesday at 6 PM. The most "pro" move for National Best Friends Day isn't a social media post; it's being the person who makes the plan happen.