If you’ve been around for 20+ years, you likely have observed the small shifts in behavior that have resulted in increased isolation and general loneliness. This was further labeled an epidemic in 2023 when the surgeon general issued an advisory.
If you’re a fan of the TL;DR for the background information, the takeaway is that social interactions have benefit to overall health and that by choosing to be more isolated we are missing opportunities to have better health. There are causes for increased isolation (many technology-related - for a different post). Ultimately, being social has a positive impact on biological processes, psychological processes, and your behaviors and so seeking social situations should be part of your path Toward Wellth.
To reverse the isolation trend that is leading to loneliness, the publication laid out 6 pillars to a framework designed to ‘Advance Social Connection’.
These are government-led initiatives to build an infrastructure and encourage behavior change. BUT There are also grassroots ways to be a part of behavior change - and it starts with your action!
Quick exercise: Stop what you’re doing and think about someone you haven’t seen in person in quite some time, that you have the capability of meeting with in the next two weeks, and contact them to set time to meet up.
Consider adding the planning of social interaction to your recurring to-do list… perhaps relying on excuses like “I’ve been wanting to try out this new restaurant, do you want to meet me there one evening?” or “I’ve been trying to be a bit more active although it’s boring walking by myself - do you want to walk with me once a week?”
Toward Wellth Vision: With a physical place dedicated to being a safe place for wellness, the promotion of social interactions is a core focus. These interactions can be as casual as providing the comfortable environment for a friend to friend conversation space. For those who self describe as ‘socially awkward’ or who do not have many social connections, there will be shared-interest ‘mixers’ with traditional bar events (karaoke, trivia, etc) affording the experience. Closed-door group meetings will be provided for shared-experience groups to heal and bond together.
Also found in the Surgeon General’s advisory and other recent happiness reports - the general political division has further impacted the desire to connect (or the impulse to avoid social situations where conflict may arise). There are opportunities to provide programming and safe environments to discuss topics that have become divisive. Toward Wellth will tackle providing programming to meet these unmet needs.