Connect

As humans, we thrive on social connections at a physical and emotional level. In our digital age, make sure to take time to have a face-to-face conversation with another person.

It may not be a surprise to you that loneliness is often linked to a plethora of mental health issues including anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. In a 2018 study by the American Cancer Society, data gathered from 580,000 participants found that social isolation can contribute to depression, insomnia (lack of sleep) and cognitive decline (e.g. poorer memory).¹The science backs this up; healthy interactions with other people promote the brains release of multiple chemicals that help control your social behaviour and support your overall health and wellbeing.² As our world has got more and more connected digitally, with the rise of the smart phone, social media and WhatsApp, it appears to have become less connected socially and emotionally. According to one source around 1 million young people (between 16 and 29) in Britain are persistently lonely.³This is clearly a huge problem, but what can each of us do about it in our day-to-day lives?

Share a meal

Food is a great way to get people together and we all need to stop to eat during the day. Try inviting someone from university or work to have lunch with you or test your culinary skills and invite some friends or family round for dinner.

Join a club

No matter what your interests are there is a good chance that others share the same ones as you. Finding a sports team, a games group or a reading club can be great ways to build friendships with people over a shared interest.

Volunteer

A great way to meet others and give back to the community is to volunteer for a local charity. This can be a great way to meet potential friends and acts of giving and kindness are often linked to more mental health benefits such as an increased sense of self-worth and the rewarding feeling of helping others.

Visit a Place of Worship

Whether you are religious or not, millions of people across the country visit a local place of worship each week. Many of these will be very welcoming to visitors from all backgrounds and walks of life. Look for one that has a time for refreshments and chat at the start or end of the service as this can be a great opportunity to strike up some conversations with new people.

Try a Buddy App

You may have heard of dating apps in the past but say hello to buddy apps! If you really struggle to find friends, you’re not alone. Apps like Bumble BFF help you easily find likeminded people that you can explore friendship with.⁴Although this may start with some digital messaging, hopefully some of these relationships will evolve into face-to-face conversations and deeper emotional connections.

Use Those Free Minutes

Moving away for university can be isolating, you’re often leaving behind close friends and family. Rather than just messaging these people find time to have a phone or video call to connect at a deeper and more personal level. Lots of phone contracts today come with free unlimited minutes meaning you can talk on the phone for as long as you want without racking up a huge bill! Pairing these phone calls with a gentle stroll in the countryside could be a great way to get a moment away from work or study and connect with another human being.

Remember, different people recharge in different ways and some of us need a lot more social interaction than others to refuel. (You could try a personality test to see if this helps you understand where you might get your energy from.⁵) However, even if you’re the most introverted person in the world, it’s good to connect with another human being each day to help look after your mental health.

Disclaimer: No content on this site should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.