You Can (& Should) Combat Loneliness

Welcome to Fighting Lonely!

Loneliness is a pervasive issue, one that affects us all, regardless of our age or background.

At Fighting Lonely, we are on a mission to build a supportive and welcoming community where we share the latest information, research, and positive news about overcoming loneliness and making friends.

Why? Because prolonged loneliness has a huge impact on our health and well-being. It increases the risk of early mortality by 26% and elevates our chances of depression and other mental health conditions.

With 37 million Americans living alone—not to mention the effects of smartphones, social media, and busier-than-ever schedules—now's the time to take action against loneliness, build human connection, and thrive. You in?

Feeling lonely? Take action

The first ever edition of Fighting Lonely is all about action. You can take real, meaningful steps toward combatting isolation and building connection.

Read on for practical, science-backed tips and some of the incredible outcomes that come from human relationships.

Practical tips for overcoming loneliness

Here are four practical, research-backed tips to help you overcome loneliness:

You're not alone

A quick scroll through social media might give you the impression that everyone else is living their best life surrounded by a huge group of friends, but this isn't true. In fact, more than half of all Americans report feeling lonely on a regular basis, with younger generations the most isolated.

When you feel lonely, know you're not alone. It's a common and natural experience. You can even take it as a positive—you're keen to make a connection.

Small steps make a big difference

According to Psychology Today, you don't have to make grand gestures like deleting your social media accounts to counteract loneliness. Instead, small, simple actions can add up.

Look at your relationships—these are an untapped resource. Scrolling through your contacts and sending a quick text to an old friend or family member is a great start. Even smiling at a stranger can boost your mood.

Help others to help yourself

Kindness towards others can help build those all-important connections and reduce feelings of loneliness. Consider volunteering for a cause near and dear to your heart—research shows it improves our health and broadens our social network.

Nurtured by nature

A walk in the park can do wonders for your mental health, including lowering stress levels, improving your mood, boosting your attention, and helping you tune into feelings of empathy.

Head to the local park, walk around your neighborhood, take a hike, or make a day trip to the beach. However you choose to interact with it, the natural world is always there.

Human connection boosts mental health

Feeling connected to others promotes positive mental health, physical health, and gives life meaning.

Research shows that emotional conversations, support, and positive affirmations can enhance mental health. Strong social connections can increase longevity, strengthen the immune system, and even help you recover from diseases faster.

People with more social connections experience lower levels of anxiety and depression and higher self-esteem and empathy. Lack of social connection is more damaging to health than obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure.

The key takeaway? Your connections with others are worth investing in.

Snippets

Pet power: Pets can have a positive impact on physical and mental health by decreasing psychiatric symptoms in young adults and providing comfort for older adults who have lost their spouses.

AI and loneliness: Tony Prescott, professor of cognitive robotics at the University of Sheffield, argues that AI can play a role in preventing human loneliness by forming meaningful bonds similar to those we have with pets and children's dolls.

Me-time: Is self-care making us lonely? Are we turning away from the human connections that will lead to true fulfilment?

Travel and connection: Young people are seeking more human connection in the post-lockdown era, embracing small-group travel and prioritizing interest-based experiences over destination-based ones.

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