The WHO’s Commission on Social Connection reported in June 2025 a deafening truth – that one in six people worldwide are experiencing loneliness and that this is the highest ever recorded. This indeed came as a shocking news to many, because with digital connectivity at an all time high, how does it make sense that more people are feeling isolated than ever, right? This just confirms the fact that technology can never replace face to face interactions and the real purpose it serves. Technology can only indeed compliment the connections we already have.
A groundbreaking research by the Harvard Study on Adult Development, led by Dr. Robert Waldinger and his team since 1983, revealed something extraordinary – that strong, supportive relationships are one of the most consistent predictors of long term health, happiness, and even longevity. The study brings to our attention that loneliness and lack of meaningful social connections can increase the risks for both mental as well as physical ailments.
So what can we do to play our part to stop this current epidemic of loneliness spreading into our personal lives?
Rebuilding social bonds requires intentional and meaningful steps from us and from the society as a whole. Human beings have an innate need for connection and inclusion. Many social theorists and psychologists from the past have stressed on the importance of belongingness and how it paves the way for a sense of well being. It inadvertently plays a role in giving humans a sense of security, purpose, and identity.
At an individual level, some people may truly lack the skills needed to maintain genuine connections. In such cases, tailored interventions may be necessary to help them recoup back into society.
The need for true social connection remains the same more or less across ages. Most teens and young adults have different sets of friends, and have no trouble initiating and maintaining new friendships. However, it has been seen that as we grow older, our social networks also shrink. Therefore, older adults are at a higher risk of social isolation, and has been seen to be one of the highest risk factors for cognitive as well as emotional decline.
Keeping this in mind, social connectedness is a skill that can and should be cultivated. It is important to have different kinds of ongoing social relationships, as they all serve a different purpose in our lives.
For starters, we can all be intentional with the relationships that we already have in our lives. Ask yourselves – how can my current ongoing relationships thrive? Am I just passively existing, or if I put in more effort from my side, can it boost my overall social well-being?
So next time, be the one to schedule that coffee date with your friend. Be the one to plan that get-together with your cousins. It would even be better if you set up a ritual to meet up with this person on a regular basis, for example, on the first Saturday of every month.
If you feel that your existing pool of social relationships is limited, then it will benefit you to make an extra effort to meet new people. And the easiest way to do that is to join a hobby class that you have always been interested in. You are sure to meet like-minded people, considering you already have one common interest to get things going.
Sometimes, despite all this, you may still be finding it difficult to connect with someone. The likely root cause is that you are wound up in your own world. The key here is to be more selfless, and consciously put the effort to make it more about the other person. This in turn will make you more expansive, thus making it more likely for them to connect with you. So in such cases, start doing the small things. Smile more often! Be it a stranger, or the cashier at the grocery shop you regularly visit. Or just ask your neighbour how they are doing.
Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the quality of the relationship matters more than the quantity. So make sure to give your time to those relationships that make you feel truly content and fulfilled.
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