Last week I shared how investing in yourself for yourself rather than for someone else increases your self-worth. Continuing on the self-worth train, let’s talk social isolation, loneliness, and what you can do to prevent both. And of course, why doing so matters.
The other day, I was on a Zoom with my side hustle team and was reminded that:
1) Many people in America are lonely and looking for a space to belong.
2) Thanks to my team, I was no longer one of those people
Seven years ago I started looking for a “side gig” because I needed a flexible way to make additional meaningful income.
I chose the “side gig” that I did because I also felt alone and wanted that to change.
I lacked community. I had few friends. I wasn’t terribly comfortable embracing my extroversion (it was like an atrophied muscle), and because of a few knocks life had thrown, I had fallen into a bit of social isolation.
This community changed everything for me. Last night on a call with so many of my people, I was reflecting on this fortune and what I can share to help someone who now is where I used to be.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
A quick point. Social isolation and loneliness are related but different.
Social isolation is the lack of social contacts; having few people to interact with regularly.
Loneliness is the feeling of being alone or separated despite the number of social contacts you have. You can have a small number of connections and not feel lonely. You can have tons of friends and feel lonely.
THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM
61% of Americans felt lonely in 2019. In 2018, that number was 54%. (US, Cigna, 2020)
24% of Americans say their mental health is fair or poor (US, Cigna, 2020)
Men and Women have roughly the same likelihood of loneliness (57% and 59%, respectively) (US, Cigna, 2021)
Mothers are especially likely to be considered lonely (69%) – seven points higher than the rate of loneliness among fathers (62%). (US, Cigna, 2021)
Of course, more demographics play a role. Where you live, your income level, your race all affect your likelihood of experiencing both loneliness or social isolation.
THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF THE PROBLEM
There are many. Here are a few:
depression,
poor sleep quality,
decreased cognitive function and accelerated cognitive decline,
poor cardiovascular function,
impaired immunity at every stage of life,
increase in the risk of premature death from every cause for every race
Missed days at work
Lower productivity
Lower work quality
Increased work turnover
Decreased self-worth and self-esteem
And more. And of course you know from reading other posts here (right…) that every one of these points affects other aspects in someone’s life. So decreased sleep affects weight and skin and immunity and (everything), and unhealthy skin affects self-esteem which affects self-worth which may affect whether you feel confident enough to go make friends, which exacerbates the problem.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THAT TEAM? AND YOU?
Today, I can say that my “side gig” team is why I did not feel socially isolated during 2020. It’s why I know that no matter what happens in life, I have an army of people to count on. It’s why I learned to trust myself and others again, giving me the courage to develop even more relationships outside of our team. I would not be who I am today, where I am today, without them. This business tapped me into a community that gave me my life and spirit back.
You might be thinking, that’s great for you but what about me?
Maybe you’re one of the majority who is searching for a community, a place to belong, a sense of purpose. Or maybe you care about someone who is. If that’s the case, I would love to chat and see if our community is a good fit for you.
Did you know that one of the primary reasons people start and stay in a side gig like ours is for the community aspect? There are many side gig options. There are many communities to engage in. And obviously you don’t have to become part of just one. But starting with one strong one is often the best place to start when you’re starting anew.
It isn’t for everyone. Straight up. But what if it is? You can make more friends in a year through this “side gig” than you can in an entire “traditional” job.
What if this is the community you have been searching for?
References
https://opinion.sites.northeastern.edu/2021/02/06/social-isolation-can-lead-to-low-self-esteem/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20common,that%20others%20will%20judge%20them.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/loneliness-and-social-isolation-tips-staying-connected#:~:text=Loneliness%20and%20social%20isolation%20are%20different%2C%20but%20related.,people%20to%20interact%20with%20regularly.
https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html
https://newsroom.cigna.com/loneliness-epidemic-persists-post-pandemic-look
https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/about-us/newsroom/studies-and-reports/combatting-loneliness/cigna-2020-loneliness-factsheet.pdf
https://newsroom.cigna.com/loneliness-in-america
