DeepSummary
Neuroscientists have found that loneliness activates the same brain regions as hunger, indicating our fundamental need for human connection just like food and water. Social health expert Kasley Killam discusses the profound impacts of loneliness on physical and mental health, including increased risk of dementia, stroke, depression and early death. She provides strategies for deepening connections through micro-interactions and finding the right balance of solitude and socializing.
Killam explores how the pandemic disrupted social health for many, while also prompting adaption and revealing our resilience in maintaining meaningful bonds. Remote work poses new challenges for feeling connected that can be mitigated by intentionally cultivating virtual communities and in-person interactions. Robust third places like coffee shops, community centers and intergenerational facilities foster the kind of spontaneous social ties that enhance well-being.
To assess and optimize social health, Killam recommends taking stock of existing supportive relationships, identifying areas for more engagement or rest, and purposefully stretching, toning or flexing social muscles. Simple habits like texting loved ones, exchanging pleasantries or acts of kindness can make a big difference in personal connectivity. Entire communities from Paris to Barcelona are making social health a priority.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Human connection is as vital to health and longevity as food and water, activating the same brain regions as hunger when lacking.
- Loneliness increases risk of illness like dementia, stroke, depression and early death, making social health a public health priority.
- Micro-interactions through small kindnesses, greetings or digital check-ins provide impactful relationship-building opportunities.
- During isolation like the pandemic, people demonstrated resilience maintaining bonds through adaptation.
- Evaluating existing bonds, and purposefully stretching, toning or flexing social efforts improves social fitness.
- Third places and community design should facilitate spontaneous, intergenerational real-world interactions.
- Personal habits, workplace norms, public policy and technology design all impact social health ecosystems.
- Communities like Paris and Barcelona are mobilizing resources to foster neighborhood-level social health.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I define social health as the part of our overall health and wellbeing that comes from connection. So if you think about physical health as being about our bodies and mental health as being about our minds, social health is about our relationships and our sense of community.“ by Kasley Killam
- “So if you want to understand and kind of evaluate your social health, I walk through this three steps process in chapter one of the book. And the first step is around just taking stock of where your social health comes from. So think about who are the people and the groups that you belong to that are actually your sources of connection on a day to day basis.“ by Kasley Killam
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Episode Information
Financial Feminist
Her First $100K
6/18/24