We are living in a digital age and while this brings with it many benefits, we must not lose our human connection and with real-time video, it is easy to communicate. Some say that we are losing our connection with nature and face to face socialising has been seriously impacted by the pandemic and we ask the question, “Is this lack of face-to-face connection affecting us as individuals?”
Emotions & feelings
When we hug or touch a loved one, this creates chemicals in the brain that leads to positive feelings; take the opportunity of family dining in Caringbah when you can; you are sure to meet a few friends and can swap experiences. When a person is deprived of human contact, this does have a negative effect on mood and even outlook; loneliness can quickly lead to depression.
Take the time to see people who matter
Many will say they simply don’t have the time to socialise, yet we can make time if it is something of high importance, such as your own and other’s well-being. Meet close friends for dinner, enjoy their company and reinforce the relationship, which is something that needs to be nurtured. Visit your parents on a Sunday morning and that will brighten up their day; take them to lunch at a nearby restaurant or club and treat them to a nice Sunday roast. Click here for information on vaping, which is a craze today.
Virtual world – The dangers
The Internet of Things and 5G are on the horizon, which is beckoning the next level of digital connectivity and while this is fine, we must take the time for social activities and interact with those that we care about. It is tempting to become a hermit if you work from home; the repeated lockdowns forced people to stay at home and for long periods, this can be very stressful. We might think that virtual contact is the same as face-to-face meetings, yet there is no physical contact, which is unnatural; depression is on the rise, as people suffer with mental health issues.
Hugging your kids
Children are very loving and should be given the chance for a hug now and then and when your partner comes home after a tough day at work, embrace them for a while and just hold each other. If a child is deprived of love and affection, it can make them into a rather cold individual who doesn’t like to show their feelings.
Community activities
We all have a favourite pub nearby and that is a great place to connect with friends and neighbours; treat yourself to a mid-week drink and touch bases with people and discuss current affairs. If you play a sport, training with others gives you that essential human contact and if you lead an inactive lifestyle, why not take up cycling or hiking?
If you, or anyone you know is suffering from depression, there are free resources online to help you become a healthier and happier person.