Sunday, 09 March 2025 04:25

‘One of the most powerful antidotes to loneliness,’ from U.S. Surgeon General

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Every year in January, I tell myself I’ll spend less on dinners out, read more, save money, and just generally embrace being at home — a task which should be easier considering the freezing temperatures. 

None of these goals are necessarily bad, but they might not actually increase my well-being, says U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. In fact, a lot of activities thought of as “self-care” may actually make us more lonely, and isolation is a condition linked to depression, heart disease and even premature death. 

In a 2023 report, Murthy wrote that we have an “obligation, to make the same investments in addressing social connection that we have made in addressing tobacco use, obesity, and the addiction crisis.” 

Especially because young people report some of the highest rates of loneliness.

“There are forces around us that are telling us that the way to fill the emptiness that many of us feel is to focus more and more on ourselves, right?” he recently said on The Oprah Podcast. “To acquire more, to achieve more.”

Murthy suggests focusing on factors outside ourselves instead. Building relationships, engaging in our communities, and acting in service of others, he says, can make us feel less alone.

“When we focus on connecting to something bigger than ourselves, that’s actually when we find joy,” said. “It’s why service is one of the most powerful antidotes to loneliness.”

His advice is a good reminder that being by yourself and thinking about yourself all the time is not a sound strategy for fulfillment. It’s OK, worth the money, and even healthy, for me to prioritize dinners with friends.

 

CNBC

July 01, 2025

Nigerian stock market soars with N13.2trn windfall for investors in Half 1, 2025

Nigeria’s equity markets delivered exceptional performance in the first six months of 2025, generating massive…
June 26, 2025

Peter Obi decries ‘coordinated lawlessness’ after brother’s property is demolished in Lagos without court order

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned what he described as a brazen act of…
July 01, 2025

The biggest communication mistake many people make

Maybe it's the Gen Z in me, but I’m not a fan of corporate jargon.…
June 21, 2025

Man convicted of posing as flight attendant to fly for free 120 times

A 35-year-old American man has been found guilty of impersonating a flight attendant at least…
June 30, 2025

Bandits strike again in Benue, kill four policemen in fresh attacks

Armed bandits on Sunday launched another deadly assault on Benue State, killing at least four…
July 01, 2025

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 634

Israel strikes pound Gaza, killing 60, ahead of US talks on ceasefire Israeli strikes killed…
June 30, 2025

The computer-science bubble is bursting

Rose Horowitch The job of the future might already be past its prime. For years,…
May 13, 2025

Nigeria's Flying Eagles qualify for World Cup after dramatic win over Senegal

Nigeria's U-20 national football team, the Flying Eagles, have secured their place at the 2025…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.