People Are Hardwired For Connection

There has been much information lately about loneliness in the news. You may remember reading an article or two about this topic, especially during the pandemic. While we were all cooped up in our homes on Zoom calls, we missed out on something we, as human beings, need…..CONNECTION! Have you ever heard

“we are hardwired for connection?”

It is true, we are!

Human beings are social beings. Many of us thrive on our relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. We seek out connection. I had no idea how true this was until I started my own business nine years ago. I was so excited about going out on my own that with all the preparations to do so; I never considered what it would be like to be in my home office, day in and day out, without the social connection I had at the ready when I worked in a prominent corporate position. It did not take long to figure out how much I missed being with others. After a stint of concentrated work, I realized I had stayed in the house for three days. All my interactions had been on Zoom or with my dogs, Jackson and Samantha!

I could not continue working like this; I needed to be with others. Not all the time, but at least some of the time. I started scheduling lunches with colleagues and friends, going to the gym for a 30-minute boost of cardio work, or going to a coffee shop to see other people. The reward was immediate.

Having one-on one time with a colleague or good friend was incredible. I could feel the energy from connecting and conversing with someone in person. A connection that felt much better than a Zoom call. Even going to the gym and seeing other people felt good. And I went to the gym! There are so many benefits from doing that. I had forgotten how much I thrived in a group environment.

So the next time you feel like you need a boost of energy, try connecting with someone you care about. Go out for lunch or dinner with a friend or colleague or meet up for a coffee. Try it; you may shock the person you reach out to. After all, they want to feel connected, too!