How loneliness at work impacts us all (and what to do about it)

Recently, the World Health Organization declared the rise in loneliness to be a ‘global public health concern’. With loneliness having potentially the same health effects as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, and studies suggesting that loneliness is growing with the technologization of our societies, preventing loneliness will be one of the major human challenges in the coming decades.

In order to prevent loneliness, we need to understand it. And particularly to distinguish it from two other terms that are often misunderstood to mean the same as ‘lonely’.

Getting clear on terminology

Terms like loneliness, isolation, and solitude are often used interchangeably, yet they each reflect distinct experiences and have different implications for mental health.

Loneliness

Loneliness is a complex, subjective emotional state in which you feel disconnected or alienated, even when in the company of others. It arises when there is a discrepancy between the desired and actual quality of social interactions. It’s about your perception, your unique lived experience.

Some have described loneliness as being comparable to hunger or thirst: it’s a signal from your soul that you need to connect.

It’s worth remembering that humans are fundamentally social creatures. While we live in cultures that promote individualism, when it comes down to it, humans deeply need to feel seen, heard and understood by others. When we fail to understand this, or overlook these basic psychological needs, we do so to our detriment.

Studies have shown that loneliness can significantly impact mental and physical health, leading to conditions such as depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and a weakened immune system.

Reflect for yourself: when in your life have you felt lonely?

By way of example, I felt deeply lonely on several occasions when I lived in London almost 20 years ago. I remember taking long walks through the city, feeling almost physical ache because of how lonely I felt, though I was in a huge city surrounded by thousands of other people.

Isolation

Isolation, while related to loneliness, specifically refers to a lack of social interactions and physical separation from others. This can be voluntary or involuntary, and is often driven by external factors like geographic location, health conditions, or social circumstances.

Social isolation disrupts access to support networks, critical for emotional and psychological health, which can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and lead to severe mental health issues over time.

Many people experienced isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many continue to due to remote study or work arrangements. It is also relatively common for people who are mainly housebound with disability or chronic illness to experience isolation. It’s not just about physically being with others, though — connecting through telephone calls and messages can ensure people who are isolated do not become lonely.

Reflection: When in your life have you experienced isolation?

For me, I experienced isolation when I tore my left ACL in a skiing accident while living in California in 2021. I was living alone in a new country with almost no support network. The pain of isolation was almost as much as my knee.

Solitude

Solitude is different. In contrast to loneliness and isolation, solitude is the state of being alone without feeling lonely.

Solitude is often a chosen and positive experience, used for reflection, relaxation, or creative endeavors.

Solitude can be a rejuvenating experience, providing opportunities for self-reflection, creativity, and personal growth. As such, it forms a valuable contributor to mental wellbeing, particularly when balanced with social interactions.

Reflection: when are times in your life when you have experienced solitude?

For me, solitude is essential to my mental health. Whether it’s hiking, surfing or simply reading on the couch, regular time to myself is key to my wellbeing and something I’m actively mindful about scheduling time for.

What can we do to reduce loneliness and isolation, and boost healthy solitude?

Reducing loneliness and isolation, and supporting people to get the solitude they need, requires a level of courage on the part of each of us as individuals, and by policymakers.

At council and government levels, we need to ensure there is adequate investment in community-building activities, mental health support services, and policy initiatives aimed at creating inclusive social environments.

Efforts can also be made to encourage healthy solitude through promoting mindfulness practices, hobbies that require solitude, and education on the benefits of self-reflection and taking mindful time to yourself.

As individuals, we can make more effort to connect with others both through arranging social interactions and building micro-connections into our day. Recent research shows that even a brief exchange or a shared smile can have a positive impact.

We can also reach out to those we care about and check in, volunteer in our community and vote for policies that support healthy social interaction rather than undermining it.

We can talk about issues of loneliness and isolation to reduce the stigma and encourage open discourse about these incredibly common experiences.

It’s also important as individuals to do the ongoing work of staying self-aware, so that we stay attuned to when we are feeling lonely or isolated. And, we can take note when we need solitude and prioritize this time to ourselves, in order to reconnect deeply with self.

If you’d like support for your team on organisation on loneliness and human connection, reach out.