One of the topics that keeps coming up in Season One of Soft Opening is the importance of community.
The opposite of community is social isolation which can lead to loneliness. Both have been found to have a significant impact on mental health, particularly on feelings of depression and anxiety. We’ve seen a slow return to social engagement in this post-pandemic landscape, and a rise in reported cases of depression and anxiety, and I think there might be a link between these statistics.
Human beings have existed in packs throughout history, yet we find ourselves more disconnected from real-life interaction than ever before. It’s not always easy to make plans and then keep them. After a long week, it can feel impossible to find the energy to leave the house. Yet, when we spend too much time alone, and in our own heads, or feeling a false sense of connection while scrolling through social media, we start to feel it in ways that are often unpleasant, and often hard to articulate.
So, what are some ways that we can feel less isolated and more like part of a community?
Start by understanding your own specific needs for social connection. These can change over time.
Make a list of the social environments that uplift you and give you energy, and those that feel draining and overwhelming
Start small – you can take a book to a cafe or a public park and just enjoy the energy of people
Share your struggles with social isolation with your trusted friends – there's strength in numbers, ask for their help in being accountable to staying connected
Or not – consider activities you can do solo; in case your friend(s) need a rain check or are suddenly unavailable
Couple it with fitness/wellness/or skill building
Organize a low-key event for friends like a potluck or a picnic
Some Free Community-Building Ideas:
Free concerts in outdoor venues
Readings or other library events
Farmer’s markets
Vendor or craft markets
Volunteer
Reach out to at least one friend daily with a voice memo, a phone call, or an in-person visit. This makes for a more personal connection than a text or an email
Compliment a stranger and stay open to how this might lead to a conversation
Remember to pace yourself so that you’re not doing too much all at once to fill up your social battery, as this can lead to overwhelm. It’s a good idea to take note of how an increased attention to connection and community impacts your overall sense of well-being so consider making notes in your journal to remind yourself of which efforts felt the best or led to surprisingly good results.
If, after having tried some of these options, you still feel stuck and lonely, it’s a good idea to talk to a mental health practitioner about some other tools and options for connecting and finding community.
Remember, all of us feel different from time-to-time. All of us have struggled with fitting in. Your people are out there, looking to connect with someone just like you, and it’s up to you to take the first steps towards finding them. There are folks everywhere wishing they had someone who understands what they’re going through, and that someone might just be you.
Season one of Soft Opening is made possible with the support of the Niagara Falls Cultural Development Fund.
Co-Produced and Engineered By: Peter Haverkamp
Co-Produced and Hosted By: Catherine Skinner
Soft Opening Website
