I loved being outside all day today. We enjoyed sunshine for the first time in days! So many delightful things happened: I connected with neighbors and laughed; I realized why my backyard attracted so many bunnies (I forgot to harvest so many carrots! They were coming for carrots!); I weeded most of the backyard; I enjoyed seeing the progress of my plum, fig, lemon, and peach trees; I listened to Spotify-suggested music (which always ends up perfectly matched to my taste!); I ate olives and hummus for lunch (my family teases me that I adopt the food and lifestyle of whatever show I’m watching, and since it’s The Chosen, I find myself wanting pita, hummus, and olives); and I prepared for my daughter’s 18th birthday party (a garden party with some of her friends).
I finished reading the US Surgeon General’s advisory on the loneliness epidemic, and I read this: In a U.S.-based study, participants who reported using social media for more than two hours a day had about double the odds of reporting increased perceptions of social isolation compared to those who used social media for less than 30 minutes per day.
It makes perfect sense. Today, I spent less than 30 minutes on social media—enough to post about Kate’s birthday and tweet about loneliness. I couldn’t do more! I was too busy weeding and finding all those carrots. As a result, I connected more to God, myself, my neighbors, my husband, and my daughters. When I did check my phone, I did so to forward so many kind texts from friends to wish my daughter a happy birthday.
I think the research tells the truth: We’re isolated when we’re on our phones all day long. Today felt great and connected. I recommend testing the research on yourself, at least for a day. Try to stay off social media, or at least limit it to less than 30 minutes. See what happens. And this isn’t coming from just another old person telling young people to get off the phone; this comes from research and the national advisory and call-to-action to increase social connection. Let’s do it!