Is your social life different nowadays, compared to before the pandemic?

Will you be out having fun with family or friends on the weekend? Or will you be hiding at home?

Are you spending more time at home alone than you would prefer?

According to the research, many people are not connecting to family and friends the way they used to, and this sense of disconnection can cause you to feel lonely or flat. You get to the weekend and part of you wants to be with others, but another part puts on the brakes. It’s all too hard.

If you’re not spending as much time as you’d like with others, having fun together, you’re not alone. Psychologists have found that there is an ongoing impact of the pandemic on our lives. You may lack motivation or struggle to focus. Psychologists call this “languishing”. It means that you’re not depressed but you’re not flourishing either.

And I get it. During the pandemic I started doing quite a few quietly fun things at home. This included reading books, learning Italian, gardening and baking. And I’m quite happy spending time at home doing these things. Which is great.

But what that means is that it’s easy to get busy and weeks whiz by without seeing my family and friends. If you’re like me, you may need to make a conscious effort to connect with my loved ones.

Because being with others, having fun together, sharing stories, and giving and receiving support and encouragement – these are basic human needs. We all have an in-built need for connection, for relationships, for a sense of belonging.

In fact, if you struggle with social events, I’ve got some exciting news for you: I’m in the middle of creating a challenge to help you to flourish this festive season. I’m running it in mid-November, so keep an eye out for that!

But, in the meantime:
How will you spend this weekend?
Who will you spend time with this weekend?
What will you do or what will you talk about to make it enjoyable?

Wishing you a weekend of friendly connections!