Hey, it’s Benji 👋 

It’s one of those feelings I don’t enjoy but can’t always avoid.

When it shows up, it often brings sadness, low energy, and a lack of motivation.

This week’s menu is all about loneliness.

Enjoy! 🍴

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Starter 🥗 

A Lonely Life

We’ve all felt it at some point.

That quiet, sinking heaviness. 🕳️ 

The feeling of being alone - even when you’re not.

Thanks to technology, we’re living in the most connected era in human history. And yet… so many of us feel painfully alone. 😢 

Loneliness doesn’t care how old, busy, successful, or surrounded you are; it finds a way to sneak into our lives.

But what exactly is loneliness? And what does it actually do to us?

Let’s take a closer look. 🔍️ 

Main 🥙 

The Lonely Truth

What is loneliness?

Loneliness isn’t just being alone - it’s feeling like the connections you have aren’t enough.

It shows up when the relationships you have don’t quite match the ones you truly need. ❤️ 

What causes it?

Loneliness has many causes, and it looks different for everyone.

It often creeps in after big life events - like moving to a new area, starting a new job, ending a relationship, facing health struggles, or simply lacking real connection in your day-to-day life.

How does it affect us?

In today’s world, over one billion people feel lonely on a regular basis. 🌎️ 

And it doesn’t just weigh on your mind - over time, it can wear down your body too.

In fact, loneliness has been found to have the same health impact as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. 🚬

For example, it’s been linked to a higher risk of:

• anxiety and depression 😢 

• cardiovascular diseases 💗 

• dementia and cognitive decline 🧠 

• poor sleep quality 💤 

• mortality 💀

• chronic inflammation 🔥 

👩‍🍳 tip: It’s not about having lots of connections - it’s about having meaningful ones.

Caring for just a few close relationships, checking in with a friend, or being there for someone else can help ease that lonely feeling.

Loneliness is common, but it doesn’t have to be permanent.

Dessert 🍰 

You vs. Loneliness

Loneliness is something we all experience from time to time.

And when it creeps in, it can feel heavy, quiet, and hard to talk about. 🗣️

But you’re not alone in this feeling; there are gentle ways to care for yourself when it shows up.

Here’s a checklist of intentional things you can do when you’re feeling lonely or just want to feel more connected. 👇

• 📲 Call someone (a close friend or family member)

• 🏃 Move your body (walk, stretch, dance, train, ...)

• 🎧️ Listen to a podcast or audiobook (it feels like someone’s right there with you)

• 🗓️ Make plans (even small ones give you something to look forward to)

• 🥗 Eat healthy food (healthy body = healthy mind)

• 📖 Write it out (journaling can help clear your mind)

• 🎨 Create something (draw, build, bake; let your mind flow)

• 📵 Limit screen time (especially social media time)

• 🌳 Go outside (nature is your friend)

• 🐾 Spend time with animals

• 🧴 Do a little self-care (take a bath, moisturize, breathe)

My tip: Find what works best for you, and please don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you trust. They love you and are happy to hear from you. ❤️ 

If it ever feels like too much to handle, please don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help. Services like BetterHelp are here for you. 💛