IT’S 19:30 ON A FRIDAY NIGHT and you just got home from grabbing a quick drink with a friend. It was great to see her, but you haven’t hung out in so long that you spent the whole time in rushed, surface-level catch-up mode (job, partner, kids – all okay? Great! Ja, I’m good too!) instead of talking about anything substantial. You scroll Instagram for a bit, but seeing everyone else having a blast with their pals only reminds you that you’re not. Dozens of buddies are a text message away, but you still can’t help feeling a gnawing emptiness beneath your rib cage. It’s loneliness. And you’re far from the only one feeling it.
We’re at the centre of what psychologists have dubbed a “popularity paradox.” Nearly half of us feel isolated or left out sometimes or always, according to a recent survey of more than 20 000 adults by health insurer Cigna. That’s saying something, given we’re more connected than ever: every day, the average person spends nearly two hours on social media and sends roughly 32 texts. Although the scrolling and liking can exacerbate rather than relieve feelings of isolation, it’s rarely the cause. The proof: social media users in the Cigna study felt just as crummy and alone as those who never log on. In fact, contrary to what you might think, the problem predates our recent addiction to smartphones and the Internet by decades, notes Dr Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology and neuroscience professor.
A not so solitary problem
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2019 من Women's Health South Africa.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2019 من Women's Health South Africa.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Irreconcilable Differences?
You’re one-upping your partner on all health fronts and now your relationship has more tension than your new resistance bands. Here’s how to get over the hurdle of mismatched goals.
Hot And Bothered
Inflammation is all the rage in health conversations right now and research is establishing it as a major player in all sorts of issues you don't want to deal with. But! You can safeguard yourself from the smokin' internal inferno with these smart strategies.
Self-esteem under the microscope
The term brings to mind positive-thinking memes with sunset backdrops and swirly lettering. But could I you sum up self-esteem when asked as part of a pub quiz? Didn't think so. And there's more at stake here than winning the points.
the reset
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START OVER
Mind Over Muscle
Could you level up your strength training just by putting your mind to it?
ON BEING THE HEROINE OF YOUR OWN LIFE
Olympian. All-African Games winner. African champion. Record-breaker. Javelin athlete Jo-Ané van Dyk talks mental fortitude and what it takes to live up to your own hype. If there's one thing she can do, it's to throw down. And it's all about to reach peak levels.
Why Women Are Choosing to Be Child-Free
The choice can be liberating, yet stigmas persist. Here, how to cut through the noise with clarity and confidence to make the decision that's right for *you.*
FUEL YOUR SKIN
Inside your body, there's a crew of unsung protein heroes that scientists believe are the key to a healthy, glowing complexion. Heads-up: your routine is about to change for the better.
How To Be Decisive
You could use a Magic 8 ball to help you make a choice. Or, while you're waiting to 'ask again later', let our experts explain the best ways to get unstuck.
Build A Strong Base
You heard it here: the pelvic floor is the forgotten core - and you're selling yourself short by waiting for a specific life stage to train it. Your four-move workout is here.
