We're wired for social relationships—and live longer and healthier when we have enough of them—but most of us feel increasingly isolated. Even before the pandemic, about six in 10 people reported feeling isolated and lonely at least some of the time. Why? First, the norms of modern life—those unwritten rules about what is “normal” or desirable behavior—and they have changed, contribute to chronic feelings of isolation. For example: We spend less time in person and more time on our gadgets. Our number of friends is both shrinking, and fewer of us have a best friend. More people today than ever are working remotely or living alone. True is that it becomes normal to feel busy, distracted, and disconnected from others and from life. And just like the proverbial frog that sits in boiling water until it is slowly boiled alive, we often don't realize that things are heading in a dangerous direction. In this series of posts, I want to shed light on modern behavior, beliefs and values ​​that are harming our social lives, and will offer some suggestions for changing our thoughts before we find ourselves in hot water. Let's start with time. Do you feel like there are too many things to do in a day, but not enough time to do them? Interestingly, however, careful research into how people use their time suggests that lack of time may be more of an illusion than a reality. We actually have more free time than we did about 50 years ago (on average), and yet we feel busier than ever. Lack of time is the norm today. The standard answer to the question “How are you?” often sounds like this: “I’m so busy!” Many people find it increasingly difficult to find time to see friends, do favorite activities and hobbies, or go on vacation. Some people even brag about how busy they are because it has become a status symbol. It makes us feel important and needed. However, research shows that lack of time is associated with higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression. And when we're short on time, we're less likely to give it to others, depriving ourselves of the social connections that are so important to our health and happiness. Fortunately, research shows that there are certain steps we can take to feel more whole. happier and more socially connected. You can read about them in the next article