Takeaway – Hybrid Learning

Are You Socially Isolated? Learn the Signs and How to Get Support

Batoota — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 07:39:14 +0000

Social isolation, in a nutshell, means your social network is limited and unfulfilling. If you feel isolated, there’s a lot you can do to reshape your social circle and enjoy meaningful connections with others. You can think of social isolation as a state of detachment, one where you lack social bonds or ties. Anyone can become isolated. To put it another way, isolation often has nothing to do with your character, charisma, or other personality traits. Perhaps you’re recovering after pregnancy and childbirth, and you don’t talk to anyone besides your partner, most days. Or maybe you moved to a new city a few weeks ago. You’ve met plenty of people, but you don’t know any of them well yet. You might also feel isolated in other circumstances:

retiring after 20 years at the same job
breaking up with your partner of several years and feeling as if you’ve lost all your mutual friends
starting a new job where you don’t know anyone, or any of the office traditions
leaving home to start college

Isolation isn’t the same thing as loneliness, a feeling where you long for social contact. Loneliness may happen as a natural consequence of isolation, of course, but you can have a thriving network of friends and loved ones and still feel lonely from time to time.

Still, like loneliness, isolation can have a far-reaching impact on your overall well-being. Read on to learn a few signs of social isolation to pay attention to, how it might affect your everyday life, and what you can do forge new bonds.

Due to the rise of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become pretty common for some people to spend entire days at home in solitude.

So, how do you tell the difference between social isolation and everyday life in the digital age?

Isolation is somewhat relative, but researchers generally consider signs like:

Relationship status: Are you married? Dating? Or happily single?
Community participation: Do you belong to any clubs or sports teams? Are you a member of a religious group, like a church or temple?
Number of close contacts: Do you trust at least a few people enough to house-sit when you leave town, bring you groceries when you get sick, or confide in after a bad breakup?
Frequency of contact: Do you talk with your friends and family on a regular basis?
Overall quality of relationships: Do you feel like the people in your life respect and care about you?

You may have thousands of Twitter followers, a large group of classmates you spend time with, or a whole Brady Bunch of a family tree. But you might still be socially isolated if you have a hard time connecting because you:

feel like an outsider
believe no one knows the real you
worry that everyone in your life considers you a burden
go days or weeks without having a meaningful conversation with anyone

Isolation vs. introversion

Who’s most at risk?

The structure of society means some groups of people are more vulnerable to isolation than others. At-risk groups include:

Older adults: As people age, their social circles often grow smaller due to retirement, an empty nest, and the loss of older family members. Ageism can further restrict how much older adults participate in community events.
Marginalized groups: People who regularly face stigma and discrimination may have a smaller pool of social contacts they feel emotionally safe with. Some social circles may exclude them by default.
People with disabilities: Even with anti-discrimination laws in place, many people with disabilities, especially those who use wheelchairs, have trouble finding accessible transportation — which can seriously limit their ability to socialize in-person.
People in remote locations: Military service members, airline pilots, and other people who spend long periods of time away from home can begin to feel disconnected from their loved ones. People living in rural areas may also have a hard time forming a robust social circle.
Immunocompromised people: According to a 2022 study, many immunocompromised people feel locked out of public life now that much of the public has stopped using masks and other key COVID-19 precautions. In short, they can’t participate in everyday social activities without risking their health.

The effects of social isolation

Social isolation can have major consequences for both physical and mental health.

Physical health

ResearchTrusted Source links ongoing isolation to:

heart disease
diminished sleep quality
impaired immune health
stroke
age-related cognitive impairment

Your social life can affect your physical health for two main reasons.

First, isolation can make it less likely you’ll take care of yourself, since no one else offers support or motivation. According to the American Heart AssociationTrusted Source, people who are socially isolated tend to:

eat fewer fruits and vegetables
get less physical activity
check in with healthcare professionals less often

Isolation can also increase stress and inflammation. From an evolutionary perspective, being alone makes you vulnerable to predators and accidents. If you don’t have anyone to watch your back, then you have to stay constantly alert, which uses up precious mental and physical energy.

The less socially connected you are, the harder it becomes for your body to weather the wear and tear of chronic stress. Your inflammation levels rise as a result, which can damage your body’s cells and potentially contribute to health issues.

Mental health

Isolation can also have a profound effect on your mental health. A 2021 studyTrusted Source examined how people reacted psychologically to stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study linked social isolation to:

increased work-related stress
higher levels of substance use
decreased satisfaction with life overall

As mentioned above, humans need company to help keep their stress levels in check. Without company, you may grow anxious or mistrustful of the world around you. A 2019 study found a lack of social stimulation can prompt your brain to become hypersensitive to sensory information, like the sound of doors opening. You may find that everyday sights and sounds now put you on edge.

Human contact also helps you maintain a sense of reality. Your sense of self is defined, in part, by how you interact with others. Without anyone to witness or react to your actions, you may start to feel like nothing you do matters. You may wonder where reality ends and your imagination begins.

Research from 2020 examining the impact of solitary confinement for people in correctional facilities found intense isolation can cause:

anxiety
depression
loss of identity
paranoia
hallucinations
thoughts of suicide

Granted, most people won’t ever experience the total isolation of solitary confinement. However, long-term social isolation can still lead to many of these symptoms, even without complete solitude.

Having thoughts of suicide?

If you’re thinking about suicide, you’re not alone. You can get compassionate, confidential support from trained crisis counselors by calling 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Helpline.Prefer to connect over text? Text “HOME” to 741-741 to reach a crisis counselor at Crisis Text Line.You can connect with these free helplines at any time: 24/7, 365 days a year.

When isolation might suggest abuse

In some cases, social isolation may happen as a sign of abuse. A romantic partner or caregiver may try to control you by limiting your contact with the world outside the relationship. This isolation ensures you depend on them and only them for all your needs, which gives them extensive power and control over your life.

Signs someone may be trying to isolate you include:

They pick fights with friends and family members, then encourage you to cut off the people who offended them as a show of loyalty.
They spread gossip about you online or to your friends and loved ones to ruin your reputation.
They gaslight you into getting angry or upset in public so that you seem like the “abusive” one.
They prevent you from finding or keeping a job by sabotaging interviews, hiding your car keys, or making a scene at your workplace.
They insist on having access to your mail, phone, and email at all times to monitor your communication.
They get clingy when you’re apart and try to call or text you nonstop. They may get angry or accuse you of betrayal if you don’t respond right away.

Here’s how to get help for relationship abuse.

How to cope with isolation

Isolation can happen for many reasons, so some coping strategies may work better for your unique circumstances than others.

A few strategies to consider:

Go digital

If you’ve moved far away from loved ones, face-to-face time can become sparse. But thanks to technological advances, you can stay connected through text, email, and video calls.

Research involving older adults in long-term care facilities found even a 5-minute weekly video call with loved ones may significantly reduce loneliness and help people feel more emotionally supported.

Find a fur friend

Pet ownership can go a long way toward helping reduce social isolationTrusted Source.

Animals don’t just offer unconditional companionship, they often also make great icebreakers — something you might already know, if you’ve ever visited a dog park.

ResearchTrusted Source involving older adults China found older dog owners were more socially connected than their peers, because walking their dog encouraged them to go outside and spend time with other dog owners.

Explore new communities

Not all friendships and relationships can be salvaged. Maybe you serve as the family scapegoat, most of the people in your friend group regularly make homophobic remarks, or your partner consistently puts you down.

Sometimes, cutting ties with toxic people can do a lot of good for your mental health. If your current social network mistreats you, rest assured that other people out in the world will value and accept you as yourself. It may take some time to find them, but starting that search is an important first step.

Volunteering

Making the first overtures toward friendship could help you form new connections more easily.

Consider joining a pen pal program, mentorship group, or community center to reach out to other isolated people around the world.

You can also begin to grow your social circle by volunteering. According to one 2018 study, volunteering in itself can offer an effective way to expand your social network, especially when mourning the loss of a loved one.

When to get support

Temporary isolation usually won’t have long-term consequences for your physical or mental well-being, and you can often take steps to manage it on your own.

That said, you may start to notice some effects after weeks or months of isolation. It may be worth considering professional support if you:

feel intense loneliness most or all of the time
believe you’re unlovable and don’t deserve companionship
feel incredibly nervous when you talk to people
mistrust people by default, even when someone has given you no reason to suspect them
go out of your way to avoid social interactions and dread the few that are necessary to live your life

A compassionate therapist can help identify possible triggers and work to address both isolation and its impact on your health. Goals of therapy may include:

improving your self-esteem
learning and practicing skills to communicate and resolve conflict more effectively
addressing underlying social anxiety or depression
processing any trauma that may have triggered isolation, such as bullying or abuse

Here’s how to find a therapist.

The bottom line

Your social ties play an important role in your physical health and emotional well-being.

It may not always feel easy to form new friendships and relationships, especially when coping with life changes, health challenges, and other stressful or overwhelming circumstances.

But pursuing just a few social connections can make a big difference. If you’re not sure how to get started, a therapist can offer more guidance and support.

5 Business Trends That Will Take Off in 2017

Batoota — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 09:59:56 +0000

5 Business Trends That Will Take Off in 2017

Last year, 2016, is in our rearview mirror, so it’s time to look to the trends in 2017 that will change how we do business: For instance, in my travels around the country to conventions and keynote speech engagements, I’ve noticed that the faces of the audiences keep getting younger, regardless of the industry.
While it’s no secret that millennials have taken over the workforce — according to Census Bureau data, they are now the largest living group — how we groom them for leadership is a test many of us will face in 2017. Sure enough, a Bersin by Deloitte report has predicted that 2017 will be a disruptive year, during which more than three million company chiefs are set to retire, leaving those jobs wide open for up-and-coming young professionals.
So, here’s my advice: Plan ahead. Give your young employees the tools to be leaders now. Don’t wait until you have a void to fill to train them. That’s valuable time you’ll be wasting; and, in business, wasted time is hardly a valued commodity.
Here are five more trends that will be making a splash in 2017.

1. Elevated customer engagement

We have already seen a shift on how brands engage customers — in person and digitally. Customer engagement will continue to dominate as merchants move to a more digital-based business model. Relationships matter, and we have forgotten that intimacy can exist in a digital environment through data, responses and personalization.
Customers want brands to become experts on them and to be treated as though they matter — which they do. Already, some retailers are delving into personalized services; for example, Nordstrom is offering fashion advice; and home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot have instructional sessions.
If companies show that they’re personalizing their experiences, rather than just selling something, those actions will build trust, curate the quality of the product and deliver value.
Takeaway: Understand that the process is always about the customer, never about the salesperson, the brand or the store. This should be a rule, never the exception.

2. Customer data collection

How do you help people become more productive? Give them a higher level of service. To do that, study what customers consume and how they consume it, and use that information to give them what they want. Sounds simple enough, but not everyone has learned this lesson.
Brands have always collected data on their customers but are only now learning to use it to their advantage. The Internet of Things (IoT) is one way to increase customer engagement and provide brands a way to build stronger relationships. Loyalty programs provide multiple points of interaction through objects already available in our environment.
These programs have the ability to help companies make decisions based on large amounts of customer data from a wide variety of channels; this data provides consumers personalized and real-time/live answers.
An example: I almost always fly United and the airline knows my flying habits. Through my customer data, it can personalize my experience and the treatment I receive. The more the airline knows about me, the more amenities it can provide to guarantee I have a comfortable flying experience. So far, the result for me has been a win-win situation.
Similarly, every brand, business and organization needs to pay attention to the top 1 percent of their own clientele.
Takeaway: Know how to use the data your customers provides you with, and know when (and where) to draw the line. You can have all the data in the world, but if you don’t use it properly, what’s the point of having it?

3. Automation

Growing up, I remember watching The Jetsons and wanting a robot like “Rosie” to perform my household chores. In business, chatbots perform a much more important role for companies like Microsoft and Bank of America.
Last year, companies began recognizing the advantages and limitations of chatbots for customer engagement. But more is coming to that space: As LiveWorld chairman and CEO Peter Friedman predicts, “In 2017, brands will strategically and seamlessly integrate humans into chatbot interactions to scale and advance the effectiveness of their chatbot programs.”
The infusion of voice-based technology into consumer products, and the ways in which brands are shifting from social media to social messaging strategies were the subject I addressed with Epsilon Chief Digital Officer Tom Edwards, during a recent interview. Edwards told me how “disruption is the new normal” and how chatbots are the next thing chief marketing officers will have to deal with as technologies keep evolving.
Takeaway: Soon, we will begin to see new immersive experiences, like social messaging married to artificial intelligence, and holographic computing; these trends will redefine how marketers connect with consumers.

4. Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding isn’t something people think of when talking business. Instead, they associate it with movies, artisan projects and other specialty industries. However, more businesses are using crowdfunding to validate their own products in the market.
In fact, crowdfunding raised $34.4 billion in 2015, on pace to surpass venture capital globally by the end of 2016.
Using crowdfunding for product validation allows companies to engage and learn from a small, but vocal, user community early in the process. Customers are your best source of information about your product, so what better way to gain valuable insight early on in the process?
As a CMO, I’ve gone on to the floor of a store that sold our products — not to check on employees, but to ask customers directly what they thought about our products. There, I took in the good, with the bad and even the ugly; and those candid encounters provided me with feedback I never would have had access to had I stayed in my office poring over graphs and projection sheets.
Companies like GE Appliances are already capitalizing on this trend. GE launched FirstBuild, a global co-creation community and micro-factory that looks for insights on how to improve the way major home appliances are created, designed and manufactured.
Takeaway: Just because something doesn’t fit the mold doesn’t mean it’s not useful to you. Crowdfunding may not be “mainstream” yet, so break the mold. Think outside the box. Your best focus group may be the market itself.

5. Specialization

Gone are the days when companies would hire one person to perform numerous tasks. Nowadays, companies are hiring specialists who are assigned to perfect one skill, instead of trying to be proficient in ten. Think about it this way: When you go to the doctor, you want a specific diagnosis that applies solely to you, not one that’s general and ambiguous. It’s the same in business.
As consumers, we are averse to generic messages that may not pertain to our specific needs. However, some entrepreneurs remain skeptical about their market segments being too small to address on an individual-by-individual basis. To me, that’s the wrong approach.
You can’t rely on a one-size-fits-all approach anymore. Even if your market is small, every single customer should feel as if he or she matters. If they do feel that way, they’ll evangelize your brand, in return.
Also, tailor your approach specifically to the audience you’re trying to reach. This isn’t about being a people pleaser, either, but about knowing whom you’re targeting, and being strategic about it. Think about what Netflix or Amazon is doing and how they’re constantly delivering content and communication tailored to customers’ preferences.
Takeaway: Be laser-focused on what your customers want. The one-size-fits-all approach went away along with mobile strategies and the B-52s. Narrow your focus, hire specialists and give customers what they want.
While entrepreneurs should always keep an eye out for emerging technologies and techniques, don’t forget to remember the basics — cash, sales and good people. Having this solid foundation in place will allow you to focus on the bigger picture and move your business forward.