National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

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Tips to Improve Connection and Reduce Isolation and Loneliness

Social connection can improve stress, health, and overall wellbeing. Make time in your routine to stay in touch with family and friends, foster new connections, and deepen casual connections. Here are a few tips for staying connected, as well as taking care of your mental and physical health and helping others. If you notice someone experiencing loneliness or becoming increasingly isolated, the tips, resources, and helplines provided below can assist as a foundation for providing meaningful support.

Focus on your interests to fuel connections. Connect with those who share similar interests to create a sense of belonging. Join a club that matches your interests such as crafting, book clubs, gardening, or physical fitness groups such as yoga and biking. Volunteering at local organizations can be a great way to build connections in your community.

Use technology intentionally to stay connected. Have weekly phone or video calls with loved ones. Participate in virtual programming from places of worship, your local library and community center. Join and engage in online communities that support, uplift, and affirm who you are in healthy ways.

Show compassion and be a lifeline for others. Stay connected by following up with friends or loved ones to see how they are doing. This type of contact can increase feelings of connectedness and show your ongoing support.

Take care of your body. A healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, such as a walk with a friend. A healthy diet and sufficient sleep are fundamental to physical and mental well-being. Alcohol can also deepen feelings of loneliness and depression and even raise the risk of suicide. Cutting back—or choosing not to drink—can make a real difference for your health and emotional well-being. Caring for your body is great for boosting mood and increasing capacity to cope with stress. Being physically active, eating well, and making sleep a priority may help reduce the risk of illness and prevent chronic disease.

Take a break. Taking purposeful breaks from work or difficult tasks is important for boosting overall health. Engage in activities that promote relaxation and well-being like deep breathing, grounding meditation, stretching, listening to music, or light physical activity. Even 5 minutes can help.

Seek Support for Yourself. If you are feeling disconnected, lonely or stressed, remember that you are not alone. Talk about your feelings with others. Seek support from friends, family, peers with lived experience, trusted organizations, clergy, or others in your faith community. Pursue services from a professional; talk to a healthcare provider about your feelings and needs. Use resources like SAMHSA’s findsupport.gov to locate mental health supports for you or a loved one or findtreatment.gov for treatment services in your community.

Support Someone Who May Be Feeling Lonely. If you notice someone becoming more withdrawn or isolated, reaching out can make a meaningful difference. Checking in regularly with a message or call, offering specific invitations, and listening without judgment can help them feel seen and supported. Encourage them to talk about how they’re feeling, and share helpful resources, if they need additional support.

There is help. There is hope. Someone cares.

Reaching out and making connections can help you and those you care about. Working together, we can make a difference.