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We often hear about the best exercises and diets to live long, but longevity also depends on many other factors. Loneliness and isolation, for example, can actually increase your risk of depression and even early death, but new research published in the newspaper PNAS may have found the key to solving this problem.
The Carnegie Mellon study found that people with mindfulness training on smartphones said they felt less lonely and were actually more social.
During a two-week mindfulness training on their smartphone, participants focused on one of three themes: awareness, adaptation, or mindfulness. Among the three groups, those who practice mindfulness see their quality of life improve, while the other two groups found no change.
The mindfulness group does not only have feel better; In fact, they had an average of two other social interactions a day after their training and reduced their loneliness by 22%. This is important because the social bond is a basic human need and, in the absence of this connection, you could suffer serious consequences for your health (some even report that the mortality rate by loneliness is higher than that of smoking 15 cigarettes a day).
The researchers insisted that a regular practice of mindfulness could be beneficial. But what is mindfulness? It can be as small as taking moments for yourself throughout the day or following disciplined meditation techniques. Mindfulness can come in all shapes and sizes, but it should nevertheless promote awareness and acceptance.
If you feel more isolated or lonelier lately, starting a mindfulness practice can bring you the relief you need in the short term while improving your health.
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