The Friendship Recession ; Building Community

London was recently named the loneliest city in the UK. 12% of Brits say that they have just one person whom they consider to be a close friend. Adult friendships are becoming rarer yet the shrinking of our friend groups is not an individual tragedy, but a collective one. Researchers theorise that this drop is due to “learned loneliness”, people have adjusted to isolation. It’s not that they have gone off socialising, it’s that they have learned to live with an unfulfilled need.

Now more than ever before, we know that modern life breeds busy, hectic schedules. A demanding job, work and/or school obligations, family responsibilities, and additional commitments may leave you with little to no time to invest into friendships. Constantly trying to juggle all of your responsibilities may mean that you are neglecting your social connections. 

Even living in a city like London, where you would think there are an endless amount of opportunities for social connection, it can be hard to form meaningful connections. You may have a lot of social interactions with people on a daily basis but they may be fleeting and less intimate. Fast-paced city life can actually pose a challenge when it comes to creating enduring friendships. 

How can we counteract the growing epidemic of loneliness?