Thanks for joining me!!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
“I mean every day communication with another human is becoming less vital for survival. But Is that survival considered living?
This question has plagued me for a while. Are we alone by choice because we have that option? Or has technology separated us from traditional human connection that we have isolated ourselves and ultimately become lonely? Social anxiety is a real disorder but I can’t help but wonder if the spike in this disorder is because you can go accomplish most things without uttering a word to anyone. Think about it we can go to the supermarket and check out in self check out. We can do online shopping And even get it in less than 48 hours. We can have extensive and serious conversations via text. I mean every day communication with another human is becoming less vital for survival. But Is that survival consider living?
So for millennials, whom I consider the number one consumers of this lifestyle, are we victims of this change? Or are we willing participants? Either way how does that affect the mental stability? In 2019 the Business Insider says “The forecast for millennials’ mental health in 2020 doesn’t look pretty — depression and “deaths of despair” are both on the rise among the generation, linked to issues such as loneliness and money stress.”
I thought that was interesting the article also details about being burned out from working. Let’s face it millennial’s are getting the butt end of the financial stick. While we are very innovative, the most aspired to live dreams, and the most vocal as far as world change – we are also the most in debt. This causes us to work more hours than should be humane. I know personally when I was working an under paid but super overworked job, I felt burned out and the last thing I wanted to do was talk to anyone. Even at the grocery store. That was the first time I used a delivery app for something as small but essential as groceries. The delivery person basically dropped it off, eliminating me speaking to someone I may know at the supermarket down to an employee asking “Do you need help with anything?”
So still with hardly any money, there isn’t a lot of money to be spent on leisure things. For example going out to eat. That is a social setting that would force human interaction. Even the whole “Netflix and chill” Is a way to shut the world out and have time either with another person or often times yourself. I have found myself binge watching so many shows alone and practically getting lost in a world that didn’t even belong to me. And when you are watching a show that has more than five seasons, LOL you are a part of that show especially if you watch it straight through. My guilty pleasure is Grey’s Anatomy. I am practically board certified at this point!
I have to mention going somewhere for fitness like a gym or a yoga studio because millennials are known to care a lot about fitness and health. I am a Yogi and I love Pilates, and I can tell you firsthand that have been plenty of times that I’ve gone to the studio at least four days out of the week and I have probably spoken less than five words. I am actually weirded out if someone tries to have a conversation with me. Crazy. But clearly one does not even have to leave your house for fitness with all of the at home equipment and also you can bring your class to your home. But today it’s even more assessable because you can get the Gaia app on your phone and take every yoga and Pilates class of your dreams. You don’t even have to leave your house to go and buy the DVD! More solitude.
So in conclusion being both a participant and -even though I hate to say this word victim of this, I have noticed that I don’t do well in social gatherings. I don’t even know when that happened. But I find myself feeling overwhelmed when I actually have to talk to more than one person. And I have realized that I have some social anxiety and five years ago I was never that way. So what do you all think? Are we alone or are we lonely? I personally feel alone and sometimes that gets a little lonely.
https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-mental-health-burnout-lonely-depressed-money-stress
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