Why loneliness is as dangerous as smoking – and what we can do about it
There's a silent pandemic we're not talking about enough. Researchers agree: Chronic loneliness can be as harmful to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. We are social beings, but our opportunities for interaction are dwindling. We spend hours in front of screens and shop at self-checkouts. Unplanned human interaction is quietly disappearing from our daily lives.
In education and sociology, we understand the theory behind social interaction. We know how important it is. But the crucial question is: How do we translate this knowledge into action when the structures for it collapse?
We can no longer wait for social interaction to simply happen. We must shape it, provoke it, lovingly build a stage for it. We must once again become architects of our own encounters.
A tool to shape encounters
At the Museum of Values, we believe that the solution lies in the small, in the playful. That's why we developed the Action Cards . They are a simple yet powerful tool for transforming the theory of social interaction into a lived, daily practice.
Your personal laboratory for social interaction:
- 35 concrete impulses: Instead of abstract theories, you will receive small, doable tasks that bring you into contact with your environment.
- Everyday life as a playing field: The cards invite you to see your neighborhood, the café or the park as a place for new, unexpected encounters.
- Connection inside & out: The impulses not only promote contact with others, but also mindful connection with yourself.
The architecture of the community
The idea that our built and social environment significantly influences our well-being is nothing new. In his book "Palaces for the People," sociologist Eric Klinenberg describes the importance of shared spaces—from libraries to parks—as "social infrastructure." This idea of creating spaces for change is shared by our partners at The Art of Embodying Change GmbH , who empower people to actively embrace change.
Are you ready to stop reading and start interacting?
