Is There a 'Magic Pill' To Fight Loneliness and Isolation? The GenWell Project Would Say 'Yes' - Increased Face-To-Face Social Connection
Let The GenWell Project be the catalyst to get you reach out and get connected, face to face, on GenWell Weekend this May 3-5
TORONTO, April 8, 2019 /CNW/ - Today is the official start of The GenWell Project's 2019 Spring GenWell Weekend campaign, and we are inviting people to join our human connection movement this May 3, 4 and 5, by making us the catalyst to reach out to friends, family, neighbours or colleagues and getting connected face to face. Participating in a GenWell Weekend can be as simple as having coffee with a neighbor or colleague, a BBQ with family and friends, or as big as sporting activity with the entire street. The size and activity don't matter, we just want to be the catalyst that gets you connected and help make the world a happier and healthier place.
This year The GenWell Project is introducing the "Who Are You Getting Connected With?" initiative during the month leading up to GenWell Weekend. "Who Are You Getting Connected With?" asks people to print off a Connector Card, fill in who they plan to get connected with on GenWell Weekend and inspire others to think about doing the same by sharing it and their support for the movement on their social platforms.
"Research clearly shows how important human connection is to our health and the negative impact it has when we don't have it in our lives. The GenWell Project wants to be that catalyst to get people to make those connections and form healthy ongoing connection habits," said Pete Bombaci, Founder of The GenWell Project. "Our goal with the Connector Cards is to start the conversation about the importance of human connection 30 days before this GenWell Weekend so people can talk about it, understand it and then take action."
The pace of the world around us is faster than it has ever been, with the pressure and distraction growing daily. Whether it's 24-hour digital connection, not so social media, on demand television, longer work days, longer commute times, economic pressures, greater time spent working or living in isolation or the mobility challenges face by our aging population, they all lead us to spending less time together, face to face. The GenWell Project wants to remind people how important that face-to-face time is for their health, how much fun it is and get them to take action.
This May 3, 4 and 5 will mark the sixth GenWell Weekend. During our twice-annual GenWell Weekends, people are encouraged to become generators of great connections and conversations by hosting their own GenWell Projects together with family, friends, neighbours or colleagues.
"With people across all walks of life becoming increasingly more socially isolated, the importance of face-to-face social connection has never been greater," continued Bombaci. "The GenWell Project wants to spread the message about the many benefits that human connection has on our mental and physical health. From reduced anxiety and depression, to strengthening your immune system, can make you live longer and is one of the largest indicators of happiness in your life."
THE NUMBERS BEHIND FACE-TO-FACE CONNECTING
- Quality relationships increase the chance of longevity by 50%1
- Those who have a large network of friends outlive those with the fewest friends by 22%2
- Even just one loving relationship with a parent, friend, spouse or sibling can boost your self-esteem3
- Close work relationships boost employee satisfaction by 50% and people with a best friend at work are seven times more likely to be fully engaged in their work4
- Loneliness increases the likelihood of mortality by 26%5
Getting involved with The GenWell Project is easy, free, fun and best of all, you and your fellow participants get all of the positive benefits that come with face to face human social connection. To find out more about the global movement, to register your intention to get connected face to face and for your chance to win prizes, visit www.GenWellProject.org.
Together we can make the world a happier and healthier place one face-to-face conversation at a time.
HOW TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT
- Go to GenWellProject.org check out ideas, download invitations and register your event
- Visit the GenWell Project website and download your Connector Card to let people know who you will be connecting with.
- Getconnected face-to-face for a period of time over the GenWell Weekend, from Friday, May 3 at 5pm thru to Sunday, May 5 at midnight.
- Share your amazing stories about getting connected after your event on our GenWell Project Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts, but keep it till after the event so you can stay in the moment with friends, family or your neighbours!
For more information, or to connect with us online, please visit https://genwellproject.org/.
About The GenWell Project.
The GenWell Project (formerly The Generator Project) is a human connection The GenWell Project is about reminding people about the importance of those connections and inspiring them to take action and create healthy connection habits ongoing. Join the movement, bring your community together, become a Generator. www.GenWellProject.org.
- 'Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review', Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Timothy B. Smith, J. Bradley Layton
- Centre for Aging Studies at Flinders University
- Dianne Grande Ph.D., Psychology Today, October 2016
- 'State of the American Workplace', Gallup 2017
- 'Loneliness And Social Isolation As Risk Factors For Mortality: A Meta-analytical Review', Holt-Lunstad J., Smith TB., Naker M., Harris T., Stephenson D.
SOURCE The GenWell Project
For media inquiries, please contact: Jamie Deans, [email protected], 647.284.7710
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