Hi Reader,
This week on Life Intended, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Julie Radlauer, an expert in behavioral health and the social influences of mental well-being. And when I say "expert", I mean it. Dr. Julie has spent the past 25 years in the field, researching as well as leading the way on how others are researching and interpreting their findings. Mental health was a staple in her vocabulary long before it was one in ours. I love learning from people like Dr. Julie!
Our conversation revealed just how critical it is to be intentional about the relationships we foster in our lives—especially in today’s hyper-connected, yet often disconnected, world.
In preparation for my interview with Dr. Julie, I read her book CONNECT, 100 Ways to Create Happiness in Your Life and I came to the conversation with stats that blew me away and questions on things I wanted to know more about.
Here are some eye-opening stats from our talk:
- One in three people are experiencing loneliness—and loneliness is THE GREATEST indicator of depression. We think we’re connected, but often the people we spend time with are not the ones who truly support our emotional health.
- We live 3.67 years longer when we have strong social connections. Wow. If that doesn't tell you how important your relational health is to your well-being, I don't know what does.
- We now have fewer meaningful connections than we did 30 years ago. The average person today has only two strong social ties compared to three decades ago. While that may not sound like a huge or significant drop, that's 1/3 less - which is HUGE. What Dr. Julie stressed is that we can’t forget that our strongest source of resilience is the people who truly know us.
- We are spending between 60-90 FULL DAYS per year on our phones. Screen time is a major obstacle for cultivating real relationships and good mental health, especially for young people. This is something that really must be addressed and managed in order to achieve a more healthy and happy life.
During the conversation, Dr. Julie shared a powerful reminder: It’s not just about having relationships—it’s about cultivating the right ones. The quality of our connections matters deeply. These relationships shape how we experience joy, how we recover from challenges, and how we ultimately thrive. "How we experience joy." Take a minute to ponder that one.
To me, that means it’s just as important to cull the relationships that drain us as it is to cultivate those that energize and uplift us. That's why part of the prep work for my Life Intended Journal and Planner is a relationship audit. Surrounding yourself with people who are aligned with your values and genuinely care about you can bring you the strength and clarity to navigate the ups and downs of life.
So, I ask: Are your relationships giving you life, or are they sucking the life right out of you? This week, I encourage you to assess and intentionally invest in the connections that truly matter. Let’s do the work to build the relationships that make us stronger.
Have a great week and to all my fellow Florida friends, stay safe!
P.S. If you think that your relational health needs some work, Dr. Julie's book CONNECT is a workbook with lots of exercises and activities to help you both audit and build your connections. I loved it.
THIS WEEK'S EPISODE:
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube
In this episode of Life Intended, I interview Dr. Julie Radlauer, an expert in behavioral health and public health. Dr. Radlauer shares her insights on the growing loneliness epidemic and how it’s impacting mental health globally. With a focus on social connections, she explains the importance of building strong relationships, reducing screen time, and fostering intentional communities. Dr. Radlauer offers practical advice from her book CONNECT and shares research-backed strategies for improving emotional well-being. Discover how making small changes can lead to stronger social ties and a healthier life.
Takeaways:
- Loneliness impacts mental health: Build real connections to prevent isolation.
- Screen time: Reduce smartphone usage to foster deeper social bonds.
- Strong vs. weak ties: Focus on meaningful relationships for emotional resilience.
- Intentional communities: Strengthen mental health by engaging in shared activities.
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