Health Promotion During Remote Work: Social Isolation

Video by Psych Hub.

Social isolation is a lack of social connections where people, groups of people, or entire cultures do not have communication, connection, or cooperation with each other (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020; Dictionary.com, n.d.-b).

Video by Let There Be Health.

Loneliness is a feeling or a state of mind of being alone and isolated, regardless of the number of people you may know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020; Dictionary.com, n.d.-a).

Now that so many of us are at home, here are a few ideas to connect with family and friends:

• Online game or trivia night using tools like Kahoot could build new, regular traditions in your household.
• Build a puzzle with people within your home or make one virtually with friends.
• Schedule weekly or monthly calls using video technologies like WhatsApp or Google Hangouts to reduce long periods of isolation.
• Join an online hobby group to meet new people.
• Have a socially distanced movie night with family and friends from different households by using Netflix Party, Hulu Watch Party, or Amazon Watch Party.
• Join an online workout class along with your friends and family who do not live in your household.

Video by RiskBites

Consider how best to take care of yourself through things like exercise, outdoor activities, and nutrition to better your physical and mental wellbeing. Here’s a few tips:

• Exercise at home – Consider ways to keep yourself active through virtual workouts or online fitness classes. See the Home Exercise page on this site.
• Explore outdoor activities – Check your city to see what outdoor programs, sports, and recreation activities are available in your area. See recreation by city: Brampton, Mississauga, Oakville, and Toronto.
• Eat nutritious foods – To maintain your overall wellbeing, refer to Canada’s Food Guide to discover how to make healthier food choices, eating habits, and learn new and fun recipes! See the Nutrition page on this site and Nutritional Sciences guide.
• Take a digital break: Consider unplugging from all screens for short durations: phones, televisions, and computers.

For more resources, review the Mental Well-Being Resource Guide compiled by Sheridan students and staff.

Brady, S., D'Ambrosio, L. A., Felts, A., Rula, E. Y., Kell, K. P., & Coughlin, J. F. (2018). Reducing isolation and loneliness through membership in a fitness program for older adults: Implications for health. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 39(3), 301-310. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464818807820

Canadian Mental Health Association. (2019, October 17). The importance of human connection [Blog post]. https://cmha.ca/blogs/the-importance-of-human-connection

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, November 4). Loneliness and social isolation linked to serious health conditions. https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html

Dictionary.com. (n.d.-a). Lonely. Retrieved April 9, 2021, from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/loneliness

Dictionary.com. (n.d.-b). Social isolation. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/social-isolation

Hwang, T.-J., Rabheru, K., Peisah, C., Reichman, W., & Ikeda, M. (2020). Loneliness and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cambridge University Press, 32(10), 1217-1220. http://dx.doi.org.library.sheridanc.on.ca/10.1017/S1041610220000988