The Benefits of Human Interaction

Putting health issues aside for a moment, I think we are all now aware how important human contact is in our lives. Although we were already quickly moving away from connecting to people in-person with all the technological options and platforms, the pandemic has warp-sped us all into a world of full-time virtual communicators. How do we get and stay connected on some physical level to people during this and what are the real benefits? You could start small with making a phone call instead of sending a text or Facetime a friend or co-worker instead of sending an email.
In a world where we heavily communicated through text messaging, emails, and social media platforms before the pandemic, we have doubled or tripled our time spent communicating virtually to try and stay connected during this time. What’s the harm in staying virtual? Ask yourself when the last time was that you spoke to your friends instead of checking your Facebook or Instagram feed to see what’s happening in their lives. If the answer is weeks, months, or even years, this article is for you! Although we all enjoy being able to edit or filter anything we send through our virtual channels, we may not realize all the benefits of face-to-face interaction we are missing.
Psychologist Susan Pinker states that direct person-to-person contact triggers parts of our nervous system that release a “cocktail” of neurotransmitters tasked with regulating our response to stress and anxiety.
In other words, when we communicate with people face-to-face, it could help to make us more resilient to stress factors in the long run.
She continues, “Face-to-face contact releases a whole cascade of neurotransmitters and, like a vaccine, they protect you now, in the present, and well into the future, so simply […] shaking hands, giving somebody a high-five (or in pandemic times an elbow bump) is enough to release oxytocin, which increases your level of trust, and it lowers your cortisol levels, so it lowers your stress.”
She adds that, as a result of social interaction, “dopamine is [also] generated, which gives us a little high and it kills pain, it’s like a naturally produced morphine.”
Many people have been feeling depressed with the lack of social interaction and have misconstrued the recommendation to stay 6 feet apart as a recommendation to not have human contact outside of their household at all. You can properly protect yourself by following the recommended CDC guidelines and be around other humans you enjoy!
Those of you with children at home have seen this need of social interaction with their friends the most
. My nine-year-old son cried when the Gwinnett County Public School board changed their offering of in-person learning and I had to tell him he was not going back until January at the earliest. He (and I) was elated the next week when they changed their minds, and although I’m weary of how the back and forth will be with room closures, he needs the social interaction at school for his mental well-being. I believe in the safety of wearing face masks and protecting yourself and others. We have seen friends and family on a regular basis over the last few months, but he has missed the structure and social interaction that school provides. This innate need although obvious in children, also applies to adults. We have all spent the past six months in an altered state of communication with friends, family, coworkers, customers and even strangers.
Many people have been feeling depressed with the lack of social interaction and have misconstrued the recommendation to stay 6 feet apart as a recommendation to not have human contact outside of their household at all. You can properly protect yourself by following the recommended CDC guidelines and be around other humans you enjoy!
If you would like some human interaction (or need less human interaction from the people you live with) come join our community of co-workers at Paradigm Workhub in Hamilton Mill. It is also a great place to meet with your office mates, book club, church or networking group or host a small event or large virtual meeting (up to 150 participants). We have also connected with a teacher certified tutoring company and they offer digital learning options for children 1st grade and up at affordable rates. Email amber@paradigmworkhub.com for more information or to discuss your specific needs.