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Daily Edition • Wednesday, July 29

Is There Really a Global Loneliness Epidemic?

A group of diverse people sit among flowers, one is using a phone, while two others engage in quiet contemplation.

All Healthy Design Studio

Oh So Lonely: Loneliness has been described as a global epidemic and one of the defining public health challenges of our time. But new research suggests the reality is more nuanced: Loneliness is widespread, but who reports feeling lonely varies considerably according to health, education, employment, household composition, social support, and geographic region.

The Study: Researchers analyzed Gallup World Poll data from more than 218,000 adults across 148 countries. About one in five respondents said they had felt lonely for much of the previous day, but rates varied dramatically around the world. Loneliness was most common in low-income countries, while high-income countries generally reported lower rates. However, in wealthier nations, loneliness was more strongly associated with lower current life satisfaction. The researchers found no evidence of an overall worldwide increase between 2023 and 2024, although trends differed considerably by national income level.

The Takeaway: Loneliness is not simply a matter of whether someone has enough friends. Health limitations, unemployment, household composition, education, perceived social support, and the broader economic and cultural environment were all associated with those who reported feeling lonely. Building meaningful relationships matters, but so do the circumstances that make connection easier or harder.

Keep in Mind: The survey used different respondents in 2023 and 2024, so it cannot track how particular individuals’ loneliness changed or establish cause and effect. Loneliness was also measured with a single question about whether someone felt lonely for much of the previous day, which may capture a temporary feeling rather than chronic loneliness. Cultural differences may also influence how respondents interpret and report that feeling.

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Fix Your Appliances for Less With American Home Shield

A technician uses a multimeter to test an air conditioning unit, with visible wires and a fan on the side.

Courtesy: American Home Shield

With some states experiencing record-breaking heat waves, the last thing you need is a $10,000 HVAC repair bill (and no, we didn’t accidentally add an extra zero there). For a limited time, American Home Shield is offering 50% off† select plans, so you can relax knowing your eligible home repairs are covered for less. Click below and start protecting your budget from the unexpected.

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Cognitive Health

This Journaling Practice Could Ease Depression in Just 2 Months

A person in a white sweater is writing in a notebook with a black pen, sitting on a chair.

Kateryna Hliznitsova/Unsplash

Know Thyself: Journaling is a go-to recommendation for improving mental health. Depending on the type of journaling you try, it can help reduce stress and anxiety and build a greater sense of self-awareness and gratitude. A new study has found that a specific type of journaling may also be able to reduce symptoms of depression for young adults after just two months.

How to Do It: The study’s participants (aged 18 to 29 with moderate to severe depression symptoms) were split into two groups. One group chronicled their basic everyday activities. The other group followed prompts and reflected on various life stages, what those periods meant to them, and how each new stage connected to the previous one. After a two-month follow-up, participants in this group had fewer symptoms of depression than those in the other group.

The Benefits: Young adulthood is a period of self-discovery, which can make some people more susceptible to depression — particularly if they feel off-track or disconnected from their younger selves (called “derailment”). Reflective journaling like this may improve depression by connecting previous life stages to the current one (called “self-continuity”), which can help people make sense of their past and appreciate their growth.

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SPOTLIGHT

Practical Skills for Real Problems

A woman with short hair smiles confidently, wearing a dark blouse against a softly blurred background.

SHIREEN RIZVI
Clinical Psychologist, Author

Courtesy: Shireen Rizvi

Shireen Rizvi is a clinical psychologist who has long specialized in DBT, a therapeutic approach designed to help those managing intense emotions and relationship stress. But along the way, she noticed that most people who wanted to learn these skills couldn’t access them. The main training manual was hundreds of pages long and expensive, designed only for people already in therapy with someone to guide them.

So Rizvi and co-author Jesse Finkelstein wrote Real Skills for Real Life, which teaches 26 specific skills you can actually use. For problem-solving, you start by identifying what you’re trying to fix and then brainstorm every solution that comes to mind, including those that are completely ridiculous or unrealistic. Only after you’ve listed everything do you pick the solution most likely to work.

For situations you can’t fix, the book teaches radical acceptance. You adopt a specific physical posture (shoulders open, hands willing) and tell yourself phrases like “this moment is exactly as it should be.” The book includes flowcharts that walk you through choosing the right skill based on what you’re dealing with. Each skill section also helps you assess whether the solution is working or if you should try something else.

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Quick Picks

Less Is More — How many exercises should you do per workout?

Fresh Perspective — Feeling stuck at work? This free leadership newsletter delivers practical career advice four times weekly.*

Awe-some — Discover the 5 ways this practice restores your nervous system.

A Weight Off Your Shoulders — This could be causing neck and back pain (and it’s not your posture).

Pulse Check — Are microplastics playing a role in heart attacks?

^*Indicates a brand partnership

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What We're Cooking

Valencia Orange & Aperol Ice Pops

Orange popsicles scattered among sliced oranges on a textured surface.

Courtesy: Food52

Serves: 6 | Cook Time: 8 hours 20 minutes

These Valencia orange ice pops turn a classic frozen treat into a refreshing summer aperitif with a bright citrus twist. Fresh orange juice and zest provide a bold, fragrant base, while honey adds natural sweetness and Aperol brings a subtle bitter, herbal note. A small amount of powdered gelatin gives the pops a softer texture, making them easier to bite into straight from the freezer. Serve them on their own or pair them with sparkling wine for a fun warm-weather boozy dessert.

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This, Not That

Build a Bridge

A hand holding a green bowl with sliced avocado, boiled eggs, and flaxseeds sprinkled on top.

THIS

A shared meal with various dishes including roasted fish, vegetables, and colorful tomatoes, surrounded by tattooed hands.

NOT THAT

Karolina Grabowska/Unsplash, Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash

This: Add a “bridge snack” before dinner
Not That: White-knuckling it until you’re starving

If you regularly arrive at dinner ravenous, a small afternoon snack can help you make a better meal choice later. Think Greek yogurt, fruit with nut butter, veggies and hummus, or a hard-boiled egg. The goal isn’t to ruin dinner — it’s to avoid treating dinner like an emergency.

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The $12K Repair Insurance May Not Cover

Homeowners insurance covers sudden accidents — not the normal wear and tear that causes major home systems like furnaces and ACs to fail. Consequently, an expensive breakdown can result in an unexpected out-of-pocket cost.

A home warranty, on the other hand, is made for these situations. Unlike traditional insurance, American Home Shield covers the repair or replacement of major appliances and systems that stop working from everyday use. And right now, new customers can even get 50% off† select plans, making homeownership costs more predictable.

Get Your 50% Discount

Thank you for supporting our sponsors! They help us keep All Healthy free.

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HEALTHY HABIT

Put a Vegetable in Your Breakfast

Breakfast does not have to be sweet. Add spinach to eggs, tomatoes to toast, peppers to a scramble, leftover roasted vegetables to a bowl, or avocado to whatever needs help. Getting vegetables in early takes some pressure off the rest of the day.

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Final Thought

Majestic cliffs rise in the background, with a foreground of white daisies against lush green grass.

The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”

– Vincent van Gogh, Van Gogh: Self-Portraits

Mariya Oliynyk/Unsplash