Ranjani is an educator, researcher, writer, and curriculum developer. She has a doctorate in education, is a mother of three teens, and currently teaches high school math and is the Director of Heartfulness Programs for Schools, USA, that promote social-emotional learning and holistic development of future generations.

Jay is an academic hospitalist in internal medicine at Wellspan York hospital, who has published several research articles on the effect of Heartfulness Meditation on lowering stress and burnout, and improving sleep. He has received numerous awards and regularly conducts stress management workshops. He is a TEDx speaker.

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Ranjani Iyer and Jayaram Thimmapuram

<h4 class="block-heading"
  id="h-dr-ranjani-iyer-and-dr-jay-thimmapuram-encourage-contemplative-practices-to-combat-loneliness-they-also-share-other-easy-ways-we-can-adopt-to-ensure-we-don-t-give-in-to-loneliness">
  <strong><mark style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #e43425">DR. RANJANI
      IYER</mark>
    and
    <mark style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #3c54a5">DR. JAY THIMMAPURAM</mark>
    encourage contemplative practices to combat loneliness. They also share
    other easy ways we can adopt to ensure we don’t give in to
    loneliness.</strong>
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  There is an innate need in all of us to be connected. But when there is a gap
  between the innate longing to be connected and the actualization, loneliness
  can result. While many of us associate loneliness with being alone, it is not
  the only cause of feeling lonely. While being alone may predispose us to
  feeling lonely, many studies show that the perception of loneliness is much
  higher in the younger generations.
</p>

<p>
  Young people are the most digitally connected. Digital connection outweighs
  personal connection. In a recent survey conducted by CIGNA, Generation Z was
  found to be one of the loneliest generations. What does this tell us? That it
  is not just about the number of people we are connected to on social media; it
  is about the meaningfulness and depth of these connections. Data point to the
  fact that even if we relate to one person and that connection is deep and
  meaningful, it can be an antidote to loneliness. Even a connection with pets
  can be helpful.&nbsp;&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
  Interestingly, even children and young adults are subjected to this perception
  of loneliness.&nbsp;Many high schoolers, while surrounded by people, still
  feel lonely. Studies suggest that chronic loneliness in generation Z has links
  to health issues such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self-harm, and
  even heart conditions.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
  <mark style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #dba329">In the meditation process,
    when we gently close our eyes <br />and connect
    to an inner sublime state within our hearts, <br />a gradual change occurs
    in the inner landscape, <br />and our relationship with ourselves becomes
    harmonious.</mark>
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  In 2020, a team of high schoolers created a 4-week program to engage with
  their peers and build a community focused on self-care. With quarantine and
  social isolation leading to increased perceptions of loneliness in this age
  group, a study was conducted to focus on the impact of the self-care program
  on levels of loneliness in the students. The participants received an
  E-portfolio that included daily activities for self-care and guided
  Heartfulness practices. They also participated in four webinars, focusing on
  stress-management, positivity, improving sleep quality by aligning with
  circadian rhythms, and setting goals using self-observation.&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
  This short program of self-care tools led to decreasing loneliness scores in
  the participants, and opened a new valley of possibilities to help our young
  children combat loneliness. A follow-up study, extended to three schools
  globally, has shown that this self-care program could help decrease loneliness
  and anxiety and improve life satisfaction in teens and adults, thus improving
  the health and well-being of the whole school community.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
  <figure>
    <img decoding="async" width="600" height="747" alt="loneliness2" class="has-img-center lazyload"
      src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/loneliness2_323cd2a5aa.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:14:55.833Z" />
  </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  While many people experience loneliness, healthcare professionals are some of
  the most prone to loneliness. In a study conducted at Well Span York hospital,
  half the healthcare professionals, including the physicians and advanced
  practice providers, felt lonely. While there are many strategies, including
  improving social connections and engaging in activities that provide
  meaningful, pleasant enjoyment, other strategies may also help. One of these
  is Heartfulness Meditation, as loneliness is not only about our connection
  with others, but also about the relationship we have with ourselves. If that
  inner connection is harmonious, it can facilitate a feeling of connection even
  in the absence of significant outer changes. In the meditation process, when
  we gently close our eyes and connect to an inner sublime state within our
  hearts, a gradual change occurs in the inner landscape, and our relationship
  with ourselves becomes harmonious. The resulting inner connection can
  facilitate a connection with the outer world.
</p>

<p>
  In this study, sleep data were also measured. Previous studies have shown that
  the practice of Heartfulness Meditation improves sleep patterns. A well-rested
  mind is better able to socialize, where as a poorly-rested mind may not be so
  willing to interact with others. If we facilitate rest for the mind, we can
  reduce the perception of loneliness. In this study, for&nbsp;the weekly
  offering of Heartfulness, an introduction was given to the participants. The
  UCLA Loneliness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to measure
  loneliness and sleep.
</p>

<p>
  Four weeks of Heartfulness Meditation practice resulted in a reduction in the
  perception of loneliness and an improvement in the perception of sleep. While
  this is encouraging, loneliness may also need to be addressed in all possible
  ways.&nbsp;
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
  <figure>
    <img decoding="async" width="700" height="601" alt="infographic-loneliness" class="has-img-center lazyload"
      src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/infographic_loneliness_afe795cb68.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:16:25.321Z" />
  </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4 class="block-heading">
  <mark style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #e43425">References:&nbsp;</mark>
</h4>

<p>
  Iyer, R.B., S. Vadlapudi, L. Iyer, V. Kumar, L. Iyer, P. Sriram, R. Tandon, Y.
  Morel, H. Kunamneni, S. Narayanan, A. Ganti, S. Sriram, R. Tandon, S.
  Sreenivasan, S. Vijayan, and P. Iyer, 2022. Impact of the Heartfulness program
  on loneliness in high schoolers: Randomized survey study.
  <em>Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being</em>, 10.1111/aphw.12360.
</p>

<p>
  Thimmapuram, J., R. Pargament, T. Bell, H. Schurk, and D.K. Madhusudhan, 2021.
  Heartfulness meditation improves loneliness and sleep in physicians and
  advance practice providers during COVID-19 pandemic.
  <em>Hospital Practice</em> (1995), 49(3), 194–202.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
  Illustrations by ARATI SHEDDE
</h4>

<hr />

Loneliness: a silent epidemic

Jay is an academic hospitalist in internal medicine at Wellspan York hospital, who has published several research articles on the effect of Heartfulness Meditation on lowering stress and burnout, and improving sleep. He has received numerous awards and regularly conducts stress management workshops. He is a TEDx speaker.