Send a Voice Note to Feel Better

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As people have become more reliant on texting and less inclined to make phone calls, loneliness has become a growing public health issue. The author suggests that sending voice notes to friends and family can provide a more personal connection and help alleviate feelings of isolation, even for busy adults with demanding schedules.

Why it matters

Loneliness has been declared a public health epidemic, with nearly a third of people aged 30-44 reporting frequent or constant loneliness. Experts cite reasons like increased reliance on technology, less time with family, and changes in work as contributors to the rise in social isolation. Voice notes can provide a more intimate way to stay connected with loved ones when traditional phone calls are difficult to schedule.

The details

The author used to talk to her best friend Adele every day when they lived on opposite coasts, but now in their 40s with busy careers and family lives, they struggle to find time for phone calls. The author has started exchanging voice notes instead, which allow for more flexibility and personal connection than texts. Voice notes capture vocal cues and emotions that can't be conveyed through written messages, enabling the friends to share both everyday updates and deeper personal struggles.

• Over the past year or so, the author has been regularly exchanging voice notes with friends and family.
• Three years ago, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness a public health epidemic.

What they’re saying

What’s next

While voice notes are not yet widely adopted, the author hopes that more people will embrace this more personal form of communication to help combat the growing loneliness epidemic.