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Overcome isolation and commit to quit ‘busyness’ Natural, drug-free headache and migraine approach
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Loneliness and social
Belle Budden
O Nuha Collective is a multi-modality clinic in Byron Bay. The professionally trained and registered practitioners offer Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Facial Rejuvenation, Remedial, Deep Tissue and Relaxation Massage. The clinic specialises in pain management, nervous system repair and cosmetic acupuncture / guasha treatments. Free parking and health fund rebates available.
0423 714 875 Nuhacollective.com.au 5/37 Broken Head Rd, Byron Bay
A Gambit for the Muse ‘David Lovejoy’s latest novel, White Horses and Dark Knights, is… the story of the fictional George Marks, a British journeyman International Master whose rational mind struggles with the possibility that he may have met – or rather been chosen by – a muse, Kay Orikasa. …Fun to read, with Lovejoy keeping the action and plot twists going until the end.’ – Grandmaster Ian Rogers, Canberra Times White Horses and Dark Knights, paperback, 245pp, is available for $20 at The Echo WٻKM
10 The Byron Shire Echo 'ĕĈĕŔćĕſ ǩǮǽ ǩǧǩǪ
ur region is made of hubs of interconnection throughout the towns and villages in our region. Well known as a beacon of health and wellbeing our focus on community includes a strong sense of our collective identity. Building strong and resilient communities are a priority of governments at all levels and jurisdictions, especially in the wake of the ongoing impacts of climate change. Our responsiveness to climate change will undoubtably be more reliant on our strength of neighbourhood and community connections. But perhaps community connection has a role in addressing our health and wellbeing in a more holistic way. Loneliness and social isolation is the global epidemic of our time. According to a 2023 Meta-Gallup survey of more than 140 countries, millions of people experience loneliness in their daily lives. Research shows that loneliness is associated with elevated risk of a wide range of physical and mental health conditions. This is seemingly absurd considering that humans are experiencing unprecedented connectivity through the internet, telecommunications, and social media. The global data illustrates that a quarter of people report feeling very or fairly lonely, with older adults the least likely to report feelings of loneliness. This is concerning, especially for our young people and future generations who are now in a world that relies on algorithms for connections. Loneliness
is defined as a state of isolation is the global grounded in relationships isolation or being alone, of reciprocity for employepidemic of our time. loneliness is actually a ers and employees. state of mind. Loneliness Humans rely on other causes people to feel empty, not enough time to do them. humans to survive; as sociealone, and unwanted. People This is regularly confirmed ties become more privileged who are lonely often crave they forget how critical these by people answering ‘how human contact, but for a human interconnections are you?’ or ‘how have you variety of reasons find it been?’ with ‘Oh, soooo busy’. are to our survival. Covid difficult to form connections provided us with a clear Time poverty is the with others. demonstration of how conconcept that people do not Social isolation and nected our communities truly have enough discretionary loneliness can be harmful are and how the wellbeing of time – the time available to both mental and physical one is closely linked to their after engaging in necessary health. They are considered wellbeing of others. activities like sleep, and in substantial health and First Nations communities the committed activities of wellbeing issues in Australia understand this and our paid and unpaid work – to because of the impact they engage in activities that build cultures have this at the have on peoples’ lives. Data core. Our cultures are based their social and human capifrom the longitudinal House- tal. Time poverty is linked around genuine obligations hold Income and Labour of reciprocal care, recognising to lower wellbeing, physical Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) health, and productivity. the interconnectedness of Survey shows that, consistall individuals making up the Most importantly, it can lead ently from 2001 to 2021, community. Community is to stress, which is a gateway about one in five Australians our common unity, our shared to many serious health agreed with the statement ‘I connections that link us and problems. Our ‘busyness’ is often feel very lonely’ (Ausleading to our loneliness and make us stronger, and this is tralian Institute of Health and social isolation. where we need to refocus. Wellbeing). If ‘busyness’ is preventAustralia Institute’s Centre With the myriad of coning connection, we need for Future Work has gathered nections that exist at our to prioritise activities that annual data since 2009 on fingertips through social build our connection and the the unpaid overtime and media and dating apps these unsatisfactory working hours interconnectedness of the statistics are mind boggling. of Australians. This data illus- entire community, and in our We have a responsibility to trated a broader trend growing contemporary climate we our young people to address have some rebuilding to do. over time for young people the increasing incidents of owing to technology integra- Volunteering our time for a social isolation and lonelition in the workplace and how community centre or group, ness, as well as ensuring our emergency service, school contactable people are. communities are resilient or sports group may be the This includes people callin the face of the impacts of most vital first step we can all ing or messaging after hours climate change. It is a probmake towards our wellness or on the weekend, having lem that we cannot afford to and the resilience of our comwork emails or messages ignore for individuals or for munities. We can follow our on personal phones, and our communities. passions, build our friendattending meetings outside ships and maybe even have work hours. Our work hours Busy, busy, busy a bit of fun on our journey. are less contained, and this Can you commit to quitting Over the last 20 years doesn’t even consider the global wealth has increased, diminished conditions owing ‘busyness’, rebuilding your boundaries and finding time though this material affluto the casualisation of the for community in 2024? ence has not translated into workforce. It’s a complex time affluence. Many people issue, but starting with clariQ Pictured is ‘Intergenreport feeling persistently fying our boundaries is an erational Healing’ by ‘time poor’ – like they have important first step. Flexible Belle Budden. too many things to do and work conditions need to be
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