Making friends as an adult can be challenging, especially when our lives take different paths and our priorities shift. In fact, 7.1% of people in the UK report being lonely. That's around 3.8 million people - a huge amount and I'm sure something we have all felt at certain times in our lives.
The struggle to combat loneliness while navigating adulthood is a common experience, and much more common than we might think. However, one solution that often goes overlooked is getting to know our neighbours - something us Brits are becoming increasingly bad at!
Talking of statistics, it's been reported that a quarter of Britons have not spoken to their neighbours in 6 months or more, which is a really concerning amount.
So, in this blog post, we're going to explore the importance of connecting with neighbours, and how an app like HiKinjo can help foster these connections within the UK.
It's easy to make friends when you're a child, isn't it?
Whilst doing research for this article, we discovered a great understanding as to why this is, from an article by BBC Bitesize:
Occupational therapist, Dr Angela Carter, has spent years searching the basis of human interaction and said the following on the matter:
“Think of the young children you see in a play group. They’re open, accepting, they’re not really influenced by any norms of society. They don’t - well, maybe just - see anyone as being a boy or girl but there is certainly no concept of skin colour at this stage. We’re all the same.
"There are no prior experiences the world is throwing at them - for example, that somebody tall might hurt them. Children have what we call as ‘simple friendships’, because they’re not based on anybody other than ‘that person there’.”
So without the (often unhelpful) preconceptions of people we pick up as we grow and develop into adults, we are completely open to new people.
As adults, our lives become increasingly busy and our interests diverge. Friends we met at school, college or University may move away, start families, or pursue different career paths. This natural progression can leave us feeling isolated and longing for meaningful connections. Building new friendships requires effort and stepping outside of our comfort zones, adding to the challenge of building new relationships. In fact, a famous study published a good few years ago now stated that only 2% of people liked to get out of their comfort zones!
But it's when we're out of our comfort zones that we get to meet new and interesting people... this is where the fun begins!
In our quest to combat loneliness, we often overlook the potential friendships that can be formed with our neighbours. Living in close proximity to others provides a unique opportunity for socialising and building a support network. By taking the initiative to get to know our neighbours, we can uncover shared interests, hobbies, and experiences.
In today's digital age, technology can bridge the gap between us and our neighbours. HiKinjo is an innovative app that connects individuals within the UK, allowing them to connect with their neighbours and build a sense of community. The app provides a platform where users can discover local events, share recommendations, and even organise neighbourhood gatherings. Through HiKinjo, individuals can connect with like-minded individuals and strengthen the bonds within their communities.
Hikinjo is one of the newest and easy ways to extra income.
Available on Apple & Play Store
