summary ofTogetherBook by Vivek H. Murthy, MD

first KEY POINT

We need to connect to thrive, but how do you do that and keep your social distance?

When you think about the types of things that pose a threat to your general health and wellbeing, loneliness might not be up there at the top of your list. However, as humans, we need connections with others, and there is a lot of proof to back up that claim.

Vivek Murthy has seen first hand just what loneliness can do to patients and people in general, and over the last decade, this has become even more marked, as we disconnect as a result of technology. However, over the last few months, we have become even more disconnected, through no fault of our own. The novel coronavirus, Covid-19, has taken everything up a notch. Now, simply spending time with loved ones could pose a health danger.As we move through the pandemic, it’s becoming more obvious that rather than opt for social distancing, we need to opt for physical distancing. That means being close to people via other means, such as video calls and telephones. As a result, there is a high chance that when this is all over, we might feel closer to our loved ones than we did before the world was turned on its head.

There are many examples of how this is happening around us. First, let’s talk about Italy, where people connected by singing together from their windows and balconies. All over the world, we’ve witnessed acts of generosity, such as delivering groceries to those who are isolating.Murthy has discovered four key strategies that will help us during this difficult time:
• Make sure you spend a little time with your loved ones on a daily basis, in some way
• Cut out the distractions when you’re spending time — put your phone down!
• Check in with yourself and understand that solitude can be a healthy thing in moderation
• Help others as much as you can