We ALL Have a Few Minutes To Spare!
Eight intentional minutes a day can reduce loneliness, strengthen relationships, and change how connected you feel in a fast moving world.
We live in a world where everyone says they are busy. Busy schedules. Busy phones. Busy lives. Yet loneliness keeps climbing. That tells you something important. The problem is not time. The problem is attention.
Research around social connection shows that short, intentional interactions can reduce feelings of isolation. We are not talking about hours of deep conversation. We are talking about minutes. Eight minutes. Less time than most people spend scrolling without even noticing.
8 minutes of real connection can change the tone of someone’s entire day. It can change yours too.
Think about how often you say you will call someone later. Or reply properly when things slow down. Most of the time, later never comes. Not because you do not care, but because life keeps filling the gaps. Eight minutes is small enough that it does not feel heavy. That is why it works.
In places like Bali, where wellness and human connection still show up in daily life, this idea feels natural. People check in. They sit down. They ask real questions. Not for hours. Sometimes just for a few minutes. That is often enough to reset the nervous system and remind someone they are not invisible.
Connection does not require performance. It requires presence.
Eight minutes of listening without checking your phone.
Eight minutes of asking how someone actually is.
Eight minutes of letting the conversation breathe instead of rushing to fill silence.
Those moments stack up. They create trust. They create familiarity. They create a sense of being counted.
For friendships, this matters more than big plans. A message that says I was thinking about you. A short call that does not need an agenda. A voice note instead of a like. These are small actions, but they land differently because they feel human.
For relationships, eight minutes can stop distance before it grows. Most relationships do not fall apart because of one big problem. They drift because of small gaps that never get filled. Short, consistent check ins close those gaps.
For creators, founders, and entrepreneurs, this is not just personal. It is practical. Strong networks do not form from occasional long meetings alone. They form from regular touchpoints. When people hear from you consistently, even briefly, you stay present in their world. That builds long term connection.
This is not about forcing conversations or adding another task to your day. It is about choosing intention over autopilot. You already have eight minutes. You just need to decide where it goes.
Here is a simple way to test this. Today, pick one person. Not a group. One person. Set a timer for eight minutes. Call them. Or send a message that actually says something. Ask one honest question. Then listen.
Do Not Multitask.
Do not rush to end it early.
Do not turn it into content.
Just show up.
You may notice something shift. Their tone. Your mood. The way the rest of your day feels lighter. That is the effect of connection when it is done on purpose.
Loneliness does not always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like being surrounded by people but rarely chosen. Eight minutes is a way to choose someone without making it complicated.
So here is the challenge. Every day this week, give eight minutes to someone that matters. Rotate if you want. Keep it simple. Keep it honest. See what changes.
Eight minutes will not fix everything. But it will start something. And sometimes that is all it takes.
#EightMinutes
