“A 7-minute phone call before bedtime can improve your sleep quality.” Stress expert Elke Van Hoof on why the neutral phase is your greatest opportunity to de-stress.
Why does connection with others sometimes make the difference between exhaustion and resilience? Stress expert Elke Van Hoof experienced this during her student days. Stress accumulated until small moments of contact allowed her body to relax. “Connection is not a luxury; it is a lifeline.”
Loneliness predicts anxiety, depression, and stress. During warm moments of contact, your brain produces oxytocin, the natural counterpart to cortisol. It lowers your heart rate, relaxes muscles, and signals: “You’re safe here.” People with strong social networks have lower blood pressure, a better immune system, and better sleep quality.
For Elke, hopelessness is the clearest signal of social deprivation. Digital contact works, but only through personal interaction where we truly listen to one another. Social contact is a natural medicine with measurable effects. Who is the first person you are going to truly connect with today?
