People are lonelier than ever. Social media, less in-person office time and the ongoing cost of living crisis have made it difficult to forge genuine relationships – especially for those who finished school, went through university or entered the job market during the pandemic. According to Lululemon’s new Global Wellbeing Report 2024, Gen Z, women and communities of colour are most impacted by loneliness right now. But we Brits are actively doing something about that – using fitness as a tool for connection.

The report found that in the UK, we tend to veer towards simple, low-impact forms of movement to boost our physical wellbeing. Short walks that last under 15 minutes were found to increase wellbeing by 20%, while doing any physical activity in nature tops it up by 24%. We know that walking offers plenty of health benefits and that you don’t have to have a destination in mind to reap the benefits. Awe walking – going out for a few minutes to breathe in the fresh air and observe the cool things around you – has been found to reduce stress, loneliness, pain and depression.

Nipping out for a 10-minute pre-work stroll has been found to boost energy, increase mood, sharpen focus, promote mindfulness and help with the management of seasonal affective disorder. You don’t even have to walk with any destination in mind to feel better, as senior Strong Women Lauren found when she started embarking on ‘aimless walks’. 

Beyond walking, Gen Z is turning towards studios, run clubs and gym classes to feel more in touch with others. 54% of under-30s say they use fitness as an opportunity to socialise with others, with 30% of those saying they use physical activity to catch up with friends. The report found that, regardless of generational divides, group fitness classes boost wellbeing by 11% while taking part in team sports increases our social wellbeing by 17%.

In other words, fitness in all forms is a vital way of improving our wellbeing and reducing loneliness. If you hate the idea of jogging with other people, going for a solo run through your local green space is still going to give you a massive physical and psychological boost. If you know you should be doing more strength training but find the gym boring or intimidating, rest easy in the knowledge that a studio class will boost your social and physical health.

At the end of the day, fitness is about so much more than boosting your cardio capacity or physical strength. It builds resilience, problem-solving, a sense of adventure and the ability to stay calm. And by the looks of this report, it can also help to mitigate the negative impacts of living in an increasingly isolating society. 

Images: Getty