Latest news with #SurgeonGeneral
Medscape
5 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Now, More Than Ever, Our Nation Needs a Doctor
The libertarian Cato Institute recently argued the role of the US Surgeon General should be dissolved, claiming the position is redundant, politicized, and unnecessary. Slashing government may be all the rage in Washington, but this proposition is remarkable for its ill-timed folly. At a time when public health agencies are perceived as politically compromised, the Surgeon General — a position specifically designed to be nonpartisan and rooted in science — can serve as a stabilizing voice. The position can guide and influence national conversations about health by producing reports and recommendations grounded in evidence. And the Surgeon General isn't just a bureaucrat. They serve as the nation's top health educator. The current media landscape, where misinformation spreads unchecked, demands a visible and articulate leader who can engage directly with Americans. Why Dr Koop Was One of the Greats Surgeons General come and Surgeons General go. All play a vital role in advancing public health, but only a few among them have left behind enduring legacies. The 20th century gave us three of these leaders. Under the term of Dr Thomas Parran (1936-1948), the CDC was founded. Dr Luther Terry gave us the first Surgeon General Report on Smoking and Health during his 1961-1965 term. And then there was Dr C. Everett Koop (1981-1989). Earlier this year, the University of Massachusetts Press published Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon General , a biography written by the richly experienced and multitalented author Nigel M. de S. Cameron. This biography serves as an exemplary writer's workshop on how to craft a biography about a famous and richly complicated person. Cameron, who knew Dr Koop in life, gathered research from a host of individuals who were willing to share their many personal insights. The resulting opus recognizes the memories of Dr Koop's inner circle of friends and colleagues and balances those with the observations and recollections of many others with whom Dr Koop interacted professionally. C. Everett Koop became the 13th Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service in November 1981, after many months of acrimonious debate about his nomination, and served until October 1,1989. A towering figure of enormous charisma and mystique, 'Chick' Koop was figuratively and literally 'everywhere' at his peak — and his peak lasted well beyond the conclusion of his duties as Surgeon General. A darling of the public media, Dr Koop was the best known and most influential doctor, by far, in and outside of formal medicine. Dr Koop redefined the role of Surgeon General, transforming it from a bureaucratic position into a bold and highly visible public health platform. Koop was not afraid of controversy. He took principled stands on divisive issues and became a staunch advocate for scientific truths over political lines. He publicly championed sex education to combat the AIDS epidemic, took on Big Tobacco, and worked tirelessly to make health communication direct, accessible, and memorable — earning him an extraordinary level of public trust. To this day, there are still hundreds of individuals across several fields who know Dr Koop and his work. I am honored to count myself among those who had the privilege of calling him a colleague. Dr Koop was the best known and most respected person in medicine, bar none. Everybody wanted a piece of Dr Koop, and he gave much to many. Although appointed by a conservative administration and known for his personal religious beliefs, Dr Koop consistently separated his ideology from his public health responsibilities and insisted on educating the public based on science, not fear or politics. The best Surgeon Generals in history have transcended partisanship to become trusted moral voices on health, and Dr Koop became that moral voice for America. His example underscores why the role remains essential — especially at this time in history. I don't expect us to see another Dr Koop any time soon. But I certainly hope I'm wrong. Who Gets Your Vote for Most Influential Surgeon General? Surgeons General have tackled some of the nation's most pressing public health issues, from the opioid crisis and mental health to obesity and the COVID pandemic. Some have transformed the role into a platform for bold action and public education, while others took a more behind-the-scenes approach to shaping health policy. But I'm curious about your thoughts. Which Surgeon General do you think made the biggest difference in their role? Lead image: University of Massachusetts Press Medscape Internal Medicine © 2025 WebMD, LLC Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How social media fuels teen anxiety
Social media was meant to help us feel more connected, but for today's teens, it's often doing the opposite. While apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat offer opportunities for self-expression, they can also fuel anxiety, low self-esteem, and distorted self-image. For parents and caregivers, it's important to understand how these platforms are shaping teen mental health and what we can do to support our kids. The rise of the curated self According to the U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 advisory on social media and youth mental health, up to 95% of teens between 13 and 17 use social media, and more than a third report using it 'almost constantly.' With so much of their social world playing out online, teens are under pressure to present a version of themselves that is always interesting, attractive, and liked. But this constant self-monitoring takes a toll. The same advisory warns that more than three hours of daily social media use is linked to a doubled risk of anxiety and depression in adolescents. Social media's impact on teen mental health Social media isn't just a tool. It's an environment that shapes how young people see themselves and others. Studies show that heavy use is associated with rising rates of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and feelings of isolation. A 2023 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 53% of teen girls reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless during the past year. While this is a slight improvement over the 2021 survey, this figure is still alarming. Experts cite social comparison, how teens measure their appearance, popularity, and worth against what they see online, as a key contributor. Platforms encourage comparison by rewarding curated, idealized content. Photos are filtered, moments are staged, and metrics like likes and comments become a stand-in for social validation. For teens still figuring out who they are, this can create a crushing sense of inadequacy. In fact, the Surgeon General's 2023 advisory highlights that nearly half of adolescents, especially girls, say social media makes them feel worse about their bodies. More: What parents should know about teen screen time and mental health | Parentally Speaking When 'normal' becomes toxic Not all screen time is harmful. Teens use social media to stay connected, learn new skills, and express themselves. But when the need to maintain a perfect image becomes constant, the pressure builds. Here are a few ways social media can worsen teen anxiety: Fear of missing out (FOMO): Seeing friends post about events or trips they weren't invited to can trigger exclusion and sadness. Perfectionism: Teens may feel they have to edit photos, delete posts that don't get enough likes, or constantly monitor their digital image. Cyberbullying: Negative comments or targeted harassment online can leave lasting emotional scars, and it often happens out of view from adults. Sleep disruption: Notifications and compulsive scrolling often cut into rest, which is directly tied to emotional regulation and resilience. What parents can do The goal isn't to ban social media. It's to help teens build a healthy, balanced relationship with it. Here's how you can start: Talk openly about what they're seeing online. Ask questions like: 'Have you seen anything online that made you feel bad about yourself?' or 'How do you decide what to post?' These conversations normalize critical thinking and self-reflection. Model real-life balance. Your own phone habits send a powerful message. Prioritize device-free meals, get outside together, and talk about your own digital boundaries. Encourage offline confidence-builders. Whether it's sports, art, volunteering, or in-person hangouts, help teens develop a sense of worth that isn't tied to likes or followers. Set limits collaboratively. Instead of imposing blanket restrictions, work with your teen to create screen-time agreements that make sense for your household. This builds trust and accountability. Let them know they're enough. Reassure them that they don't need to be perfect to be valued. Praise effort, empathy, and character, not just appearance or performance. At Wellspring Center for Prevention, we believe emotional resilience starts at home with informed, supportive families who understand the challenges of growing up in a digital world. By staying present, fostering open communication, and setting tech boundaries with compassion, parents can help their teens navigate the pressures of social media without losing sight of who they really are. Sean Peek is the Director of Marketing at Wellspring Center for Prevention, a nonprofit focused on substance use prevention and mental health in New Jersey. He works to empower families and communities through education, storytelling, and strategic outreach. This article originally appeared on How social media fuels teen anxiety Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Millennial Parents Are Sharing The Things They Really, Really Wish Their Boomer Parents Understood
Millennials are the first generation of parents to have grown up in the digital era — and it shows. Today's parents have access to infinitely more information than their parents had, and they hold themselves to a different set of standards. Some boomers may mock today's touchy-feely gentle parenting, but these trends have grown out of insight into child development and the impact of childhood trauma. Many parents today believe that if you want to raise kind, respectful kids, you start by treating them with kindness and respect. A changed economic landscape means parents are also under more financial pressure. The cost of childcare continues to rise, with the average cost of a week of daycare going up 13% between 2022 and 2024. Families today are spending an average of 24% of their income on childcare — that's more than triple the 7% the Department of Health and Human Services considers affordable. This problem, along with parents working longer hours and spending more time caring for their children, makes it no surprise that parents' mental health is suffering. Back in August, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on parental mental health, citing 'an intensifying culture of comparison' among the stressors weighing on parents, causing them to report significantly higher rates of stress than adults without children. Today's parents are certainly looking for support wherever they can find it, online or within their own families. Oftentimes, grandparents want to be helpful but may struggle with all the ways parenting has changed since they raised their children. We asked millennial parents to tell us what they wish their parents understood. Here's what they had to say. Times have changed. Related: 'The world is a different place from when we were raised, so parenting has to be different. The mental load is crazy, and usually both parents need to work, so the 'traditional' family life most of us grew in is obsolete (for the majority). The comments of 'when you were young,' no matter how well-meaning, add to the parental guilt of not being available for your child 100% of the time as a mother or not being able to provide financially by yourself as a father, and it really hurts.' — Lesley Cox 'Millennials are navigating a different world when it comes to financial instability, work-life balance and social media pressures. It genuinely is harder being a parent now, especially when it comes to costs compared to back in the day, even accounting for inflation. Childcare expenses are astronomical and add to stress. Millennials wish their parents understood that raising kids today comes with different economic, social and cultural challenges and that comparison to the 'way things were' can feel invalidating.' — Dr. Mona Amin We expect an equal partnership. Related: 'A lot of boomer people, they're so amazed at our partners and how much they participate in child rearing. They're like, 'Oh my gosh, they're just the best dad!' And I have a great husband, and he is a great dad, but it's like, yeah, because he does the same things I do. I'm a great mom, too. But there's so many kudos toward men, which I just think is funny. Their generation, she's like, 'Your dad didn't change a single darn diaper.' Well, I would not have let that fly. That's insane. I'm just calling her out on it: 'No, mom, this is called a partnership. He doesn't get a party because he's doing what is expected.'' — Taylor Wolfe Sometimes you need to expand the village. 'I've noticed that my parents understand the importance of being and providing a 'village' to help me with my children and family. I do wish though that they understood that all help doesn't always have to come from the family. Sometimes, to allow for everyone in the family to rest, hired help may be needed. It could be a nanny, babysitter or daycare. My parents feel that I shouldn't pay for the help if they're around. The issue is that, just like my husband and I, our parents need a break, and we respect that. If we have the means and access to outside help, it's a huge privilege and an added expense that's worth it. Responsibilities can be shared without guilt.' — Mya Morenzoni 'I wish my parents knew that we have to parent so much differently than they did back in the day. We have to parent with paid help, whether that's a nanny or au pair. The village is available, but at a cost.' — Natalie Robinson We speak openly about mental health. Related: 'Many millennials prioritize their own mental health and their children's emotional well-being, embracing therapy, mindfulness and open communication about mental health. They want their parents to recognize that mental health is not a taboo topic but an integral part of raising happy, resilient kids.' — Dr. Mona Amin More is expected of us. 'One of the biggest struggles seems to be getting my parents to understand that things that were 'good enough' or 'fine' for me or my siblings aren't good enough anymore. From food to schoolwork to sports/extracurriculars and even what they're watching ... there's just a lot more involvement. And the crazy thing is that it's also somewhat expected that millennial parents will be overly involved in their kids' lives.' — Christina Rincon We place a high value on experiences. Related: 'We're focused on creating life-long memories for and with our kids. Prioritizing vacations with and without kids is just as important as anything else in life.' — Natalie Robinson We respect our children and give them autonomy. 'One thing that I wish that our parents understood is that we treat our children with respect and we understand that they are humans who are allowed to express their emotions. I think the best way to teach children to be respectful people is to give them that respect. That means allowing them to express their emotions and also to apologize to our kids if there's a situation where I feel like maybe I handled it incorrectly. How can I get upset about my children not regulating their emotions if I can't always be expected to regulate mine? So my kids are allowed to have bad days. They're allowed to say, 'Mama, I don't agree.' They're allowed to choose who they want to hug and who they don't want to hug. Those are the tough conversations we have had with our parents because how they want to parent our kids is not the same. In the moment, I'm not going to disagree with my mom or my in-laws, but it is a conversation after the fact: 'Hey, you know how you responded in this moment? I'm not calling my child a crybaby. I'm not telling them to stop crying, to suck it up. We're using different language.'' — Jamilla Svansson-Brown Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. 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Fast Company
18-07-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
It's time to take the fear out of healthcare advertising and replace it with joy, hope, and authentic connection
There's rarely a week that goes by without me having a conversation with a colleague or client about the ineffectiveness of fear-based advertising. For too long, our industry has relied on tropes of fear, shame, and judgment to motivate patients and providers. A friend of mine calls this 'sadvertising.' Health advertising's premise has been deceptively simple: 'If people just knew the dangers, they would alter their behaviors.' We've become masters of euphemism, leveraging scare tactics under the guise of 'creating urgency.' But beneath the marketing -speak lies an uncomfortable truth. We've built a category lexicon of dark messages and imagery that perpetuates a culture of sickness instead of inspiring wellness. In doing so, we've stifled creativity and conditioned marketers and agencies to approach too many briefs (whether consciously or not) through a fear-based lens that may grab attention in the short term, but rarely leads to lasting change. The problem is fear isn't working. It's time we stop creating work that holds up a mirror to what's broken and start imagining creative solutions that inspire a new vision of what's possible. THE EVIDENCE AGAINST FEAR Statistically, scientifically, and psychologically, fear hardly ever drives long-term impact. The Surgeon General's warning first appeared on cigarettes in 1964, yet smoking rates continued climbing for decades. The 'war on drugs' consumed over $1T in fear-based messaging, yet overdose deaths increased, stigma spread, and healthcare systems still buckle under the strain today. Similarly, over 50% of new drug launches fail to meet forecasts, and most wellness products don't live past year one. There's been no shortage of ways advertising has tried to guilt people into caring for their health. We've deployed everything from anxiety-inducing warnings ('diabetes could cost you your toes') and catastrophic scenarios ('meningitis can kill in hours') to hair-raising statistics, dark imagery, stern voice-overs, and ominous soundtracks. In healthcare, where life-and-death consequences feel immediate, fear may initially seem like the most efficient path to behavior change. But time and again, fear backfires, eroding the very trust we need to build. The opportunity isn't in perfecting new forms of fear—it's in challenging brands to pivot toward joy. A CREATIVE RENAISSANCE AWAITS Earlier this month, brands across nearly every industry and continent gathered on the French Riviera to celebrate great storytelling at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. For health advertisers, it was an important moment to take a step back and ask: Can new forms of creativity help improve and save lives? Here's where we can begin forging a better path forward. Entertainment As A Secret Weapon Of Behavior Change Netflix's Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones doesn't lecture viewers about longevity. It invites them into communities where people naturally live healthier, longer lives through connection and purpose. AXA's Group Therapy campaign took a similar approach, trading fear for humor and connection. Featuring celebrities like Neil Patrick Harris in a docu-style format, it tackled mental health through empathetic storytelling, not shock value. By spotlighting shared vulnerability, it made mental health feel more relatable and more human. Similarly, New Zealand's Cannes Grand Prix winning 'Best Place to Have Herpes' campaign. The campaign tackled taboo with humor and heart by launching a crash-course on destigmatization. It invited people to talk about the issue, laugh about it, and most importantly, take it seriously without shame. Accessibility And Inclusion As Creative Foundation The most powerful health campaigns meet people where they are, not where we think they should be. Eli Lilly's recent diabetes campaigns showcase real people living full, empowered lives by emphasizing possibility over complications. Similarly, Aveeno's 'Eczema Equality' initiative celebrates diverse skin by featuring confident families and children, transforming a condition often hidden in shame into a source of authentic representation and acceptance. Health messaging becomes most effective when building bridges, not putting up barriers. Apple's accessibility-focused campaigns, 'The Greatest' and 'The Relay,' demonstrate how brands can embed inclusivity into their core messaging. And in a world where nearly 53% of Gen Z identify with some form of neurodiversity and 129 million Americans have pre-existing conditions, the opportunities for inclusive marketing are endless. When brands prioritize accessibility, they don't just reach more people; they create more authentic connections. Vaseline's Vaseline Verified campaign echoed this approach by also meeting Gen Z on TikTok. By testing trending 'hacks' in real labs and educating through science, it showed how trust and transparency can outshine fear and misinformation. Conversation Placement: The New Product Placement We all remember when Reese's Pieces led E.T. home in 1982, launching the modern era of product placement. Since then, we've seen Heineken in James Bond films, Ray-Bans in Top Gun, and Coca-Cola in Stranger Things. Brands invest massive marketing dollars to infiltrate our entertainment with products they want us to buy. But what if we started placing health conversations into our entertainment instead? My colleague Andre Gray calls this ' conversation placement. ' Instead of inserting sneakers into a TV series, what if we featured an attorney with HIV on Law & Order or a teenager with cystic fibrosis navigating high school drama? We've gotten a glimpse of this potential already. Everything Everywhere All at Once showed us Evelyn Wang living with ADHD, Glee gave us Artie Abrams as a wheelchair user, and The Good Doctor brought us Shaun Murphy, a surgeon with autism and savant syndrome. 'Conversation placement' tackles real health issues with real people and bridges gaps through culture and inclusion. THE JOY IMPERATIVE Fear feels reliable because it's easily manufactured. But fear creates lose-lose scenarios by breeding resentment toward the very health systems and behaviors we want people to embrace. As the dust settles post-Cannes Lions, let's remember that the most meaningful creative work doesn't shock people into change; it invites them in. The path forward isn't about abandoning all urgency or glossing over real health risks. It's about communicating those realities through frameworks of hope, community, and empowerment. When healthcare advertising embraces joy, laughter, and authentic human connection, we don't just create better campaigns—we create better health outcomes. We build trust instead of eroding it. So, when in doubt, choose joy. Your audience (and their health) will thank you for it.
CNN
30-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
Having friends can help you live longer. Here's how to find them
FacebookTweetLink After working from home all day, your takeout order arrives and you start binge-watching your favorite show alone. Sounds ideal, right? Except doing this routinely could shorten your life. And that's not because of the nutritional content of your dinner. It's because having strong, positive relationships is one of the best ways to extend your life, according to research. 'Human beings just are a fundamentally social species. We have a fundamental need to belong,' said Dr. Amit Kumar, associate professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business. With everything else you have going on, why should you make a change? Because the cost of loneliness is huge. 'The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity,' wrote then US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy in his 2023 advisory on the 'healing effects' of social connection . The lack of strong social ties has been linked to a greater risk of problems with health or well-being, including more stress, high blood pressure, premature death and poor coping skills. But finding friends as an adult can be hard. Some people's mindsets hinder their ability to make connections, while a lack of affordable places to meet is a challenge for others, said Danielle Bayard Jackson, director of the Women's Relational Health Institute. But the effort is worth it. Here's how Jackson and other experts suggest you combat those limitations and find your community. If you want to make more connections in your life, consider how you might be counteracting that goal and prepare to change, said Jackson, author of 'Fighting for Our Friendships: The Science and Art of Conflict and Connection in Women's Relationships.' Many people have a fear of rejection, real or perceived, while others have social anxiety, Jackson said. But if you never take risks, Kumar noted, you never give your brain a chance to see that you actually can socialize. Practicing cognitive behavioral therapy or setting yourself up for 'micro' moments to put yourself out there can help you regulate social anxiety and rejection-sensitivity, experts said. Not everyone is going to like you, and you need to learn to regulate your emotional response to that. That could look like noting the sting and thinking, 'Well, that was awkward' — but not immediately labeling that person a jerk or deciding something about you is defective. 'Some psychologists call it exposure therapy,' Jackson said. 'I've seen them assign a client the task of going and asking for crazy things and intentionally trying to go and collect nos.' Engage with a waiter a bit longer than normal and ask for a menu accommodation you know they will decline, Jackson said. Check out at the grocery store with a cashier instead of self-checkout to practice your social skills. If time is an issue, think about canceling some commitments so you can prioritize your social life, experts said. But you should also change what you consider acceptable hangouts — setting time limits is OK, especially when the alternative is not seeing anyone at all. Dr. Lauren Cook, a clinical psychologist, suggests doing mundane activities with friends more often instead of always having bigger, less frequent events focused on catching up. If you want to see someone but also need to run errands, hit the gym or fold laundry, ask them to join you. Instead of drinks on a Friday, plan a short Tuesday game night and ask your guests to eat dinner beforehand so you only have to provide a snack. Some people cite the 'collapse of third places' as a hindrance to making friends, Jackson said. That's true, she added, but those places are closing in part because of low attendance. Today's culture of convenience is also to blame, Jackson and Cook said — think grocery delivery orders, mobile order counters, digital reading devices or livestreamed religious services. These have many perks, especially for people with mobility issues, 'but I cannot help but to think about the cost,' Jackson said. 'We tend to romanticize those serendipitous moments of, like, you're in a coffee shop and you start chatting with the girl in front of you and you guys hit it off,' Jackson said. But that can't happen if we're acting like 'little night cooters,' Cook said — quickly hopping out, getting our food and then going back to our caves. When clients seek Jackson's help with finding friends, they list all their delivery subscriptions and other conveniences — such as frequent mobile orders — and then eliminate some, which lead to those serendipitous moments. Don't think in black or white, Jackson said. 'If you see it as zero friends or go out and make besties, that's a lot,' she added. But if you see all that's available to you — like the neighbor or moviegoer you always run into — you can see what happens. Finally, get off your phone. When you're always zoned in on your screen, you appear standoffish and won't notice people you might like. To determine where to meet people, consider your values and your ideal friend, Jackson said. If you love helping people, look for volunteering opportunities. If your ideal friend reads books, where would she be on a Wednesday night? Probably at a book club meeting or a bookstore, so go to one. Frequent local libraries, farmers markets and parks. Look online for interest clubs or events, or try an app for finding friends nearby. Take a class on something you have always wanted to do, such as learning a specific dance style or cooking a special cuisine. Maybe even reach out to an old friend you have lost touch with, said psychologist Dr. Marisa G. Franco, an associate fellow at the University of Maryland honors program and author of 'Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make — and Keep — Friends.' We often underestimate how happy people will be to hear from us, she noted. When Cook became a new mom, she brought her baby along on her walks and made many friends by asking other women about their babies and talking about her own. Cook also suggested wearing something that could be a conversation starter, such as a T-shirt featuring your favorite artist. And don't forget you can be a leader, Cook said. 'A lot of people are hoping these opportunities will just fall in their lap. If you're not finding it, build it.' Cook recalled when her friends hosted dinners they called 'friends of friends.' They would invite a friend who also had to bring someone. 'That completely built out their whole social world because their friends were all getting to know each other,' Cook said. 'It became this popular thing where there was a wait list.' Another person couldn't find a quilting club for millennials, so they started a monthly class in a rented space, Cook said. That do-it-yourself spirit is what sparked some of the platforms that matchmake strangers for restaurant dinners or provide spaces for people to start something themselves. Those initiatives include The Lonely Girls Club in the United Kingdom; California's Groundfloor, an 'after-school club' for millennials; RealRoots in the United States; and the global-based Time Left. Small talk may seem annoying, but it's necessary, said Cook, who also wrote 'Generation Anxiety: A Millennial and Gen Z Guide to Staying Afloat in an Uncertain World.' Deep relationships take time to build. If you find yourself running out of topics, Cook recommends asking questions about their favorite things that are relevant to the situation — if you're at a jazz bar, for example, ask someone about their favorite jazz artists. If your platonic interest loves hiking, say you'll send them links to a couple of good spots if they give you their number or Instagram, Jackson suggested. Later that night, send them the links. After a week, ask if they went and keep talking. Cook also suggests using the 'listen and link' technique. As you're listening to someone, think about what you can link to the conversation, use that and build from there. If someone's talking about their trip to Costa Rica and you love monkeys, ask what kinds of monkeys they saw in Costa Rica. One of my favorite ways to keep a conversation going with someone new? Staying curious. When someone is totally new to you, there is a whole decades-long world of information to learn about them. When you're aware of that, how could you ever have nothing to talk about? Cook agrees. Although many people know romantic partnerships require consistent effort and nurturing, many think friendship should be the opposite: easy, natural and organic, Jackson said. This idea may be because growing up, we made friends more easily because we had classes or sports practice with them every day. But in adulthood, that idea is a falsehood that leads to fizzled-out friendships and loneliness, Jackson said. Maintaining friendships takes a lot of intention, experts said. Set reminders to check in, be a good listener, don't be judgmental and remember what your new acquaintances like so you can suggest meaningful ways to spend time together — and maybe even live longer. Sign up for CNN's Adulthood, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide has tips to help you make more informed decisions around personal finance, career, wellness and personal connections.
