Five ways to beat loneliness this winter

By Dorothy Yen, Professor in Marketing and Lead on the Happy to Chat project, Brunel University of London
Christina Victor, Professor of Gerontology and Public Health, Brunel University of London

For some people, loneliness can feel overwhelming, especially during winter, but small steps toward connection can make a significant difference. Research shows that micro conversations with strangers can help improve wellbeing and reduce feelings of loneliness.

This explains why in the UK, the new charity Happy to Chat is trying to encourage people to talk to each other when out and about. In Sweden, a similar scheme – the

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