Let’s talk about something we don’t put in our Instagram bios: loneliness.
It’s one of the most quietly common experiences for women today — and yet one of the least spoken about. You can have a packed WhatsApp group, a diary full of Zoom calls, even hundreds of “friends” online, and still feel completely unseen.
So what’s going on?
The shift: from gathering to scrolling
Once upon a time, women’s lives were woven together. We cooked side by side, folded washing while catching up on the latest scandal, raised children in shared spaces. Connection wasn’t something you scheduled — it was baked into everyday life.
Fast forward to today, and if you wanted to, you could live your entire existence without speaking to another soul.
🛒 Groceries? Click.
🍔 Dinner? Swipe.
📺 Entertainment? Stream.
💋 Intimacy? You know where.
👯♀️ Friends? A scrolling feed away.
Convenient? Of course.
But connection? Not so much.
The digital world has given us endless choice and zero obligation to actually show up for each other.
Technology has quietly made loneliness the default setting.
Why this hits women hardest
For generations, women’s survival and wellbeing depended on community. The shared pot, the shared childcare, the shared shoulders. It wasn’t just nice — it was necessary.
Now? We’re expected to be self-sufficient and available all at once. Work, home, family, health, friendships — manage them all, but do it solo. And if you’re struggling? Well, there’s probably an app for that.
Except… no app can replace the magic of being truly known. No algorithm can give you the relief of someone noticing the look on your face and saying, “Are you okay?”
The cost of “online-only” connection
Research is starting to catch up with what many of us feel in our bones:
- Loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
- Women report higher rates of loneliness than men, especially in midlife.
- Social media leaves us “connected” but not nourished — like eating crisps for dinner.
You can scroll for company, but it won’t remember how you like your tea.
Reclaiming the lost art of women’s community
Here’s the truth: technology isn’t going anywhere. And it’s not the villain. But it can’t be our only world. If we want to feel less lonely, we need to actively rebuild what women have always known — life is better lived together.
That might look like:
- Choosing a walk with a friend over a WhatsApp catch-up.
- Hosting a no-fuss dinner (beans on toast counts).
- Joining a local class or group where showing up matters.
- Allowing yourself to ask for help, instead of Googling it in silence.
Connection doesn’t need to be polished, perfect, or Instagrammable. It just needs to be real.
Anna’s Place is about creating spaces where women can remember what it feels like to be side by side. To laugh, move, rest, and share — offline, in person, in the glorious mess of real life.
Because loneliness isn’t solved by another app.
It’s healed by us, together.
Empowering Women Through Wellness, Community, and Giving Back 