Shedding Light on Loneliness in Disabled Lives: Timeleft’s Role
In a world where technology aims to connect us all, loneliness remains a significant issue, particularly for disabled individuals. Often overlooked, the experience of loneliness can be more profound and pervasive in disabled communities.
Understanding Loneliness
Loneliness is the feeling of being disconnected or isolated from others, even when surrounded by people. It’s a subjective experience, meaning it’s how a person feels about their social connections, rather than the actual number of connections they have. Loneliness, if worsens, can affect mental and physical health, leading to issues like depression, anxiety, and a weakened immune system.
For disabled individuals, barriers to social interaction can make loneliness even more pronounced, impacting their overall well-being.
Examples of Loneliness in Disabled Lives:
- Workplace Isolation: Diana, who uses a wheelchair and has a chronic illness causing frequent fatigue, often feels isolated at work. Her need to work from home or take breaks can make it difficult to join spontaneous office interactions and social events. This leads to Diana feeling disconnected and lonely, despite being part of the team.
- Educational Setting Challenges: Jesse, who has a learning disability and uses a mobility aid, struggles with group work and social activities. While the educational institution is mostly accessible, social events his peers go to are often not, and people don’t always know how to interact with him as a group mate and a friend. This lack of understanding and physical barriers make Jesse feel isolated in educational settings and excluded from social events, adding to his sense of loneliness.
- Invisible Disability Experience: Ali, who has Selective Mutism, often feels isolated even within the disabled community. His struggles aren’t visible, so people often do not recognise his struggles. He frequently faces the pain of being labelled as a ‘slow learner’ and hides the pain while pushing through daily misunderstandings and overlooked difficulties to make way for others’ verbal expressions he recognises as important. This can make Ali feel deeply lonely, left out and unsupported in different circles.
How Timeleft Eases Loneliness for Disabled Individuals
Timeleft, an innovative app, originated in Paris, now expanding across the globe, is shedding light on this issue by facilitating dinners with new people, helping to build meaningful connections without the pressures often associated with work or dating scenarios.
Timeleft connects you with others by using a quick personality test and an algorithm to match you with around five or six compatible guests for an engaging dinner. This relaxed setting is ideal for disabled individuals looking to meet new people without the stress of networking events or the expectations of dating apps. By focusing on authentic interactions, Timeleft creates opportunities for real human connections.
Making Socialising Easy and Accessible
Meeting new people can be challenging, especially when physical, sensory, or cognitive barriers are involved. Timeleft makes it easier by offering an inclusive platform that considers various accessibility needs. Features such as dietary preference settings and options to mention any assistance needed for disability ensure that everyone can enjoy the experience comfortably. This accommodating approach allows disabled individuals to participate fully, encouraging an environment where they can connect with others without added stress.
Sharing Stories and Building Connections
One of the best aspects of Timeleft is its emphasis on sharing stories and experiences. Without the pressure to impress, users can simply be themselves. This approach makes it easy to have real conversations and form genuine connections with others who understand and respect their experiences.
For disabled individuals, this means having the opportunity to share their often-overlooked perspectives in a relaxed setting, with the chance to be acknowledged and connect with others who are also seeking connection through a series of dinner conversations.
Combating Loneliness
Loneliness can significantly impact mental health, and disabled individuals often face a higher risk of social isolation. Timeleft aims to create a sense of community and belonging. Regular dinners with new people can help build a network of supportive relationships, making participants feel more connected and less isolated. This sense of community can be incredibly empowering, providing a support system that extends beyond the app.
Improving Social Skills and Confidence
Engaging in conversations over dinner can help improve social skills and boost confidence. For those who might feel shy or anxious in social settings, Timeleft offers a comfortable way to practise and get better at connecting with others. Over time, this can lead to greater self-assurance and a willingness to engage in more social activities. For disabled individuals, this can be a vital step toward greater social integration and personal growth.
Authentic Connections, No Pressure
The true beauty of Timeleft lies in its ability to build genuine connections. With no hidden agendas or specific outcomes to worry about, users can focus on getting to know others genuinely. This authenticity is refreshing and can lead to lasting friendships and support networks. For disabled individuals, these authentic connections can provide a much-needed sense of belonging and understanding.
My Personal Experience with Timeleft
I was recently approached by the Timeleft team who just launched in Malaysia to experience how Timeleft works and how it can benefit disability advocacy. I attended my first Timeleft dinner with four new users who found the platform through a social media ad. The evening was enjoyable and engaging, thanks to a question game included that facilitated our conversations. This tool, similar to a card swipe feature, allowed us to choose from a series of light and impactful questions to answer individually and genuinely listen to each other’s perspectives. Throughout the dinner, we shared about our backgrounds, experiences and connected on social media.
Through the conversations that took place, I clearly see how Timeleft’s main mission in combating loneliness in an inclusive approach can encourage unity across different demographics, which aligns with Disabled Champs’ mission in strengthening the support system for the disabled community, by further integrating the presence and importance of disabled lives into our daily lives as a more united society.
How to Get Started with Timeleft and Connect
If you are interested in getting started with Timeleft, you can visit their website to see how the app works and find more information. You can also follow Timeleft on social media for updates and community news.
Once you are ready to join your first dinner, you can register as a user on their website or app, complete a quick personality test, and you’ll be all set to start meeting new people. Remember, you can customise your preferences and let Timeleft know if you need any assistance to make your experience comfortable. Additionally, if the assigned restaurant doesn’t meet your specific requirements, you can reach out to Timeleft for adjustments.
Take your time to ensure all your important questions are answered before joining if you have any particular concerns around your individual experience that would require close support. It’s a welcoming environment where you can share, connect, and form genuine relationships at your own pace.
Find Timeleft on:
Timeleft Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Formerly known as Twitter)
References:
- Cacioppo, J. T., & Hawkley, L. C. (2003). “Social Isolation and Health, with an Emphasis on Underlying Mechanisms.” Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 46(3), S39–S52. Read the full text here.
- Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., & Layton, J. B. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review. PLoS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316. Read the full text here.
