In a world where genuine connections seem elusive, Jancee Dunn, in her heartfelt piece for The New York Times, suggests that perhaps the key to meaningful connection is simpler than we think. She proposed the eight-minute phone call.

‌Apparently, an eight-minute phone call is the perfect amount of time to connect with a loved one or a friend— it is the ideal time frame, not too long and not too short.

Studies have found that when participants received brief phone calls a few times a week, their levels of depression, loneliness, and anxiety were “rapidly reduced” compared with people who didn’t receive a call. Harvard professor, Dr. Waldinger writes, “a few adjustments to our most treasured relationships can have real effects on how we feel, and on how we feel about our lives — a gold mine of vitality that we are not paying attention to.”