Meaningful connection requires us to be mentally and emotionally present, which is increasingly difficult in a world where overstimulation and burnout are rampant. In fact, in 2017, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared loneliness a public health “epidemic” in the United States.

COVID-19 didn’t create this problem—it amplified an existing one. For decades, our fast-paced lifestyle, focused on career obligations and numerous  responsibilities, has left limited time for personal connections, family and self-care. This lifestyle, driven by consumerism and a relentless focus on productivity and profit margins, has been compounding for at least the past 50 years. The last three generations have largely been raised by working parents, often away from home for long stretches, and by technology. Social media has replaced physical social environments where genuine connections were easier to nurture.  

We’ve become overscheduled, overcommitted, and overstretched, leading to a dramatic decline in the quality of life for many of us. This has trapped people in an endless cycle of responsibilities, leaving little room for anything else.

We need a paradigm shift toward a greater balance between work and personal life. We need to start working to live, not living to work. And we need more authentic human connection in all the social and professional spaces we engage in.

Humanessence advocates for human-centered approaches to achieving any goal. As a philosophy, we are guided on two tenets:

• Holistic Living: Humanessence promotes a balanced approach to life—where the heart, mind, and body work in harmony, fostering deeper awareness and connection within ourselves and with our communities, including the workplace. This means showing up as our whole selves in every social setting we participate in.

• Human-Centric Systems: Humanessence asserts that people, relationships, and the behaviors that shape them are at the heart of what makes any system, including organizations, thrive in synergy.

Workspaces, whether virtual or physical, must be designed to meet the needs of both employees and employers in equitable ways. Technology can be a powerful tool to enhance productivity, create efficiencies, and ensure quality. However, human capital—our ability to make decisions, think critically, discern nuances, offer diverse perspectives, and exercise empathy— is just as important. These elements are not mutually exclusive; they are interconnected.

Ultimately, Humanessence is grounded in the belief that organizations have a core social responsibility to prioritize the well-being of their employees. By focusing on employee well-being, organizations serve their mission better with happier, healthier, and more creative people.