In the moment
Give the honest answer once today
When someone asks how you are, answer with one true sentence instead of fine
2 min
How to do it
Next time someone who'd actually want to know asks how you're doing, skip fine and give one real sentence: tired, wobbly, better than last week, whatever's true. You don't need to explain further unless you want to.
What the evidence says
Feeling connected, not just having people around you, is what predicts better health. The research on loneliness found that feeling isolated carries its own risk even when you're surrounded by people, so being known accurately by one person does more than being seen by many.
