Why is screen communication insufficient? Neuroscience research indicates that Physical Proximity stimulates oxytocin release and reduces stress hormones more effectively than talking through screens, because loneliness arises not from being alone but from feeling that no one recognizes our existence.
Moreover, global public health sectors have begun defining this as the Epidemic of Loneliness, where feelings of loneliness or isolation have severity comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
This is a key reason why the ‘Coliving’ lifestyle trend—moving to live close to close friends—has become a survival option today, not only among retirees but also increasingly popularamongsingle people in the modern world.
The phenomenonof close friends, who once spoke only a few times a year, deciding to jointly purchase land or select housing projects inthe same neighborhoodiscreatinga new environment of happiness.
Traditionally, life success was defined by owning a large private home, but for retirees or singles without family obligations, excessive privacy often brings loneliness that gnaws at the heart and reduces brain function.
Research from Rush University Medical Center shows that natural social interactions—like greeting each other while watering plants, knocking on a friend’s door to borrow spices, brief morning news discussions, or passing by each other’s homes leading to spontaneous conversations—help reduce risks of Alzheimer’s disease and depression better than arranged meetings.
This is because the brain must rapidly coordinate responses to unplanned conversations, unlike living alone, which leads to rapid decline in memory areas of the brain. The research also indicates that regular social activities can reduce brain decline rates by up to 70%.
Interestingly, singles moving closer together are redefining 'family' from one based on blood ties to a 'Chosen Family'—a family we select ourselves.
A clear example abroad, now spreading to Thailand, is groups of wealthy single working friends jointly buying large plots of land and dividing them into housing units with shared common spaces.
For instance, a communal kitchen where everyone cooks together on holidays or recreational spaces for group activities. This approach reduces feelings of alienation and fosters a sense of belonging, which is a fundamental psychological and social evolutionary need.
Living near one another or in thesame neighborhoodin a Coliving style also reduces the fatigue of traveling to meet someone and enhances safety far more effectively than many state welfare programs. Imagine being suddenly ill—having a close friend just steps away providescomfortand increases the chance of quicker access to medical care.
It also reduces long-term burdens on healthcare workers, as proximity allows earlier detection of physical and mental health issues among each other compared to living alone.
However, Coliving balances privacy and community well, unlike traditional elderly homes where personal identity and autonomy may be lost, and age limits—usually set at 55 and older depending on public or private projects—apply.
Choosing to live near friends but in separate houses or rooms allows individuals to maintain privacy and personal space when needed, while stepping out for warmth and companionship whenever feeling lonely.