The Study

Covid lockdowns turned the world upside down. Gone was the pre-crisis noise of empty relationships, aimless social engagements, and the office hustle. Single Millennials were particularly susceptible to isolation during this time. We wanted to know, in the midst of a global pandemic, how did they find meaning in life?

We interviewed 10 single Millennials in early 2021 and asked them how their lives had changed and where they were finding meaning. We delved deep into the qualitative data to draw out themes and insights using the rigorous Consensual Qualitative Research method (Hill, 2012).

What did we find?

In a global health crisis, only the essentials remained important to them - relationships, helping others, taking control of their life, and having goals. As one participant said:

Although all participants found meaning in their relationships, they found it hard to connect and maintain those relationships in quarantine. Work went completely virtual, dating was challenging, and friendships became strained. In the words of our participants:

In spite of this outward disconnection, participants reported that they had more time to focus on themselves during the pandemic. This came with many benefits, including having more self-insight, more self-acceptance, more time to reflect, and engaging in more self-care activities. Participants said:

Take Aways

So what conclusions can we draw?

• We find meaning in our relationships…and in ourselves.

• We benefit from helping others…and focusing on our own life goals.

• Isolation is hard, and connecting virtually is a poor substitute for in-person interactions.

• When forced to be alone with ourselves, we might be surprised by how much we learn about ourselves…and start to care about ourselves in a whole new way.