Walk Alone for Loneliness Challenge
(WALC)
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Walk Alone For Loneliness
Challenge (WALC)
Raising Awareness About the Loneliness Epidemic
So We Can Help Everyone Feel Connected
MAY 9, 2025
No training required. No cost. Just Walk.
I’m Jayson Gaddis. I’ve been working in the Mental Health field for 30 years as a wilderness guide, therapist, coach, and teacher. I founded The Relationship School to give people skills to feel more connected.
I’m upset about how disconnected we are and I want to make a difference. This walk is inspired by Colin O Brady (the guy who overcame life-threatening injuries and crossed Antarctica solo) and his 12-hour walk.
This 12 hour day will push you physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Let's go!
The Challenge
Walk for 12 hours alone for the Walk Alone for Loneliness Challenge (If 12 is too hard, dial it back to a timeframe that works). Together our collective footsteps and reflection time can help the world feel a little less alone and a little more connected.
The intention of this walk is to be by yourself, reflecting, pondering, feeling. To contact the part of you that might even feel lonely. To remember the people in our lives who might feel alone.
Walk Alone Instructions & Ground Rules
Before the walk
Set your intention.
Share it with one friend.
Phones
- You can bring your phone for an emergency, but it has to stay on airplane mode
- Voice memos allowed
- No listening to anything
- No music
- No podcast
- No audiobooks
- No news
- No radio
- No headphones or bluetooth anything
- Nothing
- No social media posting
- Take no more than 3 pictures/videos the entire time
Just walk
Walk out your front door and stay out for up to 12 hours, alone, in silence. Streets, trails, beaches, or city sidewalks—choose the route that speaks to you.
This is not a competition. It’s not about miles or elevation.
Just walk, meditate, think, reflect, zen out, reflect on loneliness, ponder your life
Go at your pace (take as many breaks as you like, rest as long as you want)
Distance doesn’t matter
Other People
Tell a friend your rough plan/route, just in case something happens. Follow up with them when you are complete so they can stop worrying about you
This is a solo walk, not a group walk or walking with friends to keep you company.
Try not to interact with people along the way. (For example if you stop in a public place to use the restroom, just ignore people. If you need to grab a coffee, keep it transactional and move on)
What To Pack
- Bring a backpack small enough to hold:
- Plenty of water,
- snacks,
- rainjacket, layers
- sunscreen, sunprotection,
- an extra pair of socks (I was told this was key)
Optional reflection
Reflect on this question, then add 2 more for yourself:
(1) How am I and those around me, affected by loneliness?
(2) Your reflection question here
(3) Your reflection question here
After The Walk
Take one small step to help yourself and the world feel less alone.
Call or text someone you care about and share your biggest take-away or something you learned about yourself.
Later, write about it, talk about it, record a video about it. Feel free to share on social media what you got #walkalone4loneliness (Social posting before and AFTER, not during. If you post during, you’re not doing the walk).
A Few Reminders About Loneliness
Loneliness has emerged as a significant public health concern, with numerous studies highlighting its detrimental effects on both mental and physical health. Here are a few alarming stats:
1. Increased Risk of Premature Death: Loneliness and social isolation are associated with a 29% increased risk of early mortality. nia.nih.gov+4Campaign to End Loneliness+4American Medical Association+4
2. Cardiovascular Diseases: Social isolation and loneliness are linked to a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke. cdc.gov+2American Medical Association+2Campaign to End Loneliness+2
3. Dementia: Loneliness is associated with a 50% increased risk of developing dementia in older adults.
4. Mental Health Issues: Loneliness can lead to a 26% increase in the risk of developing depression. Campaign to End Loneliness+1Campaign to End Loneliness+1
5. Weakened Immune System: Chronic loneliness has been linked to reduced immunity against infections. Campaign to End Loneliness+1en.wikipedia.org+1
6. High Blood Pressure: Loneliness is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure. Campaign to End Loneliness+1en.wikipedia.org+1
7. Chronic Inflammation: Research suggests that loneliness and social isolation could be linked with systemic inflammation. Campaign to End Loneliness+1nia.nih.gov+1
8. Sleep Disturbances: Loneliness has been linked to poorer sleep quality, affecting overall health.
9. Suicidal Behavior: Loneliness has been linked with depression and is thus a risk factor for suicide. en.wikipedia.org
10. Comparable to Smoking: The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. HHS
What is loneliness?
We all feel lonely at times – it’s a natural human emotion. We're biologically wired for social contact, and loneliness is our signal that we need more.
The definition: Loneliness is a perceived mismatch between the quality or quantity of social connections that a person has and what they would like to have.
Everyone's experiences of loneliness are different. It's subjective and personal to each of us.
Is loneliness the same as being alone?
You don’t have to be on your own to feel lonely - you might feel lonely in a relationship or while spending time with friends or family, on social media, in a city, or at university. You can feel lonely if you feel like you are not being acknowledged or understood by those around you.
You can feel lonely when the relationships in your life are lacking in emotional depth, if you’ve grown apart from someone or if communication has broken down. You might feel lonely when you're by yourself. Other people might choose to be alone and live happily without much social contact.
Loneliness can also be characterised by its intensity, or how strongly it is felt, which can change from moment to moment and over different durations of time.
Are there different types of loneliness?
There are different types, including:
Emotional loneliness: When someone you were very close with is no longer there. This could be a partner or a close friend.
Social loneliness: When you feel like you’re lacking a wider social network of friends, neighbours or colleagues.
Transient loneliness: A feeling that comes and goes.
Situational loneliness: Loneliness which you only feel at certain times like Sundays, bank holidays, or Christmas.
Chronic loneliness: When you feel lonely all or most of the time.
What causes loneliness?
Loneliness has many different causes, which vary from person to person. Some key life events which can increase the likelihood of feeling lonely include:
➤ Moving away from home
➤ Starting university or a new job
➤ Becoming a new parent
➤ Experiencing mental health problems
➤ A relationship break-up
➤ Suffering a bereavement
➤ Retirement
©️2025 Jayson Gaddis LLC & The Relationship School®️ LLC. All rights reserved.
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