Stage 5 of 7 · 6 lessons · ~1 week

Communities online and offline

Communities give you belonging, information and opportunities that individual friends cannot. Choose a few, show up regularly, and contribute, both online and in person.

Start: Choosing communities that fit

Lessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order

Do this

Choose two or three communities: career, interests or wellbeing, roots
Attend one in-person event and have two real conversations
Follow up with one person you met
Make one small contribution to a community
Leave or mute one group that makes you feel worse
Balance one hour of scrolling with one real conversation this week

Practise

Google Developer Groups
Free local tech meetups in many cities, including across South Asia
Meetup
Find regular in-person groups near you for tech, sport and interests

Keep handy

Sefism Discord
Sefism's community, to meet people at the same stage online
Toastmasters InternationalPaid
Weekly clubs worldwide to practise speaking and meet people

Also worth your time

Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World (Vivek H. Murthy)ReadPaid
Why community and belonging matter so much for health and work

Before moving on: Two or three communities chosen and attended at least twice, one in-person event with a follow-up, and one small contribution made to a community you belong to.

Tauseef's advice

Belonging is built by showing up and helping. Pick a few communities, go regularly, and give something, even if it is only welcoming the next new person. Within months, you will be the one who knows everyone.

Struggling right now? If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line: Find a helpline (any country), Umang (Pakistan), Tele-MANAS, 14416 (India).