Connection Resource Hub — Friends Ahoy

Connection
Resource Hub

Free tools, assessments, exercises, and reading organized around the 5 Pillars. Everything here is designed to help you understand your connection health and take action.

❤️

These resources are for education and self-reflection — they are not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you're in crisis, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You are not alone.

Assessment

UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3)

PsyTests.org — Free, anonymous, 20 questions

The most widely used loneliness assessment in the world. Measures how connected or isolated you feel. Takes about 5 minutes. No account required.

Take the Assessment →
Article

Loneliness: 6 Things to Know That Might Save a Life

University of Arizona Health Sciences

Research-backed overview of loneliness as a serious health risk, with practical takeaways for what you can actually do about it.

Read Article →
Article

45+ Deep Conversation Starters

Psych Central — Therapist-recommended

Questions designed to deepen friendships, backed by licensed therapist recommendations. Great for Connection Circles or just your next coffee with a friend.

View Starters →
Exercise

The "How Are You Really?" Practice

Friends Ahoy — Try it this week

Next time someone asks how you are, give an honest answer instead of "fine." Notice what happens. This tiny shift builds the muscle of emotional closeness over time. Start with someone you trust.

Article

What's Causing Our Epidemic of Loneliness?

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Harvard's research on why loneliness is increasing and actionable frameworks for rebuilding social connection in everyday life.

Read Article →
Article

Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Connection

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The official U.S. Surgeon General's advisory declaring loneliness and social isolation a public health crisis. Foundational reading for understanding the scale of the problem.

Read Advisory →
Exercise

The "Same Time Next Week" Challenge

Friends Ahoy — 4-week challenge

Pick one activity you enjoy. Invite one person to do it with you at the same time, same day, for 4 weeks in a row. Consistency is the secret ingredient to friendship that most people skip. Showing up regularly matters more than showing up memorably.

Exercise

Social Rhythm Tracker

Friends Ahoy — 1-week reflection

For one week, write down every shared activity you participate in. Count them at the end. Most people are surprised by how few there are — or how many are passive (watching TV together) vs. active (cooking together, playing a game).

Assessment

Personal Values Card Sort

Multiple free versions available online

A sorting exercise where you rank your top values from a list of 50+. Helps you understand what matters most to you and find people who share those values. The gap between your values and your time is often where disconnection lives.

Find a Free Version →
Article

Care To Ask: Conversation Starters for Connection

The Mental Health Coalition

Daily conversation prompts designed specifically to reduce loneliness. Useful for Connection Circles, personal practice, or just texting a friend something more meaningful than "hey."

View Starters →
Exercise

The "Where Do I Fit?" Map

Friends Ahoy — Self-reflection exercise

Draw a circle for yourself in the center of a page. Draw circles for every community or group you're part of (work, family, friends, gym, online). How close are they to your center? Which ones feel like home? Which ones feel like obligation?

Article

The Science of Purpose

Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley

Research on how having a sense of purpose improves health, longevity, and social connection. Purpose isn't found in grand gestures — it's found in being useful to the people around you.

Explore Resources →
Tool

VolunteerMatch

volunteermatch.org — Free directory

Find local and virtual volunteer opportunities near Longmont. Contributing to something bigger than yourself is one of the fastest paths to feeling connected and valued.

Find Opportunities →
Exercise

Skill Inventory

Friends Ahoy — Try it now

Write down 5 things you're good at that most people don't know about. Now think: who in your life could benefit from one of these skills? Offering to help someone with something you're uniquely good at is one of the fastest paths to feeling valued.

Article

Center for Humane Technology

humanetech.com

The leading organization on ethical technology design. Their resources explain how apps are designed to be addictive and what you can do about it. Essential reading for understanding Pillar 5.

Visit Site →
Tool

Your Phone's Built-In Screen Time Tools

iOS Screen Time / Android Digital Wellbeing — Already on your phone

Track daily screen time, set app limits, and schedule downtime. The best digital wellness tool is the one you already have. No download needed — just open your phone's Settings.

Article

7-Day Digital Detox Plan

Goals and Progress — Research-backed

A structured, day-by-day framework for reducing screen time that's practical for working adults. You don't need to move to a cabin in the woods — just small, intentional changes over one week.

Start the Plan →
Exercise

The Scroll vs. Call Challenge

Friends Ahoy — 1-week challenge

Next time you pick up your phone to scroll, call or text someone instead. One real exchange replaces 20 minutes of passive consumption. Track how many times you convert a scroll into a connection this week.

Scroll to Top