When will National Day of Connection be celebrated? November 12th of each calendar year.
What is National Day of Connection? National Day of Connection is a national tradition held every November 12th that asks people to spend twelve intentional minutes with someone in their life at noon, local time. It centers on one simple action called Take 12 at 12, inviting each person to pause and connect with a friend, family member, neighbor, coworker, or someone they’ve lost touch with. The twelve minutes are not the point in themselves; they exist to start or deepen a relationship that continues well past the day. It matters because it helps every person know that they belong and that they matter.
How should National Day of Connection be celebrated or observed?
- Educate: Learn about the impact of chronic loneliness and share the free participation guides at thecostofloneliness.org/nationaldayofconnection, which offer twelve things a person can do in twelve minutes.
- Engage: At noon, local time, take twelve intentional minutes to connect with one person, using the versions built for individuals, workplaces, schools and campuses, health care organizations, and civic groups.
- Share: Tell others how you spent your twelve minutes and invite them to join, using the hashtag #DayOfConnection.
- Support: Encourage mayors, school districts, universities, employers, and health systems to issue formal proclamations and mark the day locally.
Why was National Day of Connection created? Chronic loneliness has become one of the most significant and most overlooked public health challenges in the country, linked to higher risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, and premature death. The day gives that concern a fixed place on the calendar, so the country has one shared moment to return to every year. It turns a single twelve-minute conversation into the beginning of something lasting.
Who created this day? This day was created by The Cost of Loneliness Project in 2026.