Chartered psychologist and The Traitors star Dr Ellie Buckley has shared a simple daily habit that can have a surprisingly powerful effect on your wellbeing. In an exclusive interview, she emphasised that small moments of connection, such as sharing a biscuit break, are vital for psychological health.
The Power of Small Connections
Dr Ellie, a 33-year-old London-based psychologist who rose to fame on Season 4 of The Traitors UK, explained that humans are wired for social connection and emotional belonging. She stated: 'Small moments of connection can have a surprisingly powerful effect on psychological wellbeing because humans are wired for social connection and emotional belonging.'
Wellbeing, she noted, is often shaped less by dramatic experiences and more by the accumulation of everyday social moments. 'Tiny acts of warmth and responsiveness can strengthen relationships over time and create a greater sense of connection, support, and emotional stability,' she added.
Making Connection a Daily Habit
Dr Ellie advised treating connection as a daily habit rather than something that happens 'when there's time.' Practical steps include sending one thoughtful message each day, greeting people warmly, expressing genuine appreciation, or creating small rituals like a shared tea and biscuit break, a walk, or a weekly check-in.
Her comments come as biscuit manufacturer McVitie's urges the nation to prioritise meaningful shared experiences this National Biscuit Day (May 29). Research commissioned by McVitie's reveals that nearly half of British people (45%) feel the traditional biscuit break is under threat.
Pressure and Guilt in Modern Life
According to McVitie's research, nearly half of Brits (46%) experience guilt when taking time out during their day, with hectic working schedules (27%), endless to-do lists (24%), and busy household routines (18%) among the leading pressures. Consequently, 54% feel compelled to remain constantly 'on,' and 57% feel they are missing out on vital moments of human connection.
Londoners face the greatest pressure to stay 'on' (58%), while in Northern Ireland, 62% say they cannot take a break at all. When downtime does occur, it is often spent in isolation, doomscrolling on phones (47%) or catching up on messages (35%), rather than sharing with others.
Reclaiming Connection
Dr Ellie concluded: 'It's often the smallest, most spontaneous moments, a quick chat over a biscuit and a cuppa, a shared pause between tasks, whether that's between meetings or in the middle of a busy day of parenting, a knock on the door or a check-in message, that can feel meaningful.'
McVitie's aims to inspire people to create more significant moments of togetherness, one biscuit break at a time, honouring the simple instances of human connection that emerge from sharing a biscuit with someone special.
