Loneliness is an emotion we face at some point throughout our lives; it can be difficult to navigate and can take a toll on our mental health. Loneliness can stem from several factors, such as living alone or feeling disconnected from others. We could be in a room full of people and feel completely alone; this can feel very overwhelming.
However, it is important to remember that we can manage loneliness. By taking small steps, this can help us start to build ourselves back up, reconnect and feel a sense of belonging.
Here are some tips for dealing with loneliness and isolation by learning to enjoy your own company whilst also reconnecting and building meaningful relationships.
- Recognising your feelings – The first step in dealing with the feeling of being lonely and isolated is to recognise it and understand that it is completely okay and normal to feel lonely at times. You are only human, it doesn’t mean you are less capable or weaker than others. Recognising this can also help you start to take a step forward into how you can overcome this and the things you can do to reconnect with yourself and others.
- Join a community or group – I know this can be daunting sometimes, and doing things alone can make you feel uncomfortable, but getting out of your comfort zone is the best thing you can do for yourself, especially when it comes to loneliness. Have a look around in your local area to see if there are any groups you could join, this could be fitness classes, walking/running clubs, wellness groups, arts & craft groups, or gaming groups. You could even go a step further and create your own.
- Reach out to others – If you can, reach out to family and close friends and talk to them about how you are feeling at the moment; this small step can make a huge difference. They also arrange regular meetups with you or give you some ideas and things you could do. talking to someone can feel like a huge weight off your shoulders. Give it a go if you can.
- Create a routine to stay busy – Loneliness can often feel like you have nothing to look forward to, creating a routine can help with this; trying out a new hobby, regularly exercising, getting creative, working on a new project, cooking new recipes and creating hobbies can fill up your days with things that you enjoy, and you could also meet some new people.
- Make your environment comfortable – Your environment plays a key part in your emotional well-being, so you must be in a comfortable and calming environment, especially when dealing with loneliness. Whether it is buying some new candles, fresh bedding or having a full clean, creating a cosy setting will make all the difference.
- Focus on the things you can control – As I always say, focus on the things you can control. It’s easy to get stuck in what is missing in our lives and doing this can make us miss all the amazing things we do have in our lives. Tomorrow is never promised, so don’t look too far ahead; focus on the present and be grateful for the things you have.
I hope this blog post has helped you in some way and that you have found some comfort in it. If you are feeling lonely and isolated at the moment, try these tips, and I just want you to know it will get better, I promise. KEEP GOING.
Lots of love x