What to do when you feel lonely? – 5 Tips for coping

Loneliness stings at any age!

Countless people experience loneliness either as a result of living alone for long and prolonged periods of being alone. A lack of close family ties and reduced associations/connections with their culture or an incapability to actively participate in local community activities. What to do when you feel lonely? 5 Tips for coping

People also feel alone when they find people around them whom they are relating with don’t seem to understand them. They feel judged, criticized and they can’t be themselves around these people. This results in an individual disconnecting and keeps to themselves.

Lack of consistent physical activities

Death or loss of a spouse, separation, break-up and social disconnection after leaving a career or employment or a familiar neighborhood are some of the life-changing events contributing to loneliness. These alterations to their day to day activities and events may result to feelings of isolation. In addition, experience challenges associated with adapting to these changes. Lately, self isolation due to the Covid 19 epidemic is also contributing to loneliness. People spending a lot of time at home without having creative ways of utilizing their time at home The imposed social distance, being away from people close to them for example away normal activities that required them to interact contribute to loneliness.  

Emotional health related issues

Loneliness may lead to serious health-related consequences. It’s one of the main factors that lead to depression and an important cause of suicide and suicidal thoughts. Depression prevents people from enjoying life especially older adults like they did when they were younger. People become less active, less energetic, experience changes in sleep patterns and a decline in physical activities. Single people experience anxiety due to the belief that getting married and having a partner in their life is going to change their situation.

What to do when you feel lonely? 5 Tips for coping

1. Review your interests, hobbies and choose some things that you can do passionately and which you enjoy doing frequently
2. Consider if exploring or developing a new career can make use of your time. Volunteer in this new career interest to find out if you particularly like doing it and would like to do it the rest of your life
3. Become involved in your local church group. Think of many more areas in which you can be of value and offer service to your community
4. Join social groups such as friendship groups, women’s groups, sports and leisure. Activities such as walking, swimming and other exercises, fishing, gardening, arts and drama groups can greatly provide you with a sense of social belonging. My favourite is laying down comfortably picking a book and enjoying reading it
5. Take self-improvement courses, learning new skills such as arts and crafts, cooking will greatly contribute to self fulfillment.

Searching for love

Resist seeking love, resist feeling unhappy that you don’t have a lover and get on with life. Be the best person you can be. Be self-assured that the love of your life will eventually be with you. Relax. Let go and become disconnected from the outcome and allow the nature, universe do the rest, the love of your life will present themselves.