Loneliness is a feeling that a lot of us know all too well, especially in the current lockdown situation that forces us apart for our own safety. But even before COVID-19, loneliness was widespread, and will probably continue to be in the hopefully more normal future.
A lot of the suggestions for feeling less lonely focus on the long term, such as finding your community, which aims for you to build solid connections that will most likely take a while to form. These tips are great for ensuring that you feel less lonely in the future, but what about before that? What about fending off the loneliness that you feel right now? Here is a list of 10 small things you can do to help you immediately feel less lonely.
1. Send the first message
We can feel unwanted and isolated if no one reaches out to us, but they may feel the same because we haven’t reached out to them. Break the cycle, make the first move. Even just a quick ‘hi’ can spark an interaction that can help you feel more connected and less lonely, and you’ll likely be helping someone else who feels exactly the same.
2. Go online
Sometimes, the internet can make us feel more lonely, especially when social media shows us how happy our peers seem. However, this doesn’t always have to be the case. For me, Twitter helps me feel less lonely because it allows me to connect with like-minded people that I wouldn’t have the chance to meet without the internet.
Similarly, dedicated forums or sites like Reddit that have communities based on interests can be really useful in making you feel a part of a group. The sense of anonymity of these sites may contribute to a more positive experience too. This makes people more comfortable with sharing their authentic selves, and could be an effective way to combat loneliness by letting you socialise without leaving yourself too vulnerable. You may not end up making lifelong friends, but going online could really help reduce your feelings of loneliness in the moment.
3. Give someone a hug
This is a tough one at the moment thanks to our friendly neighbourhood pandemic, but a hug is a great way to feel loved and cared for. If you happen to live with someone else, ask for a hug. There are a lot of benefits to a simple hug, and feeling less lonely is only one of them.
If you have no humans around you, hugging a pet can have similar effects. There are also alternatives to hugging that may be the better option at the moment. Among these is the weighted blanket, which can simulate the feeling of being hugged without the need of physical contact with another. All of these options can help instantly alleviate feelings of loneliness.
4. Make plans
Plans give us something to look forward to, and the act of making plans with someone else shows us that we are wanted and our company is enjoyed. The plans don’t even have to be big; schedule a video call for when you’re free, or an online jigsaw. Anything that you can do with someone else (in person or otherwise) makes for good plans that will help you feel more involved and less lonely.
5. Open up
Talking about your feelings is an important step to understanding and resolving them. Opening up and talking to someone about how you feel lonely can help that feeling dissipate. Not only that, but once those close to you know how you feel, they’ll probably want to help however they can. So talking about it will help reduce your loneliness in both the short and long term.
6. Write a letter
This one can be useful if your loneliness is caused by missing someone in particular, especially if it’s someone who you can’t contact — maybe an ex, or even a deceased loved one. Write a letter addressed to them telling them everything you want to. Even if you don’t send it, it can help you sort through your feelings, similar to talking about them.
7. Go outside
It’s a bit tough at the moment, but going outside has a variety of positive effects on your mood. Spending a bit of time in nature can relieve your stress and make you feel better in general, and these good feelings can help you feel less lonely as a result by making you feel more positive. This can be doubly effective if you’ve been feeling a bit of cabin fever thanks to lockdown. Even just a bit of fresh air can greatly improve your mood and outlook.
8. Reminisce
As it turns out, nostalgia helps us cope with loneliness. So if you’re feeling lonely, think about good times spent with those you love. Look at old pictures, reminisce. Looking back on fond memories can help you remember that you are loved and valued, and this can instantly help you feel less lonely.
9. Make the most of your alone time
It might sound counterintuitive, but some suggest you can combat loneliness by embracing it. Learn to really appreciate the times when you’re alone by doing something you can only do while alone. Try reading, or taking a bath, anything really that takes full advantage of being alone. Of course, there is a difference between alone and lonely, but being more at peace with being alone could help reduce how lonely you feel at these times.
10. Do some self-reflection
Loneliness can make us feel like we are unimportant, but don’t give into that feeling. Instead, try to focus on yourself. Take this opportunity to be introspective and do a little self-reflection. You can do this a number of ways; meditation, journaling, mindfulness, to name a few. Think about your positive qualities, and the things you may want to improve on or change. This can boost your self-image and confidence, which can in turn reduce loneliness.
So, hopefully these tips will let you take back some control and feel immediately less lonely. However, no advice is foolproof, so if you find yourself continuing to struggle with loneliness, reach out for professional help.
Written by Adena Dewar
WellBe is spearheading the way to a brighter future for corporate wellness. Our innovative portal is scientifically designed and tailored to each individual employee to improve their wellbeing. We specialise in a range of services from coaching and therapists, to meditation and reading materials. Our aim is to reduce workplace stress that costs UK businesses £42 billion per year. Get in touch with us by visiting our site wellbe.global for more information.
