While loneliness is a normal feeling, most people certainly don't want to experience it. Whether you are alone due to the loss of a loved one or a relocation or preparing to spend time away from your friends and family, there are many ways to avoid loneliness. Consider the changes you can make on your own, include more time for friends and family in your life, and learn how to avoid falling into an addiction to cope with it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Spending Time Alone
Step 1. Clarify your emotions
Before you can even get rid of loneliness, you need to determine what the exact cause of your problem is. Do you miss a certain person or a particular place? Do you generally feel like you don't have many friends or that those you do have aren't close to you? Understanding why you are alone could immediately offer you a solution to this difficulty. Not everyone can understand the origin of their loneliness. If you are missing a person or a place that you cannot visit, a good part of the solution is to be found in introspection. If you want to have more friends or feel isolated, then the solution will be to go out and meet new people.
- Try writing a journal if you are unsure of the reason behind your loneliness. Be as specific as possible.
- Don't feel embarrassed by the causes of your loneliness. This is perfectly normal, remember that everyone faces it sooner or later.
Step 2. Focus on your health
Before making any changes, you should consider your health to look for possible causes of loneliness. Often if you don't sleep well, exercise or eat healthily, you can feel lethargic and depressed, leading to loneliness over time. Spend a week making positive changes to your lifestyle. Try to sleep for eight hours every night, try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day, and eliminate junk food from your diet by introducing fruits and vegetables. If nothing else, this will give you more energy and reduce stress, two elements that have a certain overall impact on your way of life and your happiness.
- Studies have shown that poor quality sleep and a lack of exercise are related to feelings of loneliness.
- Certain foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, contain mood-enhancing hormones.
Step 3. Dust off an old hobby
It's easy to get overwhelmed by isolation or a huge to-do list. As a result, not only will you have little time for others, but you won't be able to dedicate yourself to your favorite activities either. It is much harder to feel alone if you actively engage in a hobby, especially one that you are good at or have a variety of acquaintances with. If in your free time you love to do a certain thing or think only of a certain interest, every day take the time to start adding it back into your life. Whenever you feel the pangs of loneliness, make a commitment to dedicate time to this hobby. Here are some ideas:
- Read regularly.
- To play a sport.
- Do excursions.
- Knit.
- Learn to cook or try new recipes.
- Paint.
- Gardening.
Step 4. Start a great project
Along the same lines as the suggestion to find a hobby, pursuing a good project can be ideal to distract you from the loneliness you feel during this time and to give yourself purpose when all you want to do is curl up in bed. The definition of the term "major project" varies from one person to another. For one individual it could mean painting the walls of their home, for another to resume studying or taking different courses through an online university. Whatever your idea, set daily or weekly goals so you have something to focus your hard work on. You won't even have time to feel alone, the project will completely absorb you. Here are some possibilities:
- Learn a new language.
- Write a book.
- Building a piece of furniture.
- Learning to play a new instrument.
- Building a car or motorcycle.
- Start a small business.
- Enroll in college (or finish it).
Step 5. Spend more time outdoors
Nature has always had the power to heal or soothe human beings. And while it seems counterproductive to overcome your loneliness by immersing yourself in nature, time spent outdoors will likely improve your emotional state and eliminate what you feel. The sun's rays promote the increase of endorphins in your body, making you feel happier and less focused on your loneliness. Plus, exploring new places, getting your blood pumping and seeing the local sights are all distracting activities that balance your mental state.
- Look for good nature trails in your area or explore a new park.
- Try kayaking or getting on a bike. If you are not interested in these activities, you can just go for a walk.
Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Being in the company of other people
Step 1. Make small plans together with your friends
Try to do this often. If you feel like you can only hang out with others at a formal party or dinner, you may be limiting the total amount of time you can spend with people you like. Instead, if you change the situation and schedule appointments over the course of the week with a variety of friends, you will fill your free time with socializing opportunities, which will totally remove loneliness from your life. Going out with your friends won't take a lot of time or money. Whether you meet someone at the bar or call an old friend, consider some simple dating ideas:
- Go for a coffee.
- Take a walk in a park.
- Running errands together (particularly with a close friend / family member).
- Cook a new recipe together.
- Go eat together during the lunch break.
Step 2. Make big plans so that you have events on the horizon
It's easy to feel lonely and sad when your future looks bleak and unplanned. If you have to wait for a certain date to arrive, whether it's a big event or a meeting with a person you miss, you will likely feel less lonely and more excited for the future. Take some time to make a list of possible activities you could organize. Then, dedicate a few days to planning the event down to the smallest detail, so that everything will be ready, without stress. If you can, include other people in the preparation process so you can further defeat loneliness. Some ideas for drawing up a plan:
- Take a trip to an unfamiliar place on the weekend.
- Organize a dinner or have a barbecue in your home.
- Go to a music festival or other such event.
Step 3. You could get an animal
If spending time with your friends or traveling isn't your option, you may want to take care of an animal to combat loneliness. Studies have shown that people who have pets are less likely to suffer from depression and loneliness than those who don't. Dogs and cats are generally considered the best in this regard, because they are willing to interact with humans and enjoy physical contact (in most cases). Furry friends offer companionship and a good distraction from all the negative feelings that make you demoralized.
- Keep in mind that having a pet is a big responsibility, in fact it takes a lot of time and care.
- If a dog or cat doesn't fit your lifestyle, birds and rodents are other pets you can consider.
Step 4. Avoid staying home all the time
Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need to freshen up your life and feel a little happier. Plus, getting out and about exposes you to new opportunities to make friends and find hobbies. Remember that just because you go out doesn't mean you have to do it with other people. You can fight loneliness even if you go out alone, as long as you do something that you find enjoyable. Try going to a new café to study or work or just visit the part of the city you prefer.
Becoming a slave to the bed or sofa quickly leads you to loneliness. Do your best to go out and try something new, even when all you want to do is watch movies on Netflix
Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Avoid Falling Into an Addiction
Step 1. Understand that loneliness is very different from isolation
Sometimes, especially if you are a particularly social person, it can be easy to exchange them. Feeling lonely means feeling that someone or something is missing, or that you have been abandoned. Isolation is the simple act of being alone. While you should find a remedy for loneliness, isolation is a normal and natural part of life on the other. Don't feel obligated to fill every single moment of your existence with activities and time spent with others. Taking your time is healthy and necessary. Unless you feel truly alone, there is nothing to fix.
Step 2. Don't depend on your family or friends
When you are feeling lonely and not quite sure why, it can be easy to fall back on family and friends to distract yourself from your emotions. However, this only masks your true feelings, and won't help you feel better in the long run. Take some time to examine the source or sources of your loneliness and work to find a solution to the problem instead of constantly leaning on a friend not to think about it. You will feel better over time, even if this takes some emotional and mental work in the meantime.
Step 3. Steer clear of addictive coping behaviors
For a lonely person, it is not uncommon to end up becoming addicted to something to feel better, be it getting drunk, taking drugs, compulsive shopping, having an eating disorder, and so on. When you feel sad and really miss someone or something, you need to deal with these emotions directly. Trying to avoid what you feel or not think about by being overwhelmed by an addiction is not only unhealthy, it will also exacerbate your loneliness problem. Take one step at a time to make healthy life decisions when you are down instead of rushing into quick fixes, which will only make the situation worse.
