Tips for Battling Loneliness

Now that we’re past the holidays, I’d like to chat about feeling alone and offer you some tips for battling loneliness. May people get holiday blues leading up to, during, and shortly after the rush of Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years holidays and all of us no doubt have experienced loneliness at some point in our lives.

This feeling of loneliness, it can drain one’s self-esteem, cause us to become depressed, and lead us to take on unnatural behavioral tendencies.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase any of my recommended products at the bottom of the post, I will earn a small commission at no extra charge to you. Keep in mind though, that I only post affiliate links to products and services I personally love and use myself! Purchasing through my page ensures that I am able to keep writing useful content for all of you.

And it’s sad.

It’s sad to think there are many lonely people out there who will have to deal with loneliness over the periods that are known to exacerbate loneliness, such as Christmas time or Valentine’s Day.

Did you know that Britain has already appointed its first minister in the loneliness category – the Minister for Loneliness? Their job is to take what the Prime Minister Theresa May has tagged as the “sad reality of modern life” and try and change things a bit. It is also because studies have linked loneliness to huge medical problems such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and what about suicide? And these are linked to astronomical medical bills.

If you are experiencing loneliness, there are some things you can do about it. Some people will just say, “pull yourself together and just get on with life”, but it’s not easy for the lonely person.

Unfortunately, you are the only one who can make the decision to change it, if you really want to. Start with some of these tips for battling loneliness:

Table of Contents

Join a class

First on my list of tips for battling loneliness is to join a class in something that you love. It can be about anything:

art
music
outdoors
pet clubs
photography

Join a club where you can expect to find like-minded people, where you will learn to share ideas and make new friends who are doing the same things you enjoy doing; something to look forward to during the week.

Engage in Self Care Routinely

I love self-care. I even have a blog post with tons of ideas for ways to incorporate self-care into your routine. Sprinkle some self-care into your day-to-day routine to start feeling more self-love, appreciation, and groundedness.

Volunteer

Next on my list of tips for battling loneliness is volunteering. Becoming a volunteer for a cause you believe in can do wonders. There are orphanages, old age homes, and animal care shelters that are crying out for helpers. Why not join up and bring some joy to others and see how it will add meaning and joy to your life? Not to mention developing a sense of thankfulness for all the good things you have in your own life.

Find support

Because loneliness is a somewhat widespread issue, and on the rise, you will find many people online who are searching for other people to connect to. Always be careful though wish dishing out personal information. Fortunately, there are many legit online sites where you can make new friends online that will make you feel you belong.

Strengthen your existing relationships

You probably have people in your life already that you would love to get to know better – and that would love to know you in return. Call them up and go out more with them. Find ways to strengthen your existing relationships.

Get a pet (but not to give it away when your life improves)

Another one of my tips for battling loneliness is to get a pet. Dogs and cats as companions are just that, wonderful and precious companions that will befriend you, no matter what. When you rescue a pet from a shelter to bring home, you will receive companionship. Just remember it works both ways and your pet will require what you are longing to find – relief from loneliness. Don’t leave them alone for long and give them as much attention as you would like to get.

That’s how it works with pets. Take your dog for walks, to a dog park, or even join dog walking groups.

Speak to someone about it

Sometimes, getting out there and meeting people does not conquer the feelings of loneliness. Then it is comforting to know there are expert psychotherapists who can help you, particularly if you also feel depressed and have lost the enjoyment of life. They will know how to help, with the right medications and advice to help you to face life better and to think more positively.

If you’re more keen on speaking to a higher power, you can battle loneliness by talking to your God too.