Presented by BetterHelp.
What’s the difference between solitude and loneliness? Solitude is neutral; it isn’t necessarily positive or negative. Loneliness, on the other hand, could be said to be the negative experience of solitude, or the state of being alone.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to feel alone these days, especially with the Covid-19 pandemic. We are more “connected” than ever with technology, but even this may make us just feel more lonely and damage our mental health.
Fortunately, there are ways to actively work on overcoming loneliness. So, read on to learn five useful tips for leaving loneliness behind.
5 Tips for Overcoming Loneliness
Your loneliness may have you feeling way, way down. Don’t despair, though. You can overcome loneliness with time and a bit of effort.
And if you would appreciate having more useful resources at your disposal, consider those available online through BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/loneliness/
Work on Existing Relationships
No matter how alone you may feel right now, you no doubt have at least one or two existing relationships in your life. You can thus reach out to those people you already know to catch up or rekindle what you once had.
Explore Your Passions/Hobbies
Hobbies can be a solitary thing, but there are oftentimes large communities of people who enjoy doing the same thing.
So, whether you have an affinity for a certain sports team, like model planes or trains, enjoy collecting records, or love hiking, there’s an activity out there that you can enjoy with others.
Look in your area and online for groups that you can join. This will give you a greater sense of community and help keep loneliness at bay.
Escape the Comfort Zone
The “comfort zone” has its name for a reason. It’s comfy. It’s easy to stay there. Yet, if we want to make progress in life, we have to get out of our comfort zone.
It can be easier said than done, of course, but to beat loneliness you’ll need to leave the comfort zone from time to time. If you never put yourself out there, for example, how can you make new friends?
Be Grateful
The act of simply being grateful and practicing gratitude actively is a great way to improve your overall mental health and help relativize your loneliness.
After all, there are many people in the world with incredibly difficult lives. The fact that you have an internet connection and the possibility of making friends is already something. Being more grateful will help make you more positive and will help lead you down the path of less loneliness.
Volunteering
Volunteering is another way to boost our sense of gratitude and to give back to those who need help. By doing so, you will also meet other people engaged in the same kind of volunteering. It’s therefore an excellent way to meet people and make new friends.
Get Help
Finally, don’t hesitate to seek out help if you need it. Loneliness should not be so intense that you feel like you can’t do anything or that there’s no hope for you. If you feel this way, consider the help of a licensed mental health professional.
Conclusion
Loneliness affects millions of people, but it’s a condition that can be changed with time and a little effort. So, try not to despair, and instead start thinking about ways that you can meet people and make friends. The tips above are a great place to start.