Loneliness is one of the often ignored side-effects of living through a pandemic. Whether you’re self-isolating due to suspected infection, recovering from COVID, or staying at home to keep yourself and other safe, there are things you can do to avoid feeling lonely.
Here are our top tips:
- Stick to a schedule – a routine helps your days seem more normal
- Stay informed but seek out positive news
- Get exercise – yoga, tai chi, and gym are all good indoor workouts
- Do meaningful things – take an online course or read
- Stay connected to friends and family via email and phone
- Comfort yourself with beauty treatments, favourite foods, upbeat music, or hobbies
- Get creative by baking, sewing, writing, or drawing
- Distract yourself by reading, watching TV, or taking virtual tours
- Work on a five-year plan for your future
- Keep a diary of your thoughts
Now’s your chance to catch up on all the things you’ve been wanting to do but never got around to during your busy daily life.
Acceptance is Vital When You’re Feeling Lonely
People have complex psychologies and while some people can happily exist without much human interaction, others rely heavily on socialising.
Understand that your path depends on your unique make-up and don’t feel that you should be coping as well as someone else.
Don’t try to squash your feelings of loneliness, rather accept that it’s a normal reaction to isolation and take action to deal with it.
Feeling lonely is only a few steps away from depression, don’t let it get you down. If you’re out of ideas to combat loneliness, speaking to a counsellor or minister can help you avoid serious consequences.
It might seem like this situation’s going to drag on forever, and it may continue for much longer than anticipated, but it will end. A few small steps now can ensure you emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.