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 Do you feel alone and alone? This toolbox provides straightforward techniques to cope with loneliness and build your connections—the majority of which you can do right away.

Are you feeling lonely?

Human beings are social beings. While it is natural to feel lonely at times, we thrive in human interactions and communities. When you feel isolated and cut off from others, it may hurt both your mental and physical health, raising your stress levels, causing anxiety and sadness, and increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke.    

Most of us experience loneliness at some point in our lives. For health concerns, you may need to isolate yourself away from loved ones, as was prevalent during the COVID-19 epidemic. Moving to a new city for employment, attending college far away from home, grieving the loss of a loved one, or splitting up with a romantic relationship can all cause you to feel alone.

In other cases, you may discover that you have several casual acquaintances but no close friends who understand or care about you. Whatever the cause of your loneliness, remember that it is a common human experience, and there are measures you can do right now to help reduce loneliness, safeguard your health, and build your relationships with others.

How to Stop Feeling Lonely Tip 1: Find Innovative Ways to Stay Connected

True, your body releases chemicals that alleviate stress and boost pleasant emotional reactions during in-person contact. That is why keeping face-to-face touch with friends and family is so important.

However, when feelings of loneliness strike, it is not always feasible to interact in person with loved ones. There are other methods to keep connected and prevent isolation whether you are traveling for business, live far away, or are separated for another reason.

Make use of video chat. Videoconferencing services like Zoom gained popularity during the pandemic, but there's no reason not to use them today if you're feeling lonely. You may use video chatting to:

Maintain contact with friends and family, no matter how far away they reside.
Arrange group hangouts with friends to play party games, watch sporting events, or enjoy happy hour beverages without having to worry about finding a designated driver or a babysitter.
If you work remotely, schedule meetings or lunch breaks with your coworkers.
Participate in webcasts or online lessons.  

Make a phone call. If you are hesitant to contact somebody out of the blue, even on days when you are very lonely, text to arrange a time to call. Or, even better, set aside regular times each week to call a friend or loved one. It will provide you with something to look forward to when you are lonely.

Make a letter. Handwriting a letter or postcard to a loved one is not the quickest way to communicate. The time and effort necessary to write and mail a letter or card, on the other hand, makes it far more meaningful to the reader than a text, email, or Facebook post.

• Writing a sincere letter will help alleviate some of the loneliness's burden.
• Writing out your ideas on paper might help you come to grips with what you're going through right now.
• It can also assist you in identifying things for which you are thankful or optimistic.
• Receiving a letter or postcard in return might make you feel more connected and improve your day.

Tip 2: Participate in online and in-person communities.

Connecting with people is not restricted to intimate friends, family, or coworkers. Communicating with strangers can also assist in alleviating loneliness and the harmful impacts of social isolation. You may even form lifetime connections when you begin to stretch out and interact with individuals in online and real settings.

• Online platforms such as meetup.com can help you find individuals who share your hobbies and interests.

• Attend peer support meetings, such as AA or Weight Watchers, to enhance your health.

• Attend local activities where you could meet others who share your interests, such as concerts, sporting events, or open-mic nights.

• Join a book group, either online or in person.

• Use social media to reconnect with old friends and broaden your social circle.

• Participate in online forums and social media groups on issues that interest you.

• Play online multiplayer games or join a fantasy sports league.

• If you're single, try a dating app or a live video chat app to meet new people.

Tip 3: Be of service to others.

Helping others may bring meaning and purpose to your life while also growing your social network. Indeed, volunteering to help others may be as helpful to you as it is to those you assist.

Volunteer for a cause that is meaningful to you, such as political campaigning, walking shelter animals, or feeding the homeless. It can help build a sense of connection with fellow volunteers while also assisting the community. If you have restricted mobility or are unable to leave your house for whatever reason, you may frequently volunteer for chores such as making or answering phone calls or sending emails.

Run errands for a neighbor in need, such as getting prescriptions or food for a senior, new parent, or sick person. You can make new friends while also making life simpler for folks who have physical or mental problems or who are just overburdened by their daily responsibilities. 

Turn into a mentor. Look for opportunities to pass on useful skills or knowledge that you possess. You can, for example, take a younger person under your wing and teach them something you are knowledgeable about, such as a trade, sport, or musical instrument. Not only will you be able to assist the other person to improve, but you will also have the opportunity to bond with them. Look for local and national organizations that can connect you with children in need.

4th tip: Go outside.

It's easy to feel restricted within the same four walls every day if you work from home. Even if you commute, it's easy to get into a pattern that revolves solely around getting to and from work. Make an effort to make time to appreciate being outside. Spending time outside in the fresh air and open spaces will not only enhance your mood, but it will also allow you to meet new people.

Take a stroll around your area. Taking a different route each day and finding new areas may be an exciting experience that allows you to meet new people. Be a traveler in your area by exploring new or familiar sites as if you were experiencing them for the first time. Try taking images of unusual sights—even the banal and familiar may be beautiful.

Spend some time in public. Instead of having lunch at your work or home, go to a restaurant, coffee shop, or shopping center food court. Pack your lunch and eat it at a park or other public place to save money. Simply being near others might make you feel less alone and boost your chances of meeting new individuals. If you have leftovers, try inviting a neighbor, coworker, or casual friend to join you for lunch.

Take up outdoor activities. Try cycling, hiking, playing at the park with your dog or kids, or simply strolling around the neighborhood. If the weather is poor, stroll inside a shopping mall—it's a popular workout program, especially among the elderly.

5th tip: Travel virtually.

Traveling may, of course, be a fantastic method to cope with loneliness and isolation, but it is not always a viable option, particularly in these economically difficult times. Even if you're trapped at home, don't have the funds to go right now, or prefer not to travel alone, there are ways to get a taste of adventure.

Make a journey that you've always wanted to take. Read travel guides for the area you wish to visit, watch online video tours of museums, zoos, and other tourist sites, or even go to your local grocery store and prepare dishes from that region.

Take a virtual break. Explore different parts of the world on foot or by automobile. For a fun twist, try the virtual vacation guessing game, in which you try to figure out your location based on your surroundings.

Find online concerts, theater shows, and other events. When you're feeling lonely, there are lots of live and recorded shows you may watch at home. Try Googling YouTube, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon, or the websites of theatrical companies. Hearing artists interact with a live audience might help relieve loneliness more effectively than merely watching a movie or TV program.

Relive a memorable vacation from the past. Make a scrapbook of your trips with old vacation pictures and other memories. Share them on social media or repurpose old trip films.

Make a plan for future escapes. Even if you are unable to go right now, you may begin planning your next vacation. Making arrangements might offer you something to look forward to, whether you want to meet friends locally, go on a road trip, or travel internationally. Plan an itinerary after researching your trip online.

Tip 6: Talk to yourself as if you were a loving friend.

Many of us spend our alone time thinking on the bad, replaying previous errors, or imagining worst-case scenarios. But this simply adds to the sensation of loneliness and isolation. Instead, you might question negative beliefs and speak to yourself in a nicer, more realistic tone, as if you were a loving friend.

• Make a mental note of any negative thoughts that make you feel unhappy or lonely, such as "I'll never make new friends," or "I can't stand being this alone."

• "Do I know that for sure?" you can challenge the concept. along the lines of "What would I say to a friend who thought the same?"

• Change the concept to a more beneficial one. "I feel lonely and miss my old friends, but I'll make new friends soon," or "I've been through tough times before." "I'm sure I can do it again."

7th Tip: Distract yourself

Concentrating on a pastime or passion might help you feel less isolated while also strengthening your feeling of purpose and meaning. If you've always wanted to learn a new language or play a musical instrument, now could be the time.

• Write your memoirs, paint, practice a craft, or learn to cook as a creative outlet.

• Make repairs or paint a space to improve your house.

• Attend a lesson, hear a lecture or a new record, or visit a museum.

• Using a genealogy website, create a family tree.

• If you're unemployed or unsatisfied with your current position, update your résumé and LinkedIn page and look for new opportunities to network.

• Find solace in animals. Adopting a pet is a significant step, but caring for an animal gives great company. Even if you aren't ready to get a cat or a dog, offer to look after a neighbor's pet or walk a shelter dog. While their dogs play together, dog walkers frequently stop to speak.

Tip 8: Maintain your entire mental wellness.

Loneliness can trigger your body's fight-or-flight reaction, increasing your stress levels. To compensate, devote time to nurturing your soul, improving your attitude and outlook, and safeguarding your mental health.

Learn to unwind. Meditation and other relaxation techniques are wonderful ways to ease stress, tension, and anxiety. If you're missing your loved ones or feel disconnected from your happy place, guided imagery meditation can be very beneficial. Guided imagery uses your imagination to help you visualize happier memories and relax your body and mind. Try the Guided Imagery Meditation from HelpGuide.

Get moving. Exercise regularly might help you better control your body's stress chemicals. Taking your workouts to a public place, such as a gym or a park, might also make you feel less isolated. Consider participating in a pickup basketball game, finding a jogging group, joining a golf club, or enrolling in a yoga class.

Take solace in little daily pleasures. Relax by taking a bath, reading a nice book, or watching your favorite Netflix show.

Keep an eye on what you eat and drink. Self-medicating with drink, drugs, or food may provide temporary respite, but it will simply aggravate your mood and make loneliness even more difficult to bear.

Acceptance should be practiced. Remember that everyone experiences loneliness at some point in their lives. It is not a sin to be lonely. Accepting circumstances outside your control is also essential. Maybe you can't afford a plane ticket to see your loved ones right now, but that doesn't mean you have to stay at home.

Loneliness can sometimes be difficult to overcome, even after you've taken measures to improve your position. For example, even if you acquire new friends in a new place, you may miss your old ones. It's good to miss them; just remember to reach out as much as you can.