With the way the world is right now, many people feel lonely. Things can be very isolating. For some people, there are no classes to take or work to attend. In this post, we will go over some helpful tips for What To Do When You Feel Lonely.
A recent survey said that on average 22% of Americans are feeling lonely and isolated at any given time! You are not alone in your loneliness. Many people feel lonely from time to time and it is helpful when it hits you to try and remember that many other people feel that way too. Loneliness doesn’t look the same for everyone either. Many people can be surrounded by others and still feel the pangs of loneliness. Sometimes it is just helpful to know… You are not alone.
Plan a Self Care Day/Night
Self-care is really important and something that we often overlook. Take time for yourself and do all that pampering you never quite make time for. Get your extra deep conditioner, put on a face mask, have a relaxing bubble bath! If you are feeling isolated and lonely, self-care can often take a back seat. Put the time in for yourself and you will be refreshed and ready to tackle the day.
Reach out to Friends and Tell them You Feel Lonely
This can be scary. It is scary to tell those you care about that you aren’t feeling so great. If you reach out to some people you really trust and care about, and let them know how you are feeling when you express the lonely feeling out loud you actually start to release it! Denying your loneliness doesn’t help you and continues to make you feel lonely. This doesn’t need to be a big conversation, just call up a girl pal and say “Hey, I’ve been feeling lonely lately, how are you doing?” You’ll be surprised how good it feels to let that out. You will also likely hear your friend has been feeling the same way too.
Get moving and do some Exercise
You know this is something you should be doing. Make sure you do a little bit of activity every day. This can be as simple as going for a short walk. Once you are in nature and exploring the great outdoors many people feel much less lonely! Pop on a workout video on youtube, do some yoga or take your puppy on a little bit longer of a walk. Getting your heart rate pumping will be a great thing to do when you are lonely.
Take time for someone else
It is easy to isolate yourself from the world when you are feeling lonely. It’s usually the first thing that we think to do. One of the best things to do when you feel lonely is taking time for someone else and do an act of kindness. This doesn’t have to be a huge deal. Hold the door open for someone, Give a smile to a neighbor you usually avoid. Bake something for someone you know and leave it with a note at their door. Taking a few moments for someone else is a great way to re-focus on what matters.
Create Something
You may not be the most artistic person around, but now is the perfect time to take a few moments and create something! Paint, Draw, Sketch, Write, Bake, Take photos with your camera phone. No matter what you decide to create it doesn’t even matter. When you give yourself the time to express how you feel, you create mood-altering feelings inside you. You can also share what you create with others, but you don’t have to. This creative thing could be just for you.
Stop Checking Social Media
We all know that constant scrolling on Facebook and other social platforms can make us feel pretty isolated. If you are feeling the pangs of loneliness, it might be a good time to call it quits on social media for a while. It is very easy to think everyone on social media is having a perfect time, perfect job, and perfect relationships, But of course.. that is not true. Take a temporary detox from social media if you are feeling lonely.
Work With a Mental Health Professional
As mentioned, most people feel lonely sometimes. If it is a temporary feeling for you, you can try some of the things mentioned in this post to see if you can elevate your mood. If you are finding that you are needing some help to escape the darkness of isolation you might be currently in, take the time to reach out to a mental health professional. There are many services online now that for a small fee can give you a dr to talk to 24 hrs a day. There are also many professional and free services too. Don’t be ashamed to get the help you need to feel better.
What to do when you feel lonely thoughts
It is completely normal from time to time to feel a little lonely. Try some of the helpful tips in this article if you are feeling under the weather and isolated. You’ll be surprised at how focusing on a few of the things we mentioned here will get you back on track and feeling like you.
