If make a purchase through these links, we receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure for more info. Did you know that in Korea, people are recording themselves while having dinner? And people are actually paying to watch these videos! Is this another sign of loneliness creeping up on all of us? Feeling lonely, however, is not a direct cause of being alone. Familiarity breeds attraction. A study published at the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that same-sex strangers felt increasing affinity towards each other, after each conversation they had.
The same goes for online chat conversations. You know the problem with group and couples dates? Loneliness is an emotion, mostly triggered by a sad memory. Go to meetup. People who join meetup. Watch a chick-flick, or a super hero movie—anything but a tear jerker, really —and grab lots of candy and popcorn. Focusing on the needs of others steers your mind away from sad thoughts. Helping the less fortunate will also fill you with immense gratitude.
A furry cat or dog will cheer you up. Even a goldfish or pretty parrot can do wonders for your mood. Would you ask a doctor for a prescription before they check your symptoms? Do your friends make you feel lonely? Is it your work or surroundings, perhaps? The cause of your loneliness will clue you in on the appropriate solution. Read a good novel instead. Losing yourself in a good story or identifying with a powerful character will boost your confidence and fill you with a sense of adventure.
Where do good ideas come from? In the shower, right? Taking a nice, long, and relaxing bath is a great way to be bask in your alone time, instead of drowning in self-pity. Ladies, prepare a glass of red, chocolates and magazines. Gents, take a bubble bath ala Chandler by taking a manly boat with you!
Taking public transportation to a random location forces you to do two things—be in the company of strangers, and change your environment. Doing this will ward off loneliness and cure your wanderlust as well. Doing crazy stuff alone will give you a good laugh.
Running is scientifically proven to make you happier. Go to a coffee shop far from your apartment or office. Then order coffee and sit on the bar, or that big table on the center where you can talk to people. Compliment someone on their tie, shoes or bag. Start a conversation. Social media is helpful, but it could be detrimental depending on how you use it. Making your bed in the morning, and doing a quick two-minute wipe down in your kitchen at night, will make you feel better and in control of your life.
Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, says her research for the book revealed that bed-making is one of the keystone habits of happy people. Reminisce the good old days with a friend, your mom or sis. Remembering your crazy antics, and most embarrassing moments caught on camera will fill you with nostalgic memories and drive away loneliness.
Get a camera, then go out and start taking beautiful pictures of things around you. A sunset, a barking dog, or a laughing baby—filling your life with beautiful things can take your mind off of loneliness. The point is to get yourself moving, while trying something new in the supportive environment of a group class. Sometimes, it can help you identify why you feel lonely in the first place.
Ted Talks are inspiring and informative. Nothing beats loneliness and overwhelm like planning a great holiday vacation. Looking up flights, hotel deals and stuff to do on a random faraway location will boost your spirits and steer your mind off your negative thoughts.
Wondering how to not feel lonely, when you actually prefer to be alone? Getting bored is a prerequisite of feeling lonely. Having nothing to do. So keep yourself occupied! Try a new recipe. Create a scrapbook. Dress up like a tourist, and do all the cheesy touristy things in your city. I think about others; about their troubles and how I could help them. I clean house. I sit outside and listen to birds. I actually am alone a lot, but spend about 3 hours a week being totally over-peopled.
I find being alone a gift. But if loneliness does hit me? I live alone and have no family. I like to drive out into natire with my dog and we go to the woods, to Wales or to local parks. I watch a good film and have a great collection of dvds. I also have some pen pals abroad. I like my own company and space.
I do not have to cook or clean for anyone although it would be nice to have a partner to do things with. I watch iplayer or some Prime movies in bed sometimes and love gardening. I occasionally meet up with friends. Having a dog whom i really love really helps as he is family and we are a team. I love having time for me and peace and quiet. It is a great luxury in a hectic stressful world. My family is grown and have their own lives. I am disabled so it is hard to just get up and go someplace at times.
Just feeling lonely tonight and wanted to reach out. Most of my friends including my husband are older and I only have one good friend of over 40 years left.
Unfortunately, she has had some mental changes recently and I am not as patient with her as I should be. I hope this finds everyone safe and healthy! May I help? I find myself in a similar situation. After 3 marriages failing due to my sociopathic husbands, I needed to be isolated from people just to get my life on track. Now that it is on track, I find myself so alone…my family is far away. I work full time. Please contact me. We can keep each other company through email. Send a response. I am happy to be a pen pal. Often articles on this topic can be flaccid and unhelpful.
This was wonderfully written and full of practical advice. But loneliness and emptiness certainly sets in when people are not challenged in any way. Boredom produces phobias and fears and those are naturally avoided often in self destructive ways such as: excessive drinking, extreme changes to fit in to a social group, extreme reliance on other people or relationships, excessive eating or spending.
Enjoy making mistakes, learning from them and hone the skill of staying curious and open. This kind of activity does more than give you a diverse and exciting social experience, it should also give you the incredibly satisfying feeling of being part of the human race, with much to give and more to learn and then loneliness should becomes nothing but a rare and fleeting thought and the world gains a little more life. Thank you, I am feeling lonely because even when I go to an event with people I half-know, I feel lonely and self-pitying.
But still, I need to give the world more life, by struggling to keep excitement and meaning in my life. Having been in a relationship for over 20 years with someone less than ideal….
But sometimes being alone can feel to me like having no roots, nothing to hold onto, and drifting without any point in being alive, because of not having anyone… except my parents and siblings….
The most difficult challenge is to find real and lasting solutions to loneliness.