Things To Do When You Feel Lonely

Illustrations (Abhiram Prakash / Pexels)

JAKARTA - Even though in the current pandemic era, the prohibition for outdoor activities has been relaxed, but still you cannot meet people freely. Certain restrictions must be maintained for mutual safety.

The existence of a ban on gathering as before, certainly creates feelings of loneliness, stress, and frustration. If this is done repeatedly, of course it will have a negative impact. Prolonged loneliness can drain emotionally to cause physical pain such as pain, sleep problems, and decreased immunity. So, to prevent this from happening, do the following tips when you feel lonely.

Change the Mindset

Basically, feelings of loneliness arise when you become isolated and your needs for social interaction and human relationships are not met. Changing your mindset or point of view about what it means to be alone can make it easier for you to navigate your feelings of loneliness.

The bottom line is that having quality time outs is sometimes necessary to create opportunities for self-discovery, creative thinking, and self-reflection. So instead of lamenting the feelings of loneliness that arise, you can use your own time for things that are beneficial to yourself.

Stay connected

To stay connected and interact with loved ones, you don't only have to meet in person, because you can stay connected virtually, for example through video chats or text messages. Even though it feels different, it can help reduce feelings of loneliness.

Consider Owning a Pet

Not everyone has the tools or skills to care for a pet, so this one tip won't work for everyone. However, if you feel capable and have the means to support a pet, it never hurts to give it a try.

According to 2018 research, keeping pets can help improve mental health as well as physical health. Your pet may not be able to talk, but the presence of other creatures can help relieve stress, be energizing, and entertaining.

Take a break from social media

Important, but not easy to do. Is it right? Yes, taking a break from social media is very important to do because it can help improve mental health.

Instead of reducing feelings of loneliness, sometimes social media can actually increase feelings of loneliness. Why? This is because, on social media you can see other people spending time with your spouse or family members, and this can certainly further create feelings of loneliness.

There is no need to close your social media accounts (but if you feel it is necessary, it is not wrong to do so), you just need to close the application for a while but stay connected with a phone call or text message instead.

Do Something You Love

Doing something you enjoy, such as exercising, playing video games, watching a movie, reading a book, or cooking can create a feeling of calm so that you don't feel lonely.

In addition, doing a hobby or something that you enjoy also serves as a treatment

self, which plays an important role in improving overall mental health.

Go out

Taking a short walk outside can distract you and help relieve feelings of loneliness. You don't need to travel far out of town or abroad, you can go for a leisurely walk in the park or around the neighborhood with your pets.

You can also go outside for reasons of light exercise, such as cycling, jogging, or taking a leisurely walk. In addition to improving health and fitness, this activity certainly has a positive impact on reducing feelings of loneliness as well as improving overall mental health.