Ways to stave off loneliness
1) Join online forums – “Uncommon Knowledge” is a good one if you would like to chat with others regarding self-help or psychology topics. Socialising online is not quite as effective as meeting face to face but it’s a good second best and can help to alleviate loneliness
2) Join the gym – when you’re at the gym, you can either get on with your exercise routine or you can chat to others depending on your mood. The gym is a great way to be around others without feeling the pressure to socialise
3) Get a pet – now a pet can’t give you a good intellectual conversation but they are still great company and they love you no matter what. Unconditional love is a wonderful thing!
4) Join Meetup – Meetup is great and operates in the USA, the UK and possibly other countries. It is a wonderful association that covers a multitude of interests. Take a look and see where the closest Meetup group is to you and have a look at the subjects they cover. I have been a member of the cognitive behavioural meetup group and they regularly arrange fascinating talks in London.
5) Use social media – Twitter and Facebook. This is another way to connect with others with little effort and keep regular updates on what others are doing. Again – not as good as face to face interactions but social media still does a fairly good job of allowing some sort of social interaction from home.
6) Try internet dating – from personal experience, the best website is Match.com. Match also arranges single nights where people can get together and mingle with other singles. I tried Dating Direct and Plenty of Fish and found Match.com to be the website that offered the most opportunities.
7) Volunteer – this is a great way to meet new people and I recommend having a look at the website www.do-it.org. It is filled with all types of volunteer work ranging from working with animals to prison visits. There’s something for everyone, so if you have spare time and feel lonely – give it a go. You’ll get the added bonus of knowing you’re helping out in the world.
8) Be open, friendly and approachable. Chat to strangers and always be ready with a smile. In a world where there are a lot of grumpy sad people, everyone appreciates friendliness and a smile. If you give off approachability and warmth, you’ll rarely be lonely!
Mandy X
Photo by Fabrizio Verrecchia on Unsplash
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
