Loneliness is talked about a lot around the holidays (usually Christmas through New Year), but the fact is many people are lonely all year. A holiday like Independence Day can spark feelings of loneliness because so many people are having picnics, attending parades, and grilling out.
If you're by yourself (and don't want to be), take heart. You can make steps today to change your life and beat loneliness.
Volunteering
Your first thought when you're feeling alone might be, "Why should I volunteer to help someone else when I need help." The answer is that volunteering is deceptively healing for lonely people. First, you volunteer to help someone else, but what you gain in the process is interaction with others, a new perspective, and perhaps most importantly, a greater sense of accomplishment.
What's more, when you realize how many need help in this world, you won't waste time sitting at home by yourself. You'll be cramming your calendar full of activities and that in and of itself will help improve your mood.
Look around you today for inspiration on how to get involved. Cities and towns across the country are looking for people to help with parades and community picnics, so contact your chamber of commerce, library, or community center.
Changing Your Idea of Family
Maybe the problem isn't that you're all alone, but that you're not with the people you really want to be with. Perhaps your family is estranged, busy, or living far away. In that case, try looking at your situation from a different perspective. So what if you're the only one at a picnic that isn't related to someone else. If they invited you, they care about you and want you there.
Not having family support is tough anytime, but around a holiday like today it can feel like an extra heavy burden. Spend more time with the friends in your life who care about you every bit as much as if you were family. If you have good people in your life but don't see them often enough, make an effort to change that.
Meeting More People
There's no getting around it, if you want to have a life full of people, you have to make the effort to meet more of them. If people haven't naturally landed in your life the way you would have liked, go out and find them instead. The good news is that there are more ways to meet new people now than at any time before.
Some ideas:
- Online, Lunch, or Speed Dating
- Trying Out New Hobbies
- Singles Groups
- Friendship Sites, such as Girlfriend Social or Girlfriend Circles
- Activity Sites like Meetup or Active
Saying Yes More Often
What happens sometimes with loneliness is you begin feeling really bad about yourself. As a result, your energy level dips and when you get impromptu invites to things, you turn them down.
But today, make a conscious decision to say yes, even when you think you're too tired. Spending time with people (even acquaintances you don't know very well) will combat feelings of loneliness. The more you keep your calendar busy, the more you'll appreciate your alone time rather than dread it.
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