If you frequently find yourself feeling lonely … well, you’re not the only one. Even before the Covid pandemic forced us to hunker down in our homes and limit contact with others, mental health experts were expressing concerns about the impact of loneliness. Studies suggest half of Americans feel lonely at any given time, leading many to describe loneliness as an epidemic. The good news is that you hold the key to overcoming those feelings of loneliness. You just have to be willing to take a few simple steps:

Try new things. Our daily routines can seem like drudgery. When we do things we’ve never done before, we can concentrate on something other than feeling bored. Plus, new activities actually encourage the grow of connections in our brain and the production of happiness hormones. Always wanted to learn ballroom dancing? Do it! Art lessons? Sign up!

Listen actively. When you meet someone new, listen carefully to what they have to say. You might discover connections you never expected. If you’re shy, the easiest way to start conversations is to ask people to talk about themselves. Everyone likes to do it – and once you start, it gets easy.

Talk with meaning. When you’re having conversations with others, go beyond the ordinary talk about the weather or the traffic, and discuss important things. Get to know their lives at a deeper level. The better you understand others, the easier it is to forge friendships.

Be present. Other people can tell whether you’re truly focused on them or whatever is distracting you at the moment. By being mindful (and again, using active listening), you’ll help them feel they are important … and you might learn something fun or useful.

Have fun. Tired of sitting around and watching TV? Go out and find things to do with other people. Maybe there’s a club at your church that takes outings. Perhaps the local library has a book group that meets every month. Look for activities that seem enjoyable.

Display empathy. When you take a genuine interest in other people and demonstrate empathy and compassion for their lives, you may be surprised at how interested they become in you. Remember, every relationship starts somewhere … and it’s usually with the word “hello.”

Be grateful. Take good care of the people you know. Thank them when they do things for you … and let them know how they make your life better. You know how good you feel when someone thanks you or recognizes something you’ve done? They feel the same way, too.

Get advice. Convinced that you’re too much of an introvert to be anything but lonely? Spending some time with one of our professional counselors can help you gain the courage to reach out and add positive, healthy relationships to your life. Don’t sit home alone – start taking the steps that will help you overcome those feelings of loneliness.

If you’ve tried to improve the way the you’re feeling and don’t seem to get getting anywhere, consider reaching out to one of our professional counselors. They’ll help you understand why things affect you the way they do, and they’ll be able to share strategies that can help.

Recent Posts