4 activities that will help you deal with loneliness 🫤

Your phone buzzes, and you feel a rush of excitement.

You check, hoping it's a text from a friend. Ugh. It's another app update notification.

You close your phone, feeling disappointed and lonely.

Loneliness is a discomforting but shared human experience. It can make you feel like you don't belong. But however painful it is, it can also teach you how to care for yourself.

So, whenever you're struggling, try these 4 activities to help you to cope with feelings of loneliness.

Journaling can be more than just a recap of your day. It can take many different forms and help reduce negative feelings like depression, anxiety, and, you guessed it — loneliness.

Ways you can journal to deal with loneliness:

1. Free write: Write down everything that comes to your mind. Don't think too hard about it, just let your emotions flow.

2. Journaling prompts: Use prompts to help you process your emotions. Reflect on questions like:

   • What am I feeling right now?

   • What's causing me to feel this way?

   • What's one thing I can do to show kindness to myself today?

3. Gratitude journal: Write down 3 things you're grateful for. They could be big or small things like finding shade under a tree or eating a home-cooked meal.

4. Letter to a friend: Write a letter to yourself or another person as if you're having a conversation. In a way, it can feel like you're talking to a close friend. You can either keep the letter to yourself, or if you're feeling brave, you can mail it out.

What are some hobbies you've been wanting to try? Even if you don't have any right now, that's okay — there are many hobbies you can explore and experiment with.

Having a hobby can make you a happier and healthier person. It can help you develop new skills, connect with others, and reduce feelings of loneliness.

Explore these hobbies to help deal with loneliness:

• Learn a new language. Think about a culture you enjoy and try learning its language. Check out platforms like Duolingo, join a language exchange group, or read this Byte for tips on learning a new language.

• Learn a musical instrument. Express yourself in ways you've never done before with instruments like the violin, piano, or kalimba. You can look for classes at local colleges or even self-teach with online courses. Don't know which instrument to choose? Make sure to check out this Byte for help!

• Do arts and crafts. Take on various art projects, such as crocheting, tufting, or pottery, and share your work online with other crafters.

• Participate in sports or physical activities. Exercise your mind and body with yoga, dance, or kickboxing. Look for videos online or check out classes at your local community center or gym.

Making friends can be tough, no matter how old you are or even your degree of social skills. However, joining a community can make it easier to deal with loneliness by allowing you to meet new people and bond over shared interests.

If you're more comfortable meeting people online, consider joining: 🌐

• Discord servers: Check out Disboard to find a list of Discord servers that might interest you. Type in topics you're interested in, and it'll show you all of the servers that are relevant.

• Community forums: You can find many different forums that focus on niche interests and hobbies. Reddit and Stackexchange are some of the more popular communities; however, a quick Google search will also bring up specific forums for your interest.

• Facebook groups: If you have a Facebook account, you can find different groups using the search bar. For example, there's a group called Not Wasting My Twenties that frequently hosts engaging events for its members.

If you're more comfortable meeting people offline, try: 📍

• Meetup: Find both in-person and online events near you through the website or app. Categories include travel and outdoor, social activities, hobbies and passions, and more.

• Timeleft:Join weekly dinners with strangers and get to know them better over a meal and a chat. This app matches you with people with similar personality traits and interests, making sure that you're meeting other like-minded individuals.

• Clubs or organizations on campus: Colleges are filled with clubs and organizations of all sorts, from art to gaming to academics. Think about your existing hobbies, write down some new ones that pique your interest, and explore with an open mind.

Being in nature can enrich your life in many ways, such as fostering positive emotions and alleviating anxiety. It can also help you step away from your phone and reconnect with yourself, helping you deal with loneliness in a healthy way.

Here are some ways you can connect with nature today:

1. Take a stroll. Start small by walking around your neighborhood or take a bigger step by visiting a local park.

2. Attempt a hike. For something more intensive, explore a national park or a local trail and take in mother nature.

3. Visit the beach or lake. Spend time swimming or relaxing by the water. You can even spice it up with activities like surfing, boogie boarding, or even parasailing.

4. Go for a bike ride. Feel the wind in your hair as you bike through new areas. Cruise through a city bike lane to your favorite restaurant or take to the dirt trails of a local park.

5. Have a picnic.Enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner outside of your everyday habitat. Find a sunny (or shady) spot of your choosing and share a meal with a friend.

Naomi is feeling quite lonely after a breakup but isn't quite ready to socialize as much as she used to. What are her best options for dealing with loneliness at the moment?

A. Join a crocheting club on campus.

B. Start journaling to work through her feelings.

C. Join a discord server and reply to users every now and then.

D. Create an account on Timeleft and meet up with strangers for dinner.

Remember, the first step to dealing with loneliness is to take good care of yourself!