6 Ways to Be Done With Loneliness

Loneliness is not fate. The number of single households is continuously increasing. Many older, but also younger people find themselves at some point in life at a point where social contacts are scarce and their me-time has clearly taken over. Many get along very well this way, some are thankful to be done with others and prefer no company to bad company. As long as you feel happy and content with your existence as a modern hermit, everything is wonderful, of course.

However, if you notice that you're gradually crossing the fine line between being alone and chronic loneliness, you can do a lot yourself to avoid falling into a deeper hole. If you find your life is no longer fulfilling and complete, you should take countermeasures. That doesn't mean you have to rush headlong into a relationship or move in with a roommate. In this article, we'll introduce you to six ways you can escape loneliness one step at a time without becoming dependent on other people again.

1. Be good (or better) to yourself!

Sometimes our relationship with ourselves just gets a little out of hand. Too much alone time can occasionally be too much of a good thing; after all, a little distance is the secret to lasting success in any form of interpersonal interaction. So, if you find yourself brooding too much, you'll end up turning on your inner critics and suddenly start questioning everything. This life you lead, you created for yourself, you chose to be alone, and probably for a variety of good reasons.

Try to remember that. There is no stigma in preferring to be alone with yourself, on the contrary, you have wisely chosen to give yourself the highest priority. Other people may not have proven worthy of sharing your life with you, in your experience. You'd rather be demanding than unhappy.

So if now and then doubts gnaw at you whether everything is really right with you or if you’re living your life completely wrong, let me tell you: It's good when it feels good. Self-flagellation is the fastest and most effective way towards depression. If you want to get out of your hermit routine now and then, the following tips may be just what you need.

2. Always works: Go for a walk!

The best way to fix the occasional low is to take a brisk walk. If you have the chance, head to the woods. Research shows that people's subjective well-being improves significantly at the mere prospect of spending time in the woods. In hospitals, those patients who can look out the window at trees, or at least have a picture of trees hanging in their room, recover faster.

A walk along a river also has a calming effect and makes many worries disappear in an instant. Exposure to sunlight makes your body form vitamin D, which is needed for serotonin production. If this happiness hormone is then released, the walk has already been worthwhile several times over.

3. An honorary office or charitable commitment

Here there’s a wide field at your disposal, many opportunities for occasional contact with other humans, without asking them however into your own life. You decide on a case-by-case basis when you want contact and when you do not. The power of volunteering is twofold: you do good and you will feel good yourself. Which area you choose is entirely up to your preferences and talents. Retirement homes are happy to have volunteers, soup kitchens always need a helping hand.

Animal shelters are happy to have walkers and first-responders, such as rescue or fire departments, can never get enough support. If you don't want to leave the house for your commitment, sign up to be an advisor on a telephone counseling service. These counseling sessions take place via cell phone and online via chat. There is also free training and regular supervision. You might benefit from this several times over. Speaking of profit: How about doing good, having fun and earning money at the same time?

Find out if there is a blood plasma center near you. Donors are desperately needed, and the staff there are usually exceptionally nice, so you'll be glad to come back. All of these options are voluntary and not subject to any coercion or obligation. If you don't like option A, consider option B. However, you can be sure that there is someone somewhere who will be extremely grateful for your help.

4. Want a new hobby?

Similarly fantastic as volunteering is learning a new hobby. Here, too, you can choose whether you want to meet new people or be guided by a PC or the Internet. Trial sessions are usually non-binding and free of charge. Here, too, you are sure to find what you are looking for.

5. Four-legged roommates: friends for life

If you are looking for unconditional love and loyalty - go to a shelter and find an animal roommate. Depending on how much time you can spare and how your days are structured, pretty much any animal friend from a dog to a dwarf hamster can enrich your life immensely, though you're also making a commitment. Most animal shelters offer trial periods and a comprehensive consultation. So it can't hurt to give it a try.

6. Seek professional help

If you realize that you can no longer find a way out of loneliness on your own, seek professional help as soon as possible. There are already numerous options for this, and you don't even have to leave the house. Start on the Internet and look for forums of fellow sufferers who share their experiences and are available for an anonymous exchange of ideas. If you want to get down to business, make an appointment with a counselor, psychologist or therapist. Life is too short not to enjoy it to the fullest.

Today’s Conclusion:

Loneliness as an opportunity. Periods of life without social contacts can be healing and educational at the same time. We draw strength to be able to embark on the adventure with people in a strengthened way. We usually appreciate our companions more when we have had to do without them for a while. As long as we feel comfortable in our own skin, everything is fine.

Some people hardly feel the need for contact with others. But if you notice that your thoughts are getting caught up in negative spirals and threaten to keep you from enjoying life, you should quickly take countermeasures. Chronic loneliness, not chosen voluntarily, is one of the quickest ways into a full-blown depression.

Especially in the digital age, there are countless ways to get in touch with people all over the world without having to open your front door or your heart to them. In the best case, you gain new acquaintances or even friends. In the worst case, you get the confirmation that it's still best to be alone. That's it for today.