Because of the pandemic going on, almost everyone is confined to the four walls of their room. Although this isolation is for our own good, this increased social distancing can have its effects, especially on our psychological wellbeing. Loneliness is likely to follow under such circumstances, and it can lead to stress and a decrease in mental well-being.
However, there are many strategies that we can apply so that the isolation and loneliness don’t get to our heads. Let’s take a look.
1. Distract yourself
Being alone all day with nothing but our thoughts is bound to make us feel bad. The best thing is to stay engaged in some activity with which you can distract yourself. Instead of sitting idle all day, try to keep to a schedule. A regular routine will help you stay busy with different things, and the less time you have to overthink and worry, the better your mental health will be.
2. Participate in something Meaningful
Another major contributor to loneliness is the loss of meaning in life. If your life is aimless or boring, it will only further escalate your loneliness. The best strategy is to give your life some purpose. Try to sign up for an online course, find ways to volunteer online, learn a new skill and improve your existing ones, read a book or participate in a hobby such as knitting or writing, which helps you stay occupied and gives your life meaning.
3. Keep in touch
Technology can be our friends in these hard times. Keep in touch with your friends and loved ones through social media. Use free services like Zoom and Facetime for video calls. You can catch up to old friends or colleagues to see how their life is going so far. The more engaged you are on social media with other people, the lesser anxious and lonely you will be.
4. Exercise and stay active
Exercise is an excellent way to beat built-up stress and neutralize your emotions. When we exercise, our body releases hormones called endorphins in our body. You can also participate in new hobbies such as learning guitar, DIY crafts, or gardening. These hormones can calm us down and make us naturally feel better. Set aside specific times of the day when you can do home workouts. It will help you keep physically fit and also ward off emotional exhaustion.
5. Share your feelings
Dealing with our thoughts on our own can become difficult at times. Loneliness stems from an inability to connect with other people. Sharing is an excellent way to get that weight off of your chest. It helps us let out our emotions and get helpful suggestions and sometimes find out our incorrect ways of thinking.
The Takeaway
Anticipate some tension during these hard times. You are likely to experience some distress, but as long as you keep yourself occupied and stay in touch with your loved ones, loneliness won’t affect you that much, and your mental well-being will improve.