5 Ways To Immediately Feel Less Lonely

 / 

,
Ways To Immediately Feel Less Lonely

We, humans, are social animals and it’s in our nature to connect to others. But when social connections are at risk or even absent, we become lonely. Wondering What to Do When You Feel Lonely? Here Are 5 Tried and Tested Tips.

“You smile, but you wanna cry. You talk, but you wanna be quiet. You pretend like you’re happy, but you aren’t.”

We are in the middle of a loneliness epidemic.

Nearly half of Americans reported (sometimes or always) feeling alone, and over 40% said that they don’t have any relationships that feel meaningful. Rates of loneliness have doubled since the 1980s.

Society often rewards isolation. It wants us to be good little worker bees… keeping up with doing our busy work so that we can contribute to the GDP, keeping our heads down, and buying a bunch of stuff that we don’t need.

Fewer people are marrying and having children. Corner stores are being replaced by big box stores and online shopping. Community parks and playgrounds are being replaced with parking lots. The HOV lane’s are empty, as everyone goes it alone on their way to work.

And what is the cost of all of this isolation and disconnection?

It has been shown that loneliness has the exact same negative impact on our health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, making chronic loneliness even worse for us than obesity.

And with an increasingly large aging population, the overall effect on public health will likely only increase with time (as people over 55 often get hit the hardest and have even fewer reported confidantes in their lives).

feeling lonely

What Is Loneliness?

It’s hard to perfectly define because loneliness is so personal and subjective. One person’s social quota might be more than filled by seeing a friend once per week, and another person would feel strangulated by that lack of social stimulation.

In a sense, loneliness lives in the discrepancy between what someone has in their lives and what they want to experience.

“Sometimes I just want to disappear and see if anyone would miss me.”

People can have an abundance of relationships in their lives, and still, feel a lack of alignment or depth in those relationships. So both quantity and quality play a role when it comes to eradicating the loneliness that so many people feel.

Read 10 Sneaky Signs of Loneliness Which Say You’re Lonelier Than You Think

feeling lonely

How To Feel Less Lonely

Try out some (or all) of the following tips, and you’ll be and feel more connected to others in no time.

Regardless of whether you’re new in the town you live in… you’re craving more depth in the relationships you already have… or you don’t have a friend to call on in the middle of the night if you need help, the following ideas (when put into action) will help you.

5 Ways to immediately feel less lonely

1. Meditate

BEFORE I LOSE YOU BECAUSE I USED THE WORD MEDITATION…

Realize that all I mean by meditation is literally sitting down for two minutes and observing the thoughts that roll around in your busy mind.

While you may want a greater quality and quantity of social connection in your life, there may also be a further upstream difficulty that you are secretly facing. And that is the problem of being disconnected from yourself.

“Your goal is not to battle with the mind, but to witness the mind.”– Swami Muktananda

Your mind/your heart/your innermost desires may have been calling for your attention for years, but not making any progress.

Sit down for a moment, listen to your own inner world, and this may have a greater impact on your feelings of disconnection than you could have guessed.

Eradicating loneliness is ultimately all about connection. And if you want to be able to connect to others, first you must connect with yourself.

Read 7 Informal Meditation Practices: How To Meditate Without Meditating

2. Extend to someone

One of the most common pieces of advice that I give whenever I do coaching sessions with married couples is “Give what you most want to receive.”

For example, if a couple is arguing because one of the parties involved doesn’t feel like their partner listens to them enough then their task would be to listen to their partner more.

It is the same thing in multiple areas of life. And it is definitely this way when it comes to eradicating loneliness.

If you wish you had more friends, be a good friend to others. If you wish you had friends who you felt deeply supported by, put effort into deeply supporting others.

If you wish more people reached out to you and asked you to hang out with them, reach out to others and ask them to hang out with you.

“My values, our values, aren’t about pointing fingers. They are about offering a helping hand.” – Kathleen Blanco

Be the thing you wish you had, and watch how quickly your life transforms.

A word of caution: our ego doesn’t want to do this at all. It will resist this message like the plague.

“But I want the energy… I already give so much to others (or whatever the story in your mind sounds like). I want to receive!”

Well, too bad. This is an insurmountable impasse that needs to be honored.

The way through this resistance is to give what you most want to get… and then get the feedback and the results you’ve been after.

Read 18 Ways to Stop Feeling Lonely

The world is full of lonely people who are afraid to make the first move. So make the first move.

3. Organize a weekly dinner for friends and acquaintances that you want to see more of

Remember how I said loneliness is an epidemic? And that a crazy-high percentage of people also feel lonely? Well then, it’s safe to assume that it isn’t just you. This isn’t a ‘you problem’… it’s a society-wide problem.

Which… drum roll, please… means that there are other people who are just as hungry for deep connection as you are, and they’re waiting for an opportunity to hang out with people just like you!

They’re so… so hungry.
But here’s the thing…

Everyone wants to connect, but few people want to initiate it.

But wait! That gives you a competitive advantage.

If everyone is coming home from work and just twiddling their thumbs (or scrolling their thumbs over their social media feed) then that must mean that they’re all waiting for something awesome to do.

“Good times and crazy friends make the best memories.”

Be that instigator of awesome by bringing together a weekly group of friends and acquaintances. Be the hub of the social circle.

If you currently have absolutely zero friends, then start there. Start by inviting two or three people from work who you kind of like or is interested in knowing more. Invite your cousin. Invite that person you met via an online dating app but it didn’t really go anywhere. Invite whoever… as long as you’re genuinely curious about them, and/or might want to invest in your relationship with them.

If you want to go low-cost, you can have the group be a book club. If you want to really ball out, you can host a full-on dinner where you provide all of the food, drinks, and Jenga blocks (because is it really a party without a rousing game of Jenga? – unrelated side note: Jenga, please sponsor my blog I love your game so much you basically raised me, k thanks).

Again, everyone is always looking for cool, unique experiences to have, but people are inherently lazy and don’t want to be the firestarter who makes it happen. Be that fire-starter. Organize the dinner. As a one-off thing, or ideally, as an ongoing, weekly event.

4. Volunteer

One of the most commonly prescribed (non-medicinal) pieces of advice that people suffering from chronic depression get is to volunteer.

When we’re struggling, drowning in our own minds, and painfully aware of our loneliness, we are simply too close to our own problems.

Rumination is one of the fastest ways to spiral into our own minds and experience pain. Do you think it’s a coincidence that extended solitary confinement is one of the highest forms of punishment in prison?

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” ― H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Find a way to get out into your community and volunteer in a way that utilizes a gift that you have to give.

You can ladle out soup at a soup kitchen. Or you could volunteer as a Big Brother to young men. Or give your time and attention to a rape relief shelter, animal shelter, or an old folks home. Whatever you do, make sure that it means something to you personally. And give it your all when you are there.

Don’t be surprised if you leave your volunteer shifts with a huge, beaming smile plastered across your beautiful face.

Read 10 Sneaky Signs of Loneliness Which Say You’re Lonelier Than You Think

5. Become a member of regular social clubs

People that struggle with feelings of loneliness would do well to find social containers that have built-in ongoing commitments to them. That way, you can say yes to one social event, and you might actually be saying yes to 52 social events per year (if it were a weekly group)!

Find a common interest group, hobbyist group, or women’s/men’s group in your area, and commit to it.

One of the most important things that I did for myself three years ago when I was doubling down on my social life was joining a weekly men’s group (that I have now attended, every week, for the last three years). Knowing that, no matter how hermit-y of a week I had, I would always have a social container of 15-20 men who knew me and cared about me gave my life a buoyancy that I previously didn’t feel.

“There’s some people who are just very dynamic about social life, and it can be some pretty crazy stuff, but you end up meeting people you like.” – Whit Stillman

No men’s groups or common interest groups in your area that appeal to you? Did you really look closely? Alright, I trust you. If you couldn’t find what you were looking for, then the onus is on you to create the group you would most want to be in. Do that, put up a few flyers advertising your group in your city, and your people will find you.

Remember, Gandhi once said, “Be the men’s group facilitator you want to see in the world.” Or something like that.

The End Of Loneliness As You Know It

Long story short…

Extend to others. Be the social hub that you wish existed in your city. Put energy into this area of your life and it will pay off sooner than you think.

Build up your fire so that it burns so brightly that people can’t help but find it.

Everything else will take care of itself.

If you are someone who is suffering from loneliness, it might feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, but they’re absolutely is. The good news is loneliness can be fought with, and you can definitely emerge as the winner. You are a healthy, successful, and whole human being and you deserve the best that life has to offer. Why let loneliness stop you from living your best life possible?

Dedicated to your success,
Jordan

If you want to know more about feeling lonely, check this video out:


Written by Jordan Gray
Originally appeared in Jordan Gray Consulting
Feeling lonely? 5 Effective Ways You Can Change That!
Ways To Immediately Feel Less Lonely pin

— Share —

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply



Up Next

6 Benefits Of Walking: Why It’s One Of The Best Things You Can Do For Your Mental Health

Brilliant Benefits Of Walking For Your Mental Health

Walking is so underrated when it comes to ensuring mental well-being. There are so many powerful benefits of walking that can do wonders for our mental and emotional health. This article is going to talk about some of the best mental health benefits of walking.

Boost your mood, energy level, confidence, and more simply by getting your steps in.

Taking a brisk walk is a great way to clear your head, calm your mood, and keep you healthy. It may seem simple, but walking can have a powerful effect on your mental health, and the good news is that it’s free.



Up Next

Waking Up Feeling Anxious In The Morning? How To Deal With Morning Anxiety

Morning Anxiety: How To Deal With Anxiety After Waking Up

Do you experience anxiety after waking up in the morning? A terrible anxiety in the morning you just don’t know how to deal with it? Well, you’ve come to the right place. This article is going to talk about morning anxiety and how to deal with morning anxiety, so that your mornings feel more relaxed, calm and peaceful.

If you commonly wake up in the morning filled with anxiety, you are not alone. Many people wake up with fight-or-flight sensations and feel baffled as to how they can already feel anxious when their feet haven’t even touched the floor yet.

A variety of factors can play a part in morning anxiety: excess stress,



Up Next

Plant Parenthood 101: How Caring For Plants Can Nourish Your Mental Health 

Ways Plant Parenthood Can Boost Your Mental Health

Have you ever wondered why so many people are embracing plant parenthood? It seems like everywhere you turn, there’s someone proudly displaying their thriving indoor jungle or posting pictures of their leafy companions on social media. 

But this trend is more than just a passing fad; it’s a movement that promotes not only the well-being of plants but also the mental health of humans. 

Let us explore the concept of plant parenthood, why caring for plants is important for both plants and humans, and learn how do plants help mental health.

What is Plant Parenthood?

Plant parenthood is the act of nurturing and caring for houseplants as if they were our o



Up Next

7 Emotions You May Feel When You Decide To Divorce

When You Decide To Divorce: Unexpected Emotions You Feel

Making the decision to divorce is one of the hardest decisions to make. When you decide to divorce your spouse, you may feel a ton of emotions that you did not expect at all. This article is going to talk about those feelings and emotions so that if ever you make the decision to divorce, you know what to expect.

KEY POINTS

The decision to divorce is a personal and deeply emotional experience.

There is a common misperception that the person who decides to divorce doesn’t suffer from the decision.

The emotional journey is unique to each individual, and there are no right or wrong ways to feel.



Up Next

30+ Truths About Diet Culture, Eating Disorders, And The Process of Healing

Honest Truths About Diet Culture And Eating Disorders

Diet culture impacts so many people all over the world, and unfortunately, much of it’s impact is negative and harmful. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, then you’ve come to the right place. These truths about diet culture will help you understand it’s repercussions, and motivate you to live your life in a much healthier way.

If you are struggling with food or an eating disorder, these helpful points may offer you the nudge you need to change your relationship with food.

Related: Diving into Diet Culture Definition: 5 Startli



Up Next

Binge Eating Or Comfort Eating? 5 Ways For Comfort Eating To Stay Comfortable

Binge Eating Or Comfort Eating? Solutions To Curb Bingeing

Have you ever demolished an entire pint of ice cream after having a horrendously bad day? Was this binge eating or comfort eating? This article is going to discuss about both, talk about the differences between the two, and how you can stop yourself from binge eating often.

I have two distinct memories that involve eating. One horrified me, the other brought a sense of being understood.

Like most others living in a dorm, I had a small fridge in my little room in college. I was beginning to develop anorexia and was eating less and less, while receiving all kinds of accolades for becoming thin – which of course, egged on my disorder.



Up Next

13 Ways To Quiet A Worried Mind

Ways To Quiet A Worried Mind

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s easy for our minds to be overloaded with worrisome thoughts. So, how to deal with anxious thoughts? Here are 13 effective ways to quiet a worried mind, offering you the serenity and clarity you need to navigate life’s challenges with ease.

Our minds are basically recorders that play (and replay) their soundtracks all day long, sometimes all night long too. Some people have recordings that tend to be more pleasant and present. Some people’s thinking patterns lean towards the optimistic or realistic side.

Others, not so much. Many people are plagued with worrisome thoughts that lead them to feel chronically stressed, anxious, dep