5 Top Tips For Dealing With Loneliness!

5 top tips for dealing with loneliness

5 top tips for dealing with loneliness

Hello lovelies, so today’s post is my 5 top tips for dealing with loneliness, simply because we all experience loneliness at one point or another, some of us more than others. I have a lot of friends living in London who are from all different countries around the world, and the one thing they all talk about is dealing with some kind of loneliness. Being far from loved ones, in a big city can bring up some feelings of loneliness, this cold weather doesn’t actually help much either. So here are some tips that have helped pull me out from that dreaded dark cloud.

1. Get out and connect with nature

I know its cold and grey out, sometimes raining too so you’re probably thinking..forget that! Seriously though, there is nothing more therapeutic than taking a walk, breathing in the fresh air and just letting your thoughts float away with the wind. Scientists have actually proven that walking and connecting with nature can relieve all kinds of things like anxiety, stress and depression.I personally find that it helps stop me from being in my head too much and reminds me of how connected everything is. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and get your walk on!

5 top tips for dealing with loneliness

2. Reach out to friends and family.

We have been conditioned to be ‘strong’ individuals and that showing vulnerability is a sign of weakness. I gotta tell you, that is a load of bullshit (excuse my language) and actually something that really grinds my gears. Half the time we suffer in silence whilst putting on this mask to the world and pretending that everything is ok, when deep down our souls are crying out for help.

I struggled a lot this year with chronic health problems, anxiety and depression that I personally don’t think I would’ve coped without my friends. This made me feel so lonely and isolated at times but quickly realised that was only because my friends and family had no idea how I was feeling. Once I reached out, they were quick to come over or check on me which made a huge difference.

Call a friend, talk to someone, don’t keep everything bottled up because that will only make things worse. My biggest life lesson so far, has been learning that its ok not to be ok, and asking for help is not a weakness.

3. Volunteer your time to a worthwhile cause.

Let me paint a picture for you….7 years ago, I was fresh out of a long term relationship, facing life as a single mother and really sinking swiftly into depression. It was christmas time, so automatically it made everything 10x worse as I was now suddenly single and looking at facing my first xmas with a whole lot of heartbreak, regret and stacks of loneliness.

I was dealing with feelings of shame, failure at the end of that relationship so I really wasn’t about to reach out to any of my friends/family to talk about what I was going through. In my mind, they were not going to understand and I couldn’t face all the questions and judgement. So after many hours wasting time online I stumbled upon the Crisis homeless charity website. I found myself volunteering for their crisis at christmas program that helps get homeless people off the streets and tries to at least make their xmas a safe one, with food, shelter and help for moving forwards. This was all new to me but I volunteered that year and it was THE best thing I ever did.

Doing something to help other people who have so much less than we do, getting out of my own head was very humbling to say the least. It dawned once quickly how truly blessed I was despite the temporary setbacks and heartbreak. There was so much love and connection in that centre, I really got to appreciate those little things that we all take for granted. I also met some AMAZING people both volunteers and visitors who I now proudly call friends, and I’ve been going back every year ever since.

There are so many opportunities to volunteer, wether its just for a couple of hours, a day, or long term. Get online, I like the DO-IT website that connect you with volunteering opportunities in your area. Do something to help others and you will be inadvertently helping yourself as well in the process.

4. Get Social!

Do yourself a favour and get out of the house. Take up a new hobby, go and meet some likeminded people who share the same interests as you. I recently joined a really cool Meetup group that organises hiking day trips out of London, and I totally love it. I actually love that website as well because you can actually type in your interests and find other people who are into the same stuff as you.

You can find your tribe on there and expand your social circle, which always helps;-). These days there’s a lot of opportunities to do exactly that, for example if you’re into fitness or are a runner, did you know that Nike regularly does some free fitness classes or run clubs, that you just sign up for and simply turn up to? I think you get my drift, all thats left for you to do is to be willing to venture out of your comfort zone a little bit. Its a little scary at first, but I can tell you right now that it is so worth it.

5. Dance like nobody is watching!!!!

dance like no one is watching

Last but not least, this one is my personal favourite. Put on some music, turn it up really loud and dance like nobody is watching. This may sound super silly, but I promise you it works, don’t believe me? There’s actual studies that prove that there are numerous benefits to dancing. It’ll make you feel happy an produce endorphins that obviously contribute to that happiness.

This is an absolute favourite one of mine. I usually recruit my little one to join me, we have a total blast every time. Try it and let me know what you think, there’s nothing like it.

*Bonus Tips*Meditation and Herbal Remedies

This may sound a bit too ‘woo woo’ for some of you but its definitely worth exploring. Developing some kind of meditation practice helps us to stay grounded and release some negative thought patterns. It can literally be 5 minutes a day, but if you are consistent you will feel a difference. Meditation (when I manage to do it consistently) has really helped feel more connected and in charge of my thoughts. To me, practising meditation is an act of self love. It is a gift I am willing to give to myself for peace of mind. It might help you too.

There are other methods of self care that can prove useful too. For example, one of my friends who lives with depression and anxiety uses cannabis as a way to manage her mental health. As this blog post about cannabis 2.0 explains, attitudes towards marijuana are changing. Products that contain marijuana are widely used for their mood-boosting properties. If you are contemplating using cannabis as part of your self-care routine, you should always do your research first. For more information relating to a strain of cannabis that can be used to boost your mood, head to cheapweed.ca to Read More. Cannabis can be enjoyed in many unique ways. It can be smoked in a rolled cigarette, or by using the biggest bong for sale. Additionally, nowadays, there is an incredible range of different products infused with cannabis that can be used as part of your mental health toolkit. For example, some people like to use butane oils that come in a selection of different flavors like honey. You can find honey oil for sale in canada on the Bud Express Now website.

There you have it beautiful people my personal 5 top tips for dealing with loneliness. Of course with a bonus thrown in for good measure. I really want to know what YOU do when you’re feeling lonely, sad and anxious. Pop me a comment below, I can’t wait to read it.

As always, don’t forget to live on YOUR terms and love the life you’re living!

Amanda xoxo

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Amanda Millie
Amanda Millie

I am addicted to living up to the best version of me i possibly can. Perfectly imperfect and biohacking my way to long healthier and longer so I can be a present mama for my kids and myself.

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30 Comments

  1. December 30, 2017 / 11:04 am

    These are such great tips. I find that going out on a walk always improves my mood 🙂

  2. Zanele
    December 30, 2017 / 9:15 pm

    Excellent post and so so timely! Seasonal Affective Disorder is very real this time of year with these gray skies and insanely low temperatures thanks for sharing these awesome tips! Will start from the bottom and work my way up, so time to dance ?? lol 🙂 Xxx

  3. December 31, 2017 / 8:26 am

    Some great tips here, and so important at this time of year when loneliness affects so many people.

  4. December 31, 2017 / 3:39 pm

    Some great tips here. Loneliness is something I have struggled with this year for a number of reasons, it is a horrible feeling.
    Rebecca Smith recently posted…My 2017 Goals | A RecapMy Profile

  5. December 31, 2017 / 7:14 pm

    While I don’t feel lonely,I have been reclusive for a quite a while now. I do interact with folks but I also find myself not leaving my for days on end especially during the holidays.

  6. December 31, 2017 / 7:27 pm

    When I am feeling lonely I always put on the radio and have a sing song! (and a little dance in the kitchen). I am a person who actually loves alone time. It gives me time to think. I used to be that person at school that could be with a group of people but would feel alone, I always found it hard to fit in. Now I am older I prefer my own company

    A lovely thoughful post xx
    Rachel Bustin recently posted…Word of the Week 23/01/2016My Profile

  7. December 31, 2017 / 8:25 pm

    You’re touched on a very important topic which most people dont want to admit to especially if they are feeling lonely. We need people around us, friends and family to make everyday count. Thx for sharing your post.
    Yeah Lifestyle recently posted…Enjoy VBites Vegan VegiDeli Snacks this New Year*My Profile

  8. December 31, 2017 / 9:01 pm

    Some good ideas here to help with the feeling of loneliness. Volunteering and making new friends has to be the winner here in my opinion, but they all are good. I think my dancing may scare everyone away though haha

  9. Vicky
    December 31, 2017 / 9:54 pm

    Amazing tips here. I find it hits me worse when I’m surrounded by people but still feel lonely so taking some time out then works well for me.

  10. January 1, 2018 / 10:45 am

    Great post. I totally agree that being out in nature can make you feel so much happier. I went for a walk this morning and lots of people smiled and said hello – it’s just so nice.

  11. January 1, 2018 / 1:42 pm

    I struggled a lot with loneliness a few years ago as my depression was so bad, I couldn’t even leave the house for days at a time. My husband was working all the time and there were weeks where he was working away. I live 100 miles away from my family so it was hard to not have anybody around. I think you’ve giving some very helpful tips to combat loneliness and I would highly recommend walking and being outdoors
    kirsty recently posted…2018 Goals : Life & BlogMy Profile

  12. Hannah
    January 1, 2018 / 4:42 pm

    Some great tips here. This time of year can definitely bring out loneliness

  13. January 1, 2018 / 4:53 pm

    Great tips, despite having four children and a husband, I often feel quite lonely. I think sometimes loneliness is a state of mind, for me I know my mental health affects that.

  14. January 1, 2018 / 7:47 pm

    I love this post there are some great tips! I am trying out some new hobbies this year in a bid to try and meet some new people too!

  15. Meg
    January 2, 2018 / 12:56 pm

    Once again a very inspiring post! Thank you for the ray of sunshine-I’m gonna put some prince on and get funky today ??

  16. January 2, 2018 / 3:37 pm

    These are great tips Amanda. May I add another? Reduce the amount of time spent on social media. It’s so easy to get sucked into fake online friendships and to believe the perfect lives you see on Instagram are real – when they’re absolutely not. As bloggers we should know this but it’s very easy to forget.
    Linda recently posted…5 New Year Skincare Resolutions For Glowing Skin In 2018My Profile

    • Amanda
      Author
      January 11, 2018 / 1:20 pm

      Social media is a big one Linda, thank you for sharing. I totally agree with you on this one, and you’re right that a to of it is not real.

  17. January 3, 2018 / 1:06 am

    Some great tips! Volunteering is a great way to meet people, I agree, and I talk to family a lot – they are very much my friends!

    • Amanda
      Author
      January 11, 2018 / 1:18 pm

      Family is definitely is a big support system for a lot of us. It’s good to have them to lean on x

    • Amanda
      Author
      January 11, 2018 / 1:17 pm

      Walking is a big one for me too Kara, it really helps to connect to nature x

    • Amanda
      Author
      January 11, 2018 / 1:16 pm

      Friends and family can be so helpful at times like these. They help us realise that we’re not as alone as we think we are. x

  18. January 5, 2018 / 12:53 am

    Sometimes I definitely feel a sense of loneliness which makes me feel guilty. We live in a world that constantly tells us to be happy. My favourite thing is to dance, especially with others who love dancing too! Great article Mandy xx

    • Amanda
      Author
      January 11, 2018 / 1:16 pm

      I think you and I need to have a little boogie on the town soon young lady:-)

  19. March 3, 2018 / 2:02 am

    This is really a great guide on how to handle loneliness. I try to incorporate some self care practices when possible, maybe take a epsom salt bath and try to embrace the loneliness if possible. And of course, always dance like no one’s watching 😉

    • Amanda
      Author
      March 6, 2018 / 10:07 pm

      Embracing the loneliness is a big one, I totally agree. Thank you for sharing.

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