While loneliness is part of being alone, it doesn’t necessarily and entirely mean that way. Having the capability of being alone means that you’re comfortable in your own company, and you don’t need anyone else to complete you, which is a sense of strength and self-respect.
Being satisfied on your own allows you to explore more of yourself limitlessly with other people holding you back. You get to discover more hobbies and passions, try new things, acquire new knowledge, and find new ways of self-expression. Having such alone time can give you more acceptance, confidence, and emotional resilience, and by the time you get to bond with other people, you will no longer have any problems with yourself.
Then again, when you’re alone for a while, there can be times when you feel lonely and in need of comfort from other people. Being isolated can break your social intelligence little by little. Eventually, this may worsen that even your home will become a place you don’t like being present.
Here are some ways to avoid the feeling of loneliness and depression due to prolonged self-isolation. At the same, these pieces of advice will help boost your mental health.
Keeping in Touch With Your Loved Ones
Depending on your closeness, you don’t have to check in with everyone every single day. That could lead to neediness and dependence. While there’s nothing wrong with talking to a loved one 20 minutes a day, any more than that can possibly make you bore each other out. Keeping in touch with them is a way to know how they’re doing and give you the satisfaction that they’re doing fine.
Sharing vulnerability with a close friend is also an effective way to get through loneliness and anxiety. A person who really knows you and cares about you can ensure that everything’s just in your head whenever you feel overwhelmed and overly anxious.
Practicing a Healthy Lifestyle
You know the drill: regular exercise and regular food intake. You don’t even have to build extra muscles or have a ketogenic diet. Regular eating is even healthier than any other special diet or fasting if you’re completely healthy. Special diets and intermittent fasting are supposedly just for those who have long-term health problems, like diabetes and obesity. Those who skip meals end up craving more and eating more, leading to overeating.
Remember that you will be okay as long as everything you take in and out of your body is in moderation. Eating more or less will not help you. There’s even such thing as over-exercising, which can be bad for your overall health.
Maintaining a Clean and Organized Home
No matter how busy you are, there’s no good reason to forget home cleanliness. Your physical and mental health can also depend on your home’s cleanliness. If you usually have a lot on your plate, create a cleaning schedule so you can get it as regularly as possible. Clean your house at least once a week or every other week. As for your laundry, it’s recommended to do it once a week to save water and energy. Disinfecting your kitchen and bathroom is also highly important because those places have the dirtiest spots in the house.
Organizing your place and keeping it clutter-free makes you feel like you’re in control of your surroundings and boosts your mood, having a sense of calmness. Get rid of things you have no use for anymore from time to time. Keep the items you often use in an easy-to-reach area, so you know when to find them when you need them, such as your keys, TV remote control, and kitchen utensils.
Discovering New Hobbies
Having new hobbies is one effective way to keep yourself busy and mentally healthy. You can learn new recipes, do a little gardening, practice a new exercise routine, or find new ways to express yourself or increase your income. If you want more people involved, you can join classes. Tai chi and qigong video classes can help you relieve anxiety and improve concentration. Or, you can attend yoga classes or learn ways to meditate and improve your sleep.
Preparing for the Unexpected
Whether big or small surprises, being ready for them can help keep your mind at ease. Whether it’s about home repairs or accidents, save emergency contact information and hire home maintenance professionals to save time and prevent yourself from being anxious.
While being alone is a healthy way of living, it can sometimes be draining and lonely, especially if you’re far away from your loved ones or have just moved into a different city. These reminders effectively keep your overall health in place and make you happy.
