Feeling lonely? You’re not alone.
Loneliness doesn’t discriminate. You can have heaps of friends and still feel pangs of loneliness.
If you’re feeling lonely, you can help overcome it with some of these helpful tips recommended by Swinburne’s Michelle Lim.
Loneliness can also be triggered by real-life events such as moving away from home, starting a new job and other big changes. It can also negatively affect your mental health, but the good news is that it doesn’t last forever.
Recognise your loneliness
If you’re feeling a bit off, ask yourself if it may be loneliness you’re feeling. Once you recognise your loneliness, it is important to understand that it’s a signal to connect with others. Work towards reducing this loneliness by setting with realistic goals that can make things better. For example, perhaps sending a text message to a friend to reconnect or asking a friend out for a coffee.
Think differently about your relationships
Just because a friend hasn’t texted you back, it doesn’t mean they are ignoring you. Chances are you have no evidence for that to be the case unless you ask them directly. Avoid making negative assumptions about relationships. Consider thinking about the positive people in your life.
Join a club or a society
Swinburne is filled with like-minded individuals, yet we know
it can be hard to connect and find these people. Consider joining a club or a
society to meet people with similar interests. Remember, everyone else here wants
to meet new people too. You’re not the only one looking for new connections.
Be interested and curious
People are drawn to people who appear positive and interested. Make eye contact, smile and nod – you may be surprised to see a change in how people interact with you. Asking a few ‘open’ questions about someone’s hobbies and interests helps a conversation flow. Questions with a yes or no answer, are not as helpful.
Make an effort to reach out
Be flexible and open to trying new activities. If you’re having a hard time connecting with new people, try re-connecting with old friends. There’s a reason you used to hang out after all. Making the time to connect with people face to face is extremely important.
If those tips aren’t helping you feel more connected, then a therapist or counsellor might. Check in with your GP to organise professional help if you feel the need. It may seem like a big step, but it’s not. Letting your mental health slide is a much bigger deal than making an appointment with a GP.
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