Love Yourself: 6 tips for overcoming loneliness

                                          

Loneliness can sometimes be really overwhelming, and nobody wants to travel down that road.

Humans are social animals - we crave connection and companionship because it's natural and important.

If you're going through a loneliness phase, here are 6 tips to help you deal with it:

1. Have a journal: Writing is a very powerful tool. It can help you identify many different types of feelings, including loneliness. If you're feeling lonely, buy a personal journal (if you don't have one already) and start writing. Get your emotions out on paper and start asking yourself how you can create a feeling of connection in your life. Focus on the important aspect.
2. Cook: Cooking a good meal can be a meditative experience. It’s a great opportunity to mull over thoughts and lose yourself in a recipe. Cooking a real meal is also a perfect excuse to find a dinner date. Making dinner for a friend or loved on is the perfect way to create a meaningful connection. Also, eating with a friend is more fun. You’re more likely to eat slower and less. Do you cook real meals regularly? If not, make that part of your routine.
   
3. Take photographs: Taking photos is a way to notice the details of life. Taking pictures randomly while you're a taking a walk is a nice way to connect with your environment. The world is alive with beauty and has so much to offer. You just need to slow down long enough to notice. If you own a camera, take it everywhere and start taking photos. If you don't own a camera try sketching in your journal.
4. Become a volunteer: There are many ways you can connect with your community, from volunteering to attending city meetings, and helping the needy. What are you doing in your community to make the world a better place? Do you sit on committees, volunteer at local organizations or mentor youth?
5. Read books: Go to a library in your neighbourhood and pick up a good book. Reading is a great way to escape into another world or glean creative ideas for your latest project. It's a simple way to educate yourself, be inspired and a healthy way to use your time. If you don't have a library card, go get one and start reading. Make a personal goal to read a book a week. If reading a book a week seems too overwhelming, try reading one book per month.
6. Do nothing: In our world today, being "busy" is a sure sign of success. This is not exactly true. Why are we all in such a hurry? Do we really create beautiful art if we we’re rushing from place to place? And if everyone is so busy, how do we create meaningful connections with others? Slow down, take your time and start to take your time. Rushing from place to place can be counterproductive. Being busy can sometimes erode our sense of purpose causing us to feel undervalued and lonely. Set aside 10 minutes a day for meditation. If you have over-committed yourself to meetings or projects, consider re-prioritizing what's important to you.