how to overcome loneliness

How to Overcome Loneliness: Find a Hobby

Loneliness is an unpleasant emotion that we usually feel due to social isolation or a lack of communication with other people. And, while nearly everyone feels lonely at some point in their lives, prolonged or intense feelings of loneliness can have a negative impact on both our mental and physical health.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to pull yourself out of a lonely “slump” without some type of assistance. This help can come from almost anyone… be it a friend, family member or professional. Whatever you do, try not to panic because things may just get worse.

If you’re looking for a solution, here are some steps you can take to stop feeling lonely and start feeling better right away. It might be simpler to accomplish than you think.

Let us look at some quotes on loneliness.

Quotes on Lonelinesshow to overcome loneliness


“Everybody has something that chews them up and, for me, that thing was always loneliness. The cinema has the power to make you not feel lonely, even when you are.”

Tom Hanks


“Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone.”

Paul Tillich


“There’s a difference between solitude and loneliness. I can understand the concept of being a monk for a while.”

Tom Hanks


“When I decided to be a singer, my mother warned me I’d be alone a lot. Basically we all are. Loneliness comes with life”.

Whitney Houston


“At the innermost core of all loneliness is a deep and powerful yearning for union with one’s lost self.”

Brendan Behan


“Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for”.

Dag Hammarskjold


“There were times when I had great times with my brothers, pillow fights and things, but I was, used to always cry from loneliness.”

Michael Jackson


“Celebrities can suffer a horrible loneliness even though they have millions of fans. I started doing meditations because I realized that a spiritual path was necessary”.

Donovan


“What makes loneliness an anguish is not that I have no one to share my burden, but this: I have only my own burden to bear”.

Dag Hammarskjold


“Loneliness is, like, when you wish someone else was there, and solitude is when you enjoy being alone. I don’t always wanna be alone, but I definitely like pockets of solitude to recharge and come back to myself. I think that’s so important for everyone”.

Jonathan Van Ness


“People should be conscious of the large contribution made by anything that gets people together easily in the reduction of loneliness and emotional well-being”.

Daniel Kahneman


“A woman who is willing to be herself and pursue her own potential runs not so much the risk of loneliness, as the challenge of exposure to more interesting men – and people in general.”

Lorraine Hansberry


“There’s an incredible amount of loneliness that comes with child stardom because you’re isolated from your society”.

Cole Sprouse


“The main thing that triggered my depression was my isolation that was imposed on me by becoming the wife of the prime minister, and leaving my home, my family. I was young, very young, and very naive and very hopeful and enthusiastic about my wonderful new life, but it was the loneliness and the lack of being able to properly relate to people”.

Margaret Trudeau


How to Overcome Loneliness

Find a Hobby

When you have nothing but free time on your hands, it’s easy to allow your mind to wander and stir up feelings of loneliness or negativity. If you find yourself in this position often, why not consider taking up a hobby? Honestly, there are so many interesting things to choose from. Chances are it won’t be difficult to find something that you can be passionate about – something enjoyable you can turn to whenever you have time to spare.

Walking is a great hobby when it comes to combating loneliness. It allows you to get in a good workout and explore your community at the same time. Better yet, it’s free. Make sure to say hello to the people you meet. You never know where the conversation will lead.

Meet New People

It’s difficult for some people to “put themselves out there” and meet new people, especially if they happen to be on the shy side. Make it your mission to meet new people as frequently as possible. Strike up a conversation with people around you at the store, gym, or even on the street. As the saying goes, “you can never have too many friends!”

Chat with Old Friendshow to overcome loneliness

A long chat with old friends does wonders to combat loneliness. Get in touch with someone you’ve been friends with for a while. Take a few minutes to fill them in on how you’ve been. It may seem daunting to get back in touch with someone you haven’t talked to for some time. But, if you reach out to them, your friendship will likely pick up right where it left off.

Take Time to Reorganize

While cleaning and reorganizing your house may not sound fun at first, it will give you something to stay focused on. Having a clean house will also make you feel better about having people over, and therefore encourage you to interact with people on a more frequent basis.

Consider a Pet

Pets are wonderful companions. However, it’s important to think very carefully about whether or not you want the responsibility of a pet before you decide to care for one. Unfortunately, if you don’t you may end up regretting the decision later, which wouldn’t be good for you or the animal.

Stay Positive

Poor self-image and negative thoughts about yourself can make feelings of loneliness worse and keep you from seeking out contact with others. Always try to avoid having self-depreciating thoughts by being as positive as you can be.

Loneliness can be a difficult feeling to deal with. If you still feel like you need help after taking these steps, you may want to reach out to your support network – whether it’s friends, family, or even co-workers.

If that’s not an option, consider reaching out to professional help, which is oftentimes the most efficient way to get your loneliness in check.

Remember that nothing can seperate us from the love of God. When you feel that you are alone, know that you are not alone. Seek for help if you must to get your life back.

Hope you have benefited something from this article. Kindly share with a friend, it might be of help and leave a comment below.

Cheers and bye.

Joseph,

joseph@ideasforboom.com

Comments

14 responses to “How to Overcome Loneliness: Find a Hobby”

  1. Janice Avatar
    Janice

    Wow – a wise accountant!!!  Very interesting article on how to overcome loneliness. I imagine many people these days are experiencing that feeling since we are all locked up at home.  Your quotes were very powerful as well as your suggestions.  I think just getting out of yourself – with a hobby, a walk, a pet or just helping someone else – are all ways to get around being lonely.  It seems that everyone is subject to those feelings at some time, but the important thing is to not get bogged down in it or immersing yourself in negative thoughts.  I also think that sometimes people get bored and think that they are lonely. In reality, keeping busy, keeps you away from being lonely.  One of my favorite things to do to keep busy is gardening. I find that watching nature as it grows, blooms, changes, keeps me so busy that I don’t have time to be lonely. Being so close to nature and really interacting with everything in the world helps me to understand I am part of something much bigger and not really alone at all.

    1. Joseph Avatar
      Joseph

      Thanks Janice. It is good to discover our best passion that can keep us busy and keep us away from loneliness especially during this global lockdown. Gardening is a very positive way to keep busy and watching the blooms is a way to recognize the great magic of nature.I appreciate your kind compliment. Cheers.

  2. Enrique Avatar
    Enrique

    Hi, Joseph,

    Loneliness and solitude are not the same thing. Many people confuse them, but they’re not synonymous. You can be surrounded by lots of people but still feel lonely.

    It’s not easy to overcome loneliness. I talk from experience. It’s challenging, but not impossible. 

    We have to find something that helps us distract our minds. For some it may be reading; for others, sports; for some others, photography, you get the idea. 

    However, if you feel nothing fills that void, I think we have to seek professional help. 

    Thank you for sharing.

    1. Joseph Avatar
      Joseph

      Hi Enrique, it is true that loneliness and solitude are two different things. The quote from Jonathan Van Ness explained it so well.

      “Loneliness is, like, when you wish someone else was there, and solitude is when you enjoy being alone. I don’t always wanna be alone, but I definitely like pockets of solitude to recharge and come back to myself. I think that’s so important for everyone”.

      It is good to seek for help when loneliness becomes persistent.

      Thanks for your contribution.

  3. Aly Avatar
    Aly

    Having a hobby is a great way to pass the time in quarantine and better yourself at the same time. There is no shortage of interesting subjects out there, and the internet makes it easier than ever to connect with like-minded hobbyists to share information and resources.

    Having two pets, I’m definitely an advocate for finding a furry friend. It’s not right for everyone, but it’s a very rewarding experience!

    1. Joseph Avatar
      Joseph

      Thanks Aly. When it is difficult to feel the companionship of others, a hobby can help. It is also true that through the new hobby, new friendship can develop and the mind will be occupied.

      Thanks for visiting.

  4. Sheddy Ovb Avatar
    Sheddy Ovb

    Hello Dear,  big thanks to you for sharing this beautiful article on how to overcome loneliness. It’s one challenge that so many go through and I so much believe this article will help. Anyways nice quotes you’ve got there.

    This article is exactly what my brother will need, he’s actually an introvert and always feels lonely, I believe these tips will really help him overcome loneliness. I will recommend this to him.

    1. Joseph Avatar
      Joseph

      Thanks Sheddy. Please share the article with him and others, I know it will help. Always come around to the site to get some more inspirations. I am very grateful. Cheers

  5. Skuchmane Avatar
    Skuchmane

    Helooo dear, thanks for sharing these valuable content with us, I was actually doing some research online when I saw your post on how to overcome loneliness, wow what a great article you have there, I believe with these post I have been enlightened more, thanks for the info, I’ll surely do some recommendations

    1. Joseph Avatar
      Joseph

      Hi Skuchmane, thanks for your great encouragement. Please share with your friends, it might help someone. Cheers.

  6. evans Avatar
    evans

    Splendid article on how to overcome loneliness, Being lonely can trigger a lot of thoughts on ones mind and could lead to one making decisions he wouldn’t love at the end… There is a saying that a lonely mind is the devil’s workshop..so to avoid being lonely get to use these tips and you will overcome it…

    1. Joseph Avatar
      Joseph

      Thanks evans. Lonely mind is very dangerous and that is why it is good to keep the mind occupied with activities that we find interesting. I appreciate your contribution.

  7. Harrison Avatar
    Harrison

    “Make sure to say hello to the people you meet. You never know where the conversation will lead”
    As simple as it sounds, it says a lots why humans exist in the first place.
    We are made for each other. No one succeeds in an isolation. A little chat with a fellow human can mean a lot. Let us try being nice to people and reaching out to them in both sadness and joy. We are reason that they are there.

    Thanks, Uncle Joseph.

    1. Joseph Avatar

      Thanks Harrison for leaving a comment. It is so true that as humans we all need each other for a full life. Communication and conversation is one great ability and advantage we have as human beings. I appreciate. Cheers.

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