Main Image via mentalhealth.org.uk

Many of us are unsure on how to cope with loneliness during the ongoing pandemic. 

You could be self-isolating because you've caught the infection or might just be living alone away from your family and friends. You may find yourself unprepared for the feelings of loneliness that will likely follow. 

Here are a few tips that we have gathered to help you cope with loneliness! 

Be more social and check in regularly

Create a regular routine of checking in with others. Being more sociable can be good a thing as it can make it easier to reach out at the times you feel lonely.

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Keep a Schedule

Even if you are isolated at home, try to keep to a regular schedule as much as possible. While the loneliness can feel like it will never end, try to make these days feel as "normal" as possible to help you get through. 

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Share your feelings 

Being able to share your feelings with others can help with loneliness, and hearing a familiar voice or seeing a friendly face will help to makes us feel less isolated.

Telling someone you trust that you're feeling lonely can also help, and it may be easier to do this when you have had some time to chat and relax together first.

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Stay Active

While it's easy to focus exclusively on how to manage your mental health and loneliness directly during a crisis, we sometimes forget that our physical and mental health are delicately intertwined. 

If you spend weeks of isolation not getting any exercise, this will have a detrimental effect on your ability to cope mentally. 

Simple indoor workouts can come a long way. Yoga is a reliable option for effective indoor workouts. 

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Do Something Meaningful

Another contributor to feelings of loneliness can be a loss of sense of meaning. If you find that you feel not just bored, but also as though you are losing your sense of self, then a loss of meaning might be affecting you.

Looking for new hobbies or reigniting your passion for long lost hobbies could come a long way in giving you a sense of meaning. 

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If you’re feeling low, remember there’s always a loved one waiting to hear you out. 

Or if you need confidentiality, approach a helpline! You can reach Befrienders at 03-79568145 or the Lifeline Association of Malaysia at 03-92850039.

Info via mentalhealth.org.uk

By Thineshkan