Tackling Loneliness in the COVID-19 World

Tackling loneliness in the COVID-19 world is not at all the same as tackling it in so-called normal times. We’re living through unprecedented times right now. Just a few months ago, very few of us could have predicted just much how life would change in March and April. Individuals around the world are following strict social distancing guidelines, and for those who are at an elevated risk are isolating themselves from the outside world.

Social distancing has been shown to reduce the spread of the virus and can doing so should help save lives. It is known that the virus is a particular threat to the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions. Even healthy individuals over seventy are concerned about their risk and are following the isolation rules very carefully. The downside of this, however, is that isolation quickly leads to feelings of loneliness, which is often followed by sadness and depression.

TIPS FOR TACKLING LONELINESS DURING COVID-19 ISOLATION

Focus On Yourself

First things first. It’s a good idea to focus on yourself and your overall health and wellbeing. As Prosperity Alaska suggests, when we talk about aging, too much emphasis is often placed on looking young. Instead, the focus should be on embracing the feelings associated with youth. What we really want as aging women is to stay as vibrant, happy, and enjoyably occupied as possible.

To attain this goal, spend a few minutes each day being mindful.  To do this, sit down in a comfortable relaxed position. Put down your phone, computer, and anything else you are doing. Sit quietly for a few moments and take several slow, deep breaths. When you feel a bit more relaxed, look around you and notice every detail of the room you are in. Feel your feet grounded on the floor and your arms on the chair.

Then, ask yourself, “what do I  need to feel happy today?”. Consider deeply what would bring you more feelings of contentment and comfort? Once you have an answer, take a step to reach this happiness goal.

Keep In Touch

We may not be able to head out and see friends and family face to face, but this doesn’t mean we can’t keep in touch with them. We’re lucky to be living in an age where technology reigns supreme and we have more means than every before of staying in touch. So, commit to making a few phone calls each day. Hearing familiar voices can be comforting and it helps keep us in the loop of people’s day to day lives. If you’re willing to learn and become a bit more tech savvy, try out a new tool such as texting, using social media or having video calls, where can actually see your friends and family as you talk!

Keep Up Hobbies or Learn Something New

Keeping our minds occupied can be really good for us. It helps us set aside worry and anxiety and exercises our brains.  So, keep up with your hobbies, or if you don’t have one, try something new. There are so many options to consider.

COOKING:  Baking is always a great way to lift our spirits. Not only is it fun, but there’s something yummy to eat at the end of the process. Branch out and try baking bread if you haven’t done so before. There are endless recipes and videos available online to help you get started. 

GARDENING:  If you have a garden, dabble in gardening. Pull up a few weeds, clean your gardens and prepare them for planting. Divide up perennials and trim back shrubs. Start a new garden if you don’t have one or spend time each day caring for your indoor plants. Most gardening needs can be purchased online and being outdoors, especially in the spring months, is good for us on every level. 

READING: Pick up the book you’ve been meaning to read, or visit your local library website and see what they have available for your Kindle. See what Amazon offers in their free reading selection of books. Reading is a great diversion during stressful times and just like learning a new hobby, it’s good exercise for our aging brain. 

We are all bound to feel lonely at some point or another during these times. But there are steps we can take for tackling loneliness in the COVID-19 world we live in. Hopefully, the above suggestions will get you started. 

What are you doing to tackle loneliness in the COVID-19 world? Maybe your fix will spark another reader’s imagination!

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