Sunday, December 13, 2015

LONELINESS CAN KILL; HERE ARE 7 TIPS TO BEAT IT

LONELINESS CAN KILL; HERE ARE 7 TIPS TO BEAT IT
by Orca Guest Contributor

7 Tips on How to beat Loneliness

1. Exercise

Get out of the house.  Go to a gym. Go for a walk. Ride a bike.  The Mayo Clinic reports that even a small amount of exercise can lower your blood pressure which is a primary negative effect of loneliness.  In addition, you have the opportunity to meet new people and experience new things.  So get out of your chair, put on your shoes and kick loneliness in the face.

2. Work on your Positive Attitude

A positive attitude can make everything better. In a large meta analysis of loneliness John T. Cacioppo of University of Chicago and colleagues found that one of the best ways to fight loneliness is to train people for the social skills they need to view the world in a more positive light.  There are many articles and books available online which detail ways to improve your attitude.

3. Come together

Set up a lunch date with a coworker.  Invite your family over to your house for Sunday dinner.  If you live far from your family, invite your neighbors over instead.

4. Reach out

Volunteer at a local homeless shelter or donate your professional skills to a non-profit in need. Become a big brother or sister. Rent out a spare room for friendly travelers on Airbnb.

5. Ask a Friend for Advice

Ask a trusted friend to help you know if you are doing things that drive away others.  Sometimes we may not realize when we offend or push others away.  A friend can point out these sorts of things and help you overcome them.

6. Join a group

Go to church, volunteer at a nonprofit, find a group that loves what you love on Meetup.  Looking for a dog lovers group in Anchorage Alaska? You got it.

7. Write in your journal

As Plato said, “Know thyself.”  If you don’t know what you are feeling, it can be difficult to know why you are feeling it.  Write down when you feel lonely and make guesses as to why.  Doing this consistently will help you recognize and help control your thoughts and feelings.

Loneliness does not define who you are; It is just another bump in the journey of life.



Important Note – If you feel a constant sense of loneliness, foreboding, or sadness, you might be experiencing depression.  Everyone feels these things sometimes, but if these feelings interfere with everyday functions for extended periods of time, seek the help of a healthcare professional.

Full column source .

No comments:

Post a Comment