One of the most searched topics on Google is the tips to curb loneliness while the world is in lockdown. Why people are searching for it? It is because your weekdays and weekends have undergone a huge transformation. Due to the pandemic happening around the globe, your life has suffered a huge upheaval. People are advised to stay at home and limit coming in contact with others. The self-isolation during the lockdown is the new norm. But, you are unaware of the end time for the lockdown. While self-isolation is essential to prevent the spread of the disease and keep ourselves safe from the infection, it has several downfalls. Self-isolation for extended periods can trigger loneliness in people.
When someone tells you not to leave your home, it can hurt your mental health. So, the restriction from the government can lead to making you feel isolated and cut off from the rest of the world. You tend to seek face-to-face communication with others, go outside freely, and do things your heart desires. But, the restrictions put in place due to COVID-19 have made life difficult for many people. Instead of dwelling on the imposed restrictions, you need to seek methods to overcome it. So, read ahead to know more about it and how you can face your life with a positive attitude during the lockdown.
Reason For Loneliness During COVID-19
Coronavirus infection is caused by SARS-CoV-2 that transmits from one person to another due to close contact. It can also spread through the surface-to-person transmission. So, when you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your face, it causes the virus to enter your bloodstream. So, the WHO recommends the following:
- Frequent washing of hands with soap and water
- Use of mask while going out
- Social distancing (maintaining a distance of six feet from another person) in public places
While social distancing is essential to containing coronavirus infection from spreading, it can trigger negative emotions in people. The lack of contact with others can lead to loneliness. It will trigger panic. Since panic spreads faster than infection, it affects your mental well-being. It is because panic always thrives on your negative emotions like isolation, anxiety, and hostility. You are already facing isolation due to lockdown, when combined with anxiety or hostility, it starts affecting your life. The lack of information regarding the end date of lockdown and the uncertainty regarding your future can lead to extreme stress and anxiety.
Difference Between Feeling Lonely And Feeling Alone
There is a huge difference between loneliness and feeling alone. When you are alone, it is the state of being. You tend to choose it because of the peace and happiness solitude offers you. But, loneliness is the state of the mind. So, people who feel lonely crave the companionship of others. Connecting with people consumes your thought. It results in frustration and stress. While humans have fun when they socialize with others, some people love solitude. They like to spend time alone to recharge their mind. So, sitting at home by themselves is liked by them. But, when they feel lonely, it makes them feel sad, empty, and helpless. It is a dark emotion that sucks out the happiness of their life.
Due to the lockdown, most people feel lonely. The combined effort to stay safe and prevent the spread of infection by staying inside can lead to loneliness. You cannot physically see or touch your loved ones. It can cause sadness. When you feel lonely, it is a dark and persistent feeling. It follows you all day long. Irrespective of what you do, you fail to shake off or get rid of the feeling.
Need For Tips To Curb Loneliness While The World Is In Lockdown
While isolation has several benefits lie like fewer distractions and more focus on the things you do. People with artistic talents need isolation to create masterpieces. They prefer to stay alone for the wheels in their mind to turn. It helps them go into a creative headspace. Distractions can only mess with their creative flow. It makes them go out of their groove, leading to procrastination. With so much time on your hands, you can block time for the projects you have a great interest in. But, what about others who feel the pressure and stress of staying isolated from others? Not everyone can utilize the time in their hands and have a healthy work and life balance. In such cases, people with so much time on their hands can suffer from several issues like:
Negative Thinking
Too much time in isolation can lead to negative thinking. With so much free time in your hands, you tend to wander down the rabbit hole of negativity. It can lead to feeling inferior and having a bad feeling about your life.
Mental Issues
Social isolation leads to quarantine fatigue and other mental health complications. So, you can suffer from depression to extreme stress.
Physical Issues
Some people tend to develop health issues due to the lockdown. Thinking about the isolation period can increase your blood pressure or worsen your existing diabetes. People can also experience poor immunity.
In such a time of crisis, you need to stay level-headed and try to follow the tips to curb loneliness while the world is in lockdown. Focusing on positive things to complete will help you deal with your new reality without facing mental or physical complications.
Tips To Curb Loneliness While The World Is In Lockdown
COVID-19 is an infectious disease that started in Wuhan China in late 2019. Within a few months, the disease spread like a wildfire. It has now affected people from more than 190 countries around the world and resulted in the death of lakhs of people. The global pandemic has introduced people to new experiences like work from home, online interactions, and online classes. It has also resulted in increased loneliness for many people. Many of them are going through the life-altering experience, which makes it overwhelming. So, how can you cope with the new situation? Here are some tips to curb loneliness while the world is in lockdown.
Use Technology To Curb Loneliness
Today, technology provides us a chance to connect to others by sitting at home. While most people feel mobile phones and laptops are used only for work or chatting with friends, you fail to realize there are several other methods to utilize these gadgets. Instead of spending your time surfing the web or browsing different social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram, you can take advantage of other things technology can offer. You have millions of apps available on the Google Play Store or iPhone App store that you can use it. The apps coming under different categories will keep you hooked. From enjoying reading to listening to audiobooks, you can find an app for anything that fits your needs. So, using the apps, you can complete the following tasks:
- Learn a new skill
- Invite other friends to play online games
- Learn a new language
- Connect with like-minded people (for business or companionship)
There are so many things you can complete by using a mobile phone. It is easier to sit at home and access all the valuable information. Everything is easy to access using your fingertips. So, you need to take advantage of it to curb loneliness while the world is in lockdown.
Communication With Loved Ones
During the lockdown, most people feel stressed as they cannot meet their loved ones. You feel less frustrated when you share your concerns with your friends or family. A hug from your loved ones can cure most problems you face. But, the lockdown has a put a stop to such interactions. Instead of keeping in touch with your friends or family by text, you can use different forms of communication to interact with your loved ones.
You can use video calls offered by Zoom, WhatsApp, or other platforms. You can also send voice notes to connect with your family and friends. Seeing them will offer you hope and it will help you get rid of loneliness. Seeing their facial expressions as well as reading their body language can make you feel surrounded by love. Arrange virtual date nights or parties where you can watch a movie or have drinks at the same time online.
Find Your Community
Missed interaction with like-minded people due to your busy lifestyle? Then, you can make use of the quarantine time to detect the community you can connect with. You can find your passion and find others who share the same interest. You can sit at home and find the online community of like-minded people. Explore different social media platforms to connect with people. So, it allows you to fulfill your needs as well as interests. It is the perfect opportunity to reveal your authentic self. With online communities, you can build your space online that will help you express your true feelings and vulnerable self. Such a space online will also build your confidence and divert you from the negativity surrounding your life due to lockdown.
Keep Yourself Occupied
One of the best tips to curb loneliness while the world is in lockdown is to keep yourself occupied. With most people working from home or not going to work, you have a lot of time on your hands. After completing the basic chores, you are left with so much time. It leads to overthinking and anxiousness. You will start feeling lonely and depressed. Instead of dwelling on negative things, you can divert your attention by keeping yourself occupied. So, here are a few tips to engage your focus and attention:
Tidy Your Home And Surroundings
Declutter your home by keeping it tidy. You can arrange the different rooms after cleaning as well as disinfecting them. Organizing your home will keep you occupied. So, you will not have the time to focus on negative things. Keeping your room and surroundings clean will also prevent any infectious disease.
Arrange Your Wardrobe
We have at least one dress that we will never wear again. It is also possible for your wardrobe to have with an outdated fashion dress or the ones that do not fit you. So, you need to declutter your wardrobe. Get rid of the dresses you may not wear again or the sad pieces with no possibility of seeing the light of the day. You can either pass them to your friends or donate it to needy people. If you like, then recycle it to give a new look.
Learn Cooking
If you are interested in cooking, then you can learn new recipes. Try it out at home to wow your family members or yourself. You can learn the skill to ensure you eat healthily.
Work On New Business Ideas
Do you have a business? Then, you can use the quarantine time to work on ideas that will help your business flourish. The business world after COVID-19 is a cause of concern. So, you can take time to think and research ideas to add value to the establishment and safeguard the interest of your workers. If you are a worker, then take the time to reevaluate your goals.
Read Books
It is the best time to catch up on your reading. You can pick up the book that you are interested in reading. With no other distractions and plenty of time, you can read in peace.
Have Downtime
While all the above-mentioned activities can distract you, it may not offer you entertainment. So, you can have some downtime by watching a series on the online streaming platforms like Amazon Prime or Netflix. You can also listen to music or an audiobook. Another way to get a distraction is podcasts. The advantage of listening to podcasts is that you get a feeling of surrounded by others in a room. So, you will stop feeling alone. You have several distractions keeping you engaged all the time.
Stay Active To Curb Loneliness While The World Is In Lockdown
How is it possible to stay active while your daily movement is restricted during the coronavirus infection period? You may think it is impossible, you can find alternative options. While you may not find the camaraderie as well as the right atmosphere that you can find in a gym, you can enjoy the fitness classes at home. Some people can feel frustrated as they may not achieve the usual level of activity. But, it is always better than getting no movement at all. Including physical activities can help you manage anxiety. It will help you deal with stress linked to dealing with coronavirus infection. It also controls mental issues like depression. Quarantine at home can make you go crazy. It will also make you feel less motivated to exercise. It is due to your routine, turning upside down.
But, you can make an effort to include a small amount of movement like walking around your house to make a difference. You can try some suggestions to stay active when you stay-at-home or stay in quarantine that is doable. All the tips suggested here focuses on making your stay active without compromising your safety during the corona period. It will help you get some physical exercise when the gyms and parks are close. Here are some effective tips that are ideal for both seasoned fitness buff and people starting to exercise. It will help you stay active to curb loneliness while the world is in lockdown.
Check Fitness Videos On YouTube
You can find a lot of workout videos on YouTube. These videos focus on trying out exercises within the comfort of your home. You have different types of workouts available. Several well-known trainers offer you training sessions based on your interests and needs. You can also check out the online sessions live on social platforms like Instagram to try workout to stay active.
Curb Loneliness While The World Is In Lockdown With Cycling
If you have a bicycle, then you can go for a ride. It is suitable when you have a lot of space outside your home or apartment complex. It means you stay away from others while riding the bike. But, not a lot of people have such a facility. In such cases, you can head inside and ride a stationary bike. When you take your cycling indoor, it means you get physical exercise without fear of contracting the virus. So, you can pedal stroke to meet your end goal of getting active. It will keep the extra pounds you pile up due to not getting enough exercise. So, you can keep yourself fit and free from illness.
Opt For Walking
If you have no bicycle or stationary bike, never mind as you can walk to get some work out with ease. You can walk in your home. As suggested above, you can find several videos that show walking inside the home for getting some physical movement. Some countries allow visiting parks. If you live in a country that has allowed going out while you follow social distancing, you can take a walk. The outside view will help you relax. You can also take the scenery around you and breathe fresh air.
The above-mentioned tips to curb loneliness while the world is in lockdown will prevent any mental issues and keep your body healthy. But, never think these are the only tips available. You have different options available to keep yourself engaged during the self-isolation. Give some of these options a try to keep the communication with others and make yourself busy. It will help you fight loneliness. You can make use of sophisticated tools and technology to connect with others and confide in them. Follow the guidelines suggested to stay home and stay safe.
Curb Loneliness And Safeguard Your Mental Health
While the tips will help you control the solitude, some people can feel the mental strain of staying inside the home. It is specifically true for individuals who are in self-quarantine alone in their homes. They have no face-to-face contact with their loved ones. Some people overcome it by using technology tools to communicate. But, others may not know it. In such cases, it is better to seek assistance from a mental health expert. You can access a lot of therapy. Don’t worry, you have access to such facilities via telephone or online.
You can talk it out with a mental health professional and get the necessary assistance. The mental health professionals like therapists can offer you tools that will help you overcome the isolation effectively. Since in-person therapy is not a feasible option at the moment, you can make use of digital apps to get the therapy online. Several people suffer from depressive disorders during the period. To overcome such issues, online therapy sessions can help to a certain extent. While the experience you get online may differ from in-person therapy, it is better than no assistance at all. These online sessions will help you discuss the symptoms, develop a customized treatment plan, and you can work with the therapy provider for handling the issue better.
Conclusion
Coronavirus is spreading like a wildfire. With infection and death rate increasing day-by-day, the governing bodies of different countries have extended the lockdown or posed several restrictions. You need to follow the guidelines like social distancing, washing your hands with soap and water, using a mask, and stay at home. But, for people who are dealing with long-term isolation, the situation can get only worse. In such cases, you need to reach out for support. Take advantage of the resources you have to ensure you never suffer loneliness. Using digital tools and other options, you can curb loneliness and other issues arising due to staying alone. Manage more serious mental issues with assistance from a professional. You never have to face it alone!
View Article Sources- https://www.forbes.com/sites/biancamillercole/2020/04/04/5-tips-for-combating-loneliness-during-lock-down/#991a00a3eb1b
- https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-curb-loneliness-while-the-world-is-physical-distancing
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/28/the-extreme-loneliness-of-lockdown-even-though-my-partner-is-here-im-struggling-to-cope