How to deal with loneliness & depression
How to deal with loneliness and depression: How to deal with loneliness & anxiety, New research shows that almost one in four university students are lonely most or all of the time – here’s how to cope
How to deal with loneliness as a man,Naturally, student loneliness worsened during the pandemic. The reduction of face-to-face teaching, loss of social opportunities, and money struggles have all undoubtedly made student life harder and more isolating. But as we emerge out of the pandemic,
~how can we ensure that students feel less lonely?
~How can we make student life as joyful, communal, & fun as it once was?
~Here are some genuinely helpful tips to combating loneliness at university.
SPEAK TO YOUR HOUSEMATES & COURSE MATES
This sounds like incredibly banal advice, but starting to cultivate relationships with people you have to see regularly is a good place to start. Try to find common ground and go from there.
How to deal with loneliness as a woman,Come off your phone and join things where phone use isn’t necessary. Check in daily with those around you. Cook for them or eat with them or bake with them. Be companionable. Watch a Netflix movie together. Laughing together is great for bonding. Consider some kind of volunteering with your housemates – the mental health effects of volunteering have been shown to be enormous.
It also helps to be proactive: we’re all guilty of lying in bed waiting for someone to hit us up with an exciting invitation somewhere, but it’s worth remembering that you can ask people to hang out too.
JOIN SOCIETIES
How to deal with loneliness in a relationship,Turning up to an event where you know no one might sound like your idea of hell, but it’s worth pushing through the initial awkwardness in order to foster future friendships. There are sports clubs, student newspapers, theatre groups, cycling groups. It is a great way to spend time doing stimulating, or physical, activity with like-minded people.
OPEN UP
If you’re really struggling, open up to someone you feel you can talk to, like a relative, friend, or partner. If you feel you need professional help, universities often have counselling services available & there are many other mental health resources available online.
KNOW WHEN TO PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN
Be active and sociable and try to limit your phone use. Ensure face to face time with those around you. Phone use can suck up your time and morale leaving you feeling deflated and demoralised and prone to ‘compare a& despair’. Not everyone else is having riotous fun, even if their Insta accounts appear to say otherwise.
How to deal with loneliness & depression
GO OUTSIDE
If possible, it’s great to immerse yourself in nature. “Lots of research has shown that being outside among trees and wildlife, listening to birdsong, and walking barefoot on the grass is good for your mental health. Make sure you get outside as much as possible. It helps with mindfulness and will ensure you receive your Vitamin D, sunshine permitting. Even being caught in the rain can be soothing.
LEARN HOW TO ENJOY YOUR OWN COMPANY
How to deal with loneliness without friends, Next time you feel lonely, take yourself out. It’s incredibly liberating to realise that you don’t need to wait for someone to do things with you – you can do them by yourself. If the idea of going out for a meal on your own is a little too daunting, start small – take a book to a coffee shop or go on a long walk alone.
