Feelings of loneliness is very commonplace. Despite the hustle-bustle of the world we live in, there are still some times loneliness gets to us and makes us feel sad. Luckily, there are very easy ways to stave off feelings of isolation, especially among seniors, and we’ve listed ten of them below.

1. Look at Loneliness a Different Way

Take a look at yourself and ask why you’re feeling lonely. Everybody’s got different definitions of loneliness. For some, they feel lonely when they can only meet with loved ones once a week while others feel lonely when they meet loved ones once a month. For others, they feel lonely when they come to an empty house while others can be in a full house but still feel lonely. Recognizing what makes you lonely can help you remedy it.

Another way of reframing loneliness is by not looking at it as loneliness. Think of it as precious alone time that you can use for something productive or beneficial to you.

2. Remember What Makes You Happy

Whenever we get sad, we tend to go down in the dumps and think nothing in our life is going right. That doesn’t mean we should wallow in our sadness, though. It’s important to remember that not everything in life is bad by remembering the things that have gone right.

Practice gratitude by having a daily journal of things that have made you happy. Maybe you ate a really good meal, or maybe the drive back home was full of green lights. Whatever it is, write it down. Eventually, you’ll start seeing the finer things in life again.

3. Break the Silence

Normally, too much noise in the house is seen as a menace. Nobody likes to listen to clanging pots, barking dogs, blaring alarms, or annoying construction work when they’re trying to relax at the comfort of their home! However, that doesn’t mean all noise is bad—in fact, some of them can be pretty soothing and comforting.

For example, you can listen to music or podcasts to make you feel like someone else is with you. You can also put on sounds of birds or rushing water if you just want random noise in the background.

4. Connect with Your Friends

With technological advancements happening left, right, and center, connecting with your friends is as quick as a push of a button. Nowadays, you can just call or message them whenever you meet up. And honestly, you don’t even have to meet up with friends in-person to curb your loneliness—hopping on a Zoom or having a phone conversation can do a lot of good too.

Whenever you meet with friends, it’s important to really connect with them. Put the phone down and just focus on them. Consider meeting friends one-by-one so you can get to know each other more. Skip the small talk and ask about things in life that matter to them.

5. Take a Trip Outside

Sometimes a breath of fresh air is all you need. When you’re lonely, being cooped up at home can make it worse since you’re all alone with your thoughts. A change of environment is good if you want to distract yourself from your loneliness.

Take a walk around your neighborhood or visit your local park. Explore new restaurants or tourist attractions. You can even take it a step further and visit a different city or country altogether.

6. Stop Compartmentalizing

Having feelings of loneliness, sadness, and despair at times is normal. What shouldn’t be normalized is ignoring these feelings, because they do nothing to help you deal with it. You don’t want them bubbling under the surface until you’re bursting at the seams with negative energy.

As difficult as it sounds, you need to let off that steam. Talk to loved ones or a professional therapist about your problems. Keep a diary where you can verbalize your feelings. Share your thoughts online. That way, you can experience empathy with someone who’s gone through the same feelings as you.

7. Play with Animals

You know, sometimes the best people to hang out with aren’t really people at all! They can take the form of pets that love you no matter what. Who wouldn’t want to come home to an excited dog licking your face or to a cat purring and rubbing against your leg? They can offer companionship and a willing ear to talk to even if they can’t understand what you’re saying.

If, for any reason, you can’t have any pets, you can try volunteering at your local shelter. Not only do you get to help yourself, but you can also help other animals in need.

8. Get Off of Social Media

Technology is great and all, but it’s also got its downsides. Research has shown that social media contributes to feelings of depression and loneliness because of how unrealistic people can get. It’s hard to feel satisfied with yourself when you see people with seemingly better and happier lives than you. It’s also easy to let negativity wash over you when you see hateful and judgmental comments online.

Limit the number of hours you’re on social media or just quit cold turkey!

9. Remind Yourself That Things Will Get Better

Nothing in life is ever permanent, including feelings of loneliness. One way to get yourself out of the darkness is by remembering there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Life, as they say, is a roller coaster, and it won’t be soon before long when you’ll be rising to the top again.

On top of that, there are tons of people around you who experience similar feelings. They, too, have felt sad at one point and managed to get through it. If they can do it, then so can you!

10. Explore Your Creativity

Tap into your creative side! Studies have shown that creative pursuits like painting, writing, playing an instrument, doing stitchwork, etc. can help improve your mental health. It stimulates the nerves in your brain, helps distract you from your loneliness, and leaves you feeling satisfied when looking at your end result.

It’s also a great way to release energy. You don’t have to finish a creative project if you don’t want to—all that matters is that you put effort into it.