We are finally in that part of the year where life seems a bit more joyful and Christmassy. Putting up twinkling decorations, eating amazing food and spending time with family and friends may be how you like to spend the festive season but others don’t have that luxury.
December and January can be lonely and difficult times for many people in the UK. Christmas often comes with a lot of expectations and pressures, it could be the first Christmas after losing a family member, it might not be possible for some people to travel to see their families, whatever the situation loneliness can affect anyone anywhere.
The feeling of loneliness is not necessarily the same as being alone. You could be in a room with 100 people and still feel a sense of isolation. Loneliness is not in itself a mental health problem but there certainly is lots of research to suggest it can contribute to anxiety and depression so we feel it is much better to address our loneliness before it progresses any further.
So we thought we would comprise a list of the 5 best ways to combat loneliness this festive period.
- Be kind to yourself.
This could include a number of things. Why not find something to help fill your spare time between Christmas and New Year. You could teach yourself to knit, take a cookery course, learn to bake, start bird watching, join a football team, start a blog, or write in a journey, the list of opportunities is endless.
- Volunteer.
Christmas is a really tough time of year for vulnerable people. Whether it’s a homeless person struggling to keep warm in the cold weather or an older person whose family are too busy to come and visit, you can help. There are plenty of organisations where you can volunteer at a nursing home, or a homeless shelter or anywhere that somebody needs you. This kills two birds with one stone.
- Meet up with an old friend.
It can be hard to reach out to someone we haven’t spoken to in a while. That voice in your head will be saying “If they wanted to see you, they would have asked themselves, maybe there’s a reason we haven’t spoken in ages, have I done something wrong?” But forget that. If they are a good friend they’ll be thrilled to hear from you, after all, the voice in their head might be uttering the same sentence.
- Exercise or read a book.
Why wait until the New Year to better your health and wellbeing? Why not start now? Maybe you want to lose a couple of pounds or become an expert in a new topic. Whatever you do, even if it’s only a small amount twice a week, will help you to engage your mind and think clearer.
- Have an honest conversation about how you’re feeling.
Finally, and perhaps the most effective option, tell someone how you’re feeling. This doesn’t have to be someone close to you, it could be a GP, a Samaritan member or your local Priest if you feel like it. Sometimes, just getting your thoughts and feelings out in the open, whether the person listening can help or not, can free you of the torment those feelings have previously given you.
So there are our 5 top tips to avoiding loneliness over Christmas and please don’t forget that we are here for anyone if they even need it. We are just an email away at info@applehr.co.uk.