It’s safe to say more than ever right now we are feeling missing those kitchen chats in the office, team lunches, happy hours and coffee dates with your besties. As we come to week 5 of lockdown for most of us, the struggles we’re having with missing the daily contact from others in our day to day life is really beginning to take its toll, especially those of us currently self-isolating or in lockdown alone. With all the uncertainty in the air and feeling of worry and being overwhelmed, the addition of loneliness setting in can be almost too difficult to cope with.
For any of us facing this dreaded lonely feeling, it’s important to take positive steps to manage this and ensure our PMA keeps strong. Here’s our round up of the tips to combat loneliness during lockdown. Cos we’re all in this together, so let’s help each other out.
Stay In Virtual Contact
While meeting up with friends might not be possible right now, you can stay in touch with everyone via the wonders of technology. It’s super important to maintain that connection as much as possible so keep up communication with friends, family and those work colleagues you’re missing online via WhatsApp, Facetime, Slack, Zoom – the list is endless so there’s no excuse!
Go Old School
Now seen as a thing of the past by many millennials, it’s safe to say most of us forgo picking up the phone in favour of instant messaging. Guilty. Now is the time more than ever to get in contact the old-fashioned way and pick up the phone. Just hearing a friend’s voice can help reduce loneliness and make us feel more connected. Work a daily phone call into your new everyday routine. Having it at a set time everyday can give you something extra to look forward to.
Reach Out
Get into the mindset of forming a new weekly habit of taking a few minutes to reconnect with a friend or family member you otherwise may not take the time to reach out to as much. If lockdown has taught us anything, it’s how important friends, family and relationships are so make a conscious effort to keep these connections flourishing.
Get To Know Your Neighbours
This new-found rush of neighbourliness and community spirit we’ve seen as a positive emerging from all the negative, has been beyond heart-warming. Think of ways how you can interact with your neighbours without putting your health (or theirs) at risk. Can you speak to your neighbours from over a fence or across balconies like we’ve been seeing across the world? If it’s safe to do so, why not start today and make someone’s day while boosting your own.
Help Out
It feels good to give so wherever you can, assist and help out the people around you who may be more vulnerable. From elderly relatives to neighbours or those in your community with no access to the internet or who cannot easily get out and about. From volunteering and supermarket runs, to checking in on those who need it, there’s lots you can do to help out others around you if you ask. All while of course upholding safe social distancing measures to keep yourself and others safe.
Look After Yourself
What is perhaps most important is remembering to look after yourself during all this with endless self-care and mindfulness. Make sure you are managing your stress levels and any anxiety you may be understandably feeling as best you can. Exercise, meditate, and keep to a daily routine as much as you can during lockdown to ensure you’re feeling at your best.
