Habits to Help With Loneliness

When you experience feelings of loneliness, whether you are actually alone or not, 
there are many healthy habits that can boost your mood, distract your mind, and help 
you cope. The irony is that when you feel lonely and sad, you are more inclined to 
indulge in the bad habits instead of the good ones that can actually provide you comfort. 

If you have been struggling lately with loneliness, these habits can help.


Add Mindfulness to Your Day

The feeling of loneliness often comes from your insecurities and judgments you think 
others would have, as opposed to how you actually feel. If you find that in moments of 
stillness and quiet, when nobody is around to talk to, your mind keeps going to what 
others would think or how you can “cure” your loneliness to be more acceptable, then 
mindfulness will help tremendously. 

By being more mindful in these moments, you are able to center yourself and stay 
present. It allows you to acknowledge and appreciate that moment for what it is, without 
any outside judgment or judgment on yourself. You can look within and just enjoy that 
experience. 

If you are struggling to be more mindful, use a journal as a helpful aide. Instead of just 
sitting in the stillness, write down how you are feeling or what you are thinking about in 
your journal in that moment.


Check in With a Friend

Just because you are alone, doesn’t mean you have to feel alone. When these 
emotions come rushing in and you are just craving company, check in on a friend. It is a 
great reminder to contact people you haven’t spoken to in a while, to give your mom a 
call, or to ask your neighbor if they need help with anything. 

Even a small amount of social interaction can make a big difference when you are 
feeling lonely. You can also turn this into a habit, where every time you feel lonely, it 
triggers the habit of doing something more social.


Find a Group or Club Nearby

Why not add new habits to your life that you have never done before? This is the perfect 
time to try out a class in your area to learn pottery or fiction writing. You can join a local 
hiking or walking group, or see if you have book clubs run by people nearby. Maybe 
there is a club or association related to your profession with likeminded people you are 
able to network with. 

People often think that they are stuck in their loneliness, but there is always a new habit 
just around the corner that you can add to your life. 


Practice Gratitude

There is always something to be grateful for in your life, no matter how you are feeling. 
If you ever feel lonely, it can become a cue that it is time for your gratitude habit. A 
gratitude practice is one where you write down what you feel grateful for in that moment. 

It can be anything that you are happy to have or experience in your life, big or small. 
From the morning cup of coffee to a stranger giving you a compliment. You can be 
grateful for your job, friends and family, your car, or your home. You can be grateful for 
bigger things like a loved one recovering from an illness or finding a new job after you 
were laid off. 

Any little thing in your life that you feel is a blessing is something to write down in your 
gratitude journal. Write in it as often as you want, but it is especially useful when you 
feel lonely. It allows you to look beyond that sadness and appreciate how much you 
have in your life.


Take Advantage of Your Alone Time with Self-Care

Why not take advantage of this time alone? People are often so busy that they don’t 
have time for self-care, but if you have been feeling a little lonely and isolated, why not 
do something for yourself? It can also be another way to practice gratitude, since you 
are grateful for this ability to take care of yourself, which isn’t a comfort everyone has. 





