The number of people who were spending time alone had reached an all-time high even before the advent of the coronavirus pandemic. A 2018 survey noted nearly half of 20,000 US adults claiming that they sometimes or always felt alone.
The spreading of coronavirus and the self-isolation it has imposed on large swathes of the population has further worsened the loneliness problem. More and more people are spending time alone these days as they try to keep themselves and their loved ones safe from the virus.
Unfortunately, while isolating oneself can save us from this pandemic, it opens a Pandora box of a host of other problems. Researchers have found out that both our mental as well as physical health are twice as much vulnerable to loneliness as they are to obesity.
With this in mind, here are three tips and tricks to cope if you’re self-isolating alone:
#1: Get in touch with your loved ones
Even if you’re working from home and staying in touch with your colleagues, hearing the caring voice of your loved ones can make a world of difference. It will make you realize that despite the doom and gloom scenario that currently surrounds all of us, there are people out there who care about you. Talking to them will also reduce your stress levels and make you feel a little less lonely.
#2: Reconnect with your passion
Always wanted to write a book but didn’t had the time to sit down and put your thoughts on paper? Planning to start a YouTube channel for months about that thing you’re most passionate about? Think that you’re good at the canvas? Use the free time you have at your disposal to do something – anything – you have a soft spot for.
#3: Plan your day
Since most of us have far too much free time at our disposal, we can fell victim to that time by feeling depressed, irritable, or anxious. To combat these issues, it’s essential that you plan your day. Make a to-do list of things you want to do every day.
These things don’t have to be really important. They can be as benign as washing your hands time with your automatic hand sanitizer dispenser when you wake up or shifting the location of your hand sanitizer dispenser stand from the kitchen to the living room. Anything that will occupy your mind and force negative thoughts out of your brain would do.