The Daily Dose
Staying connected: 8 tips to keep loneliness away
Social connections are an important part of living a healthy life. But sometimes circumstances make it difficult to stay in touch, causing you to feel lonely.
Maybe your car needs repair, or you don’t have a car, so transportation is a challenge. Or a change in household income has made it so you might not have money to spend on extras like dinner out or event tickets. Perhaps you’re unaware of local groups offering social interaction or volunteer opportunities in your community.
Winter months can be especially tough with less mood-boosting sunshine, fewer options for activities, and bad weather cancelling plans.
While it’s normal to feel lonely from time to time, there may be actions you can take to help prevent feeling so isolated.
Check out these tips to help keep loneliness away.
Schedule a standing phone call or video chat. Consistent contact with friends and family can help keep you connected. Looking forward to a scheduled day and time where you know you’ll talk to them can help even more.
Think it’s too much to ask of one person? Recruit a few loved ones and work out a calendar so you get the chance to chat and catch up with as many as possible!
CDPHP® member extra tip! All CDPHP Medicare Advantage members get up to 60 hours per year of in-home support to use for companionship and more. That means if your loved ones are strapped for communication resources, you can use this benefit to get the social connection you need.
Restart a former hobby. Participating in activities you’re passionate about can give you an easy way to connect with others. But sometimes hobbies once important to you take a backseat to your busy life leaving an empty, lonely space to fill.
So take out that old instrument, dust it off, and find a community band or theater where you can reinvigorate your love of music. Find a swap meet and bring your favorite collection to discuss and trade with other avid collectors. Whatever your passion, use it to engage with those who share your excitement.
You can also check online resources like meetup.com to find people with similar hobbies for more ways to connect.
Take a class or learn something new. While taking classes can come with a cost, there are many available at low or no fees. Community colleges usually offer non-credit classes at incredibly reasonable rates, and if you’re over 65, check into opportunities to audit a class at no cost.
If a structured class doesn’t appeal, try going online to research a topic you’d like to know more about. You can learn a lot with a simple Google search and a spark of curiosity, and your new knowledge can expand your group of people with shared interests.
Join a group, team, or gym. Love reading? Hop online and find a virtual or in-person book club. Enjoy playing group sports like softball or pickleball or need a spot for a good workout? There are plenty of adult sports leagues and gyms so you can make social connections and stay physically active.
CDPHP member extra tip! All Medicare Advantage members get CDPHP Senior Fit as part of their health plan so they can join any of the 15,000+ SilverSneakers® gym locations in their neighborhood or across the country.
Members with other plan types may be eligible to get money back for working out through the CDPHP fitness reimbursement benefit. (Check plan details for more information.)
Explore programs at libraries or senior centers. Attending activities at community locations puts you in a good spot to meet new people who live in your area. Most public libraries have events like book talks, exhibits, classes, and more, usually at no cost. If you’re over 65, you can also check out senior centers that feature group meals, music, crafts, exercise classes, and more at low or no cost.
Volunteer. Joining forces with other people to support common causes can expand your social network. Serving the community together promotes a sense of connection, making volunteering just as beneficial for you as for those you help!
Sign up for a shift at your local food bank or homeless shelter to feed those in need. Walk dogs at your local animal shelter to exercise the dogs and yourself. Become a mentor to pass valuable skills and knowledge to others. Whatever it is you find important, there are surely others you can connect with who do as well.
Practice self-care. Eat well. Get enough sleep. Exercise. It sounds like common sense, but it’s easy to forget about these simple actions that help with your overall health. Not only can they boost your mood and put you in a better headspace for making connections, but they’re also powerful tools for fighting off loneliness.
Know when to ask for help. If you’ve tried to make social connections, or perhaps don’t feel like you even have it in you to try, it might be time to ask a professional for help.
Talk to your doctor for advice on how to address your loneliness or if it may be something more. Find a therapist who can help you sort through your thoughts and feelings.
CDPHP member extra tip! Need a doctor? Try Find-A-Doc.
CDPHP members also have access to a variety of mental health resources to help with loneliness, anxiety, depression, substance use, and more.
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