As you get older, you may find yourself feeling lonely. This can be especially true for seniors who have lost loved ones or are recovering from illness or injury.
But loneliness is often preventable! In this article, we’ll explore some ways that you can deal with loneliness as a senior — whether it’s by getting out of the house or reading a book together with your family members or friends.
Get out of the house.
Go to a museum or art gallery, or take a walk in the park. Go on an adventure with friends—a hike through nature, a canoe ride on a river, or even just going to see “The Greatest Showman” at the theater might be fun for you!
You could also try something new like visiting your local amusement park this summer and seeing if there’s anything else you want to do after your visit (like riding roller coasters).
Get good sleep.
“Not getting enough sleep can lead to long-term health problems like depression, impaired immunity, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes,” says Shanon Makekau, MD, chief of pulmonology and sleep medicine and the sleep lab director at Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii.
Make sure your bedroom is cool (around 60 degrees Fahrenheit) and dark so there’s less light coming from outside or from other rooms in your house; this helps reduce stress hormones like cortisol which can keep you awake during the night.
Meditate or practice mindfulness.
Meditation is a great way to help you focus on the present moment. It can also help you feel more calm and relaxed, which makes it easier for you to deal with stress in your life. You’ll find that meditation helps improve your sleep quality, too!
Meditation isn’t just about feeling good; it’s also about connecting with others around you because they’re doing the same thing as well as practicing mindfulness themselves (and sharing how it’s affecting their lives).
Stay in touch with loved ones.
Stay in touch with loved ones. If you’re feeling lonely, it’s important that you keep up with the people who care about you and count on your friendship.
If a friend moves away or even just goes on vacation, try calling them once or twice a week to check in and let them know how much their absence hurts.
Don’t forget to call those far away—even if they live in another state, we often don’t realize how much time has passed until we hear back from someone who lives far away from us!
Start a journal or blog.
Writing is a great way to express your thoughts and feelings, whether they be positive or negative. It can be cathartic and help you make sense of things that have been going on in your life.
Writing has also been shown to help people connect with other people who share similar experiences or interests, which could be helpful if you’re feeling lonely or isolated.
Find a book club online. Many libraries have book clubs, and you can search for them through your local library website or by using the Library of Congress’s catalog.
If you have access to Amazon Prime (or another streaming service), there are some great discussions going on in their forums about books that others are reading! You can also join an online community or find one in your area that meets regularly.
Meet new people by taking a class or joining a club at a local community center, YMCA, university, religious institution, or senior center.
You’re likely to meet others there who have similar interests and passions as you do.
If you’re physically unable to get out of the house, look into virtual classes and clubs instead. There are plenty of them out there!
If your local library has computer labs where people can go within their own homes via video conferencing technology like Skype or Google Hangouts; this could be another way for seniors who don’t have transportation options outside their homes but still want access.
Loneliness is a difficult condition to deal with, especially if you’re starting to feel isolated.
But by taking these steps, you can find ways to overcome loneliness and take control of your mental health. Remember that isolation isn’t inevitable; it can be avoided with the right tools and techniques!