Preventing loneliness by connecting with others

As many of us are now able to go back out and enjoy the social activities that we missed during the pandemic. From seeing faces at social clubs to just meeting up with family and friends during the week, enjoying social engagements can be a critical part of many people’s lives and routines, especially as we start to get a little older.

For many, getting older can involve losing the ability to move like you used to and having to use aids like a curved or straight stair lift and can also be a time where we start to feel lonely and vulnerable. Loneliness is an emotion people can feel at any age, but as you age and our ability to head out and about diminishes, spending time alone can be tough.

News Mobility has recently released an article all about how connecting with others in various ways can help those who often feel isolated and alone. The article offers six tips for those who may be suffering and gives them ideas of how connecting with others can offer them a little relief.

Join a club

Joining a club is a great way to meet new people, bring an element of routine into your week and give you something to look forward to. News Mobility recommends this as one of the best ways to relieve loneliness: “The obvious option here is to seek out and join a club, be it baking, chess or any other option that appeals to you. Being around people with similar interests helps build confidence, and building new relationships is a highly effective way of reducing a sense of loneliness.”

Learn a new skill

Learning a new skill is a great way to keep your mind occupied when other activities aren’t an option. Learning a new skill not only takes up time and allows you to fill your days with something productive but it also means you are learning something new and potentially enjoying a new hobby.

Master the art of small talk

“Small talk may seem pointless. After all, passing comment on the weather with a complete stranger is at best odd and at worst quite strange. It’s also scary if you lack self-confidence, as so many of us do. But being able to strike up a conversation with anyone about anything is a skill that can eradicate loneliness and enhance your life,” says News Mobility.

Quite rightly, being able to have a conversation with anyone and enjoying small and maybe meaningless chats with people you may pass on the street or your neighbours is a great way to instantly improve your mood.

Say ‘yes’ more

You may not feel like it at the time, but making sure you say yes to more is a great way to ensure you are getting out and about and keeping yourself occupied as much as you can. Whether you feel like it at the time or not, you’re sure to enjoy it when it comes to it.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people without having to join a club and is a lovely way to give back to the local community if you are passionate about doing your bit for the area you live in. Volunteering can involve anything, from volunteering in a shop for a charity or with the local community litter picking or working on allotments.

Get a furry friend

Getting a furry friend, whether that is a cat a dog or something smaller like a hamster or rabbit is also a lovely way to avoid feeling lonely, especially during the winter months. Getting a dog can be a big commitment so making sure you get an animal to suit your needs and requirements is crucial, but they often end up being friends for life.

Although mobility aids like a straight or curved stairlift can help you around the home, the above ideas can really help and improve your way of living drastically.

This news article is from Companion Stairlifts. Articles that appear on this website are for information purposes only.