How to Combat Loneliness During a Pandemic

By Fallon Brannon on April 6, 2021

Since March 2020, COVID-19 has rattled the world in ways unimaginable. By causing a halt to the regularities of everyday life, people had to adjust to new restrictions, new lifestyles, and new environments: a brand new normal. Jobs and schools were forced to close, daily mandates were enforced, and people were encouraged to stay home. And although COVID-19 restrictions have eased up, people are still encouraged to stay home as a health precaution, until at least vaccinated, and for guaranteed safety.

For college students, having the ability to stay home may be an opportunity for personal downtime and to remain comfortable in an environment you are most familiar with, but for others, it may mean the exact opposite. By staying home, some college students are prone to more distractions while completing virtual school or feel distant from close relationships developed in college with people in different states. Others who suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety or depression may feel an amplified sense of entrapment in isolation. Nonetheless, college students are more susceptible to suffer from the silent torture of loneliness more than ever during these unprecedented times.

Image via pixabay.com

According to an October 2020 survey conducted by Harvard’s Making Care Common Project, it was reported that 61% of 18 to 25-year-olds reported degrees of loneliness during the pandemic, as well as 43%, reported increased loneliness since the pandemic first started.

Firstly, experiencing loneliness during the pandemic is normal and you are not alone. I dealt with this personally, scrambling to find ways to keep myself occupied while being confined in the four walls of my room.

To help combat those negative feelings, here are some tips:

1. Connect with others who are going through the same thing. 

As stated before, being forced into isolation is not easy for most people to get acclimated to. As a college student, you are essentially thrown from having a social life into a state of seclusion from your peers and other extracurricular activities. Since meeting face-to-face is a restricted option, try connecting with people through social media who are experiencing the same feelings. Try joining online support groups, make a group chat or coordinate weekly Zoom/FaceTime meetings with friends or family to stay in touch and check in with each other, or use the opportunity to create new relationships with people who you usually do not talk to, but you bond off of the same feelings of solitude.

For example, I made a group chat with my closest friends simply to stay in touch with them, and for bi-weekly mental health check-ins where we can freely talk about our emotions. I also began linking with people on various social media platforms who I barely spoke to face-to-face, but we bonded off of missing friends, college life, and even made plans to start hanging out with each other in person.

2. Start a new project. 

To add some flair to your daily routine, starting a new project would be a fun way to keep your mind occupied. New projects can also encourage you to look forward to a new day without living in deja vu. Starting a creative project such as making a vision board can keep you focused on your future and give you hope for better days. Keep a journal to document your days in quarantine and use writing as a way to de-stress. Buy some art supplies and take up painting. Finish that book series. And since you are home, try considering home projects such as becoming a plant parent and starting a mini garden, redecorating your room, or building a DIY mini desk in your room for virtual school. Also, check out Pinterest for more creative project ideas.

3. Take up a new hobby. 

Finding a new hobby is an exceptional way to occupy yourself, especially during rough days. Start a new TV series and binge-watch it. Learn what genre interests you and start a new book series. Go on YouTube and teach yourself how to sew a dress. Learn to cook new recipes. Since you have ample time, do not be afraid to try and learn new things that you thought about maybe trying. What is stopping you from at least trying?

4. Go outside. 

Multiple studies show that going outside and getting fresh air daily is linked to a better mood and several health benefits. By going outside such as walking, going for a run, or just taking the time to appreciate nature, especially in the morning, releases endorphins and can do wonders for setting the tone for your day and clearing your mind.

5. Know that these feelings are temporary. 

With that being said, I know that this is easier said than done. Considering the longevity of the pandemic, it may feel as if these feelings will never come to an end. But take a look at where we are now, where YOU are now. Now, we have a vaccine that’s more than 90% effective to conquer this pandemic — and more people are getting vaccinated day by day. Also, look at how much you have grown and changed as a person during the time being. Being confined in your house during a pandemic might have not been ideal, but you did something every day to try and conquer those negative emotions. Even if you sat in bed all day, you still turned on Netflix to try and get through it. And you did; give yourself more credit!

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