One of the things I’ve been struggling with during this pandemic is being alone.  I don’t have any kids and pets are not allowed in my apartment building.  I work remotely from home.  We have to self-isolate to reduce the spread of Covid-19.  Authorities have advised us to limit the number of people coming into our homes.  Umm.  Me, myself, and I.  It all becomes so lonely.  Yes, I have friends and family with whom I can video chat often, but it’s not the same as face-to-face interactions.

Boredom is also a real feeling.  I’ve already counted how many tiles are on my kitchen floor and I’ve estimated how many of the tiles that I cannot see because it’s covered by my fridge and stove.  Yeah!  Like I said.  Boredom is real!

We’re social creatures.  I came from a culture where we gather with food and drinks to celebrate any and every occasion: weddings, graduations, divorce (I had a divorce party with a cake and Tshirts printed “GoodBye” I kid you not), a firstborn son, a firstborn daughter after conceiving 3 boys in a row, (I’m not making this up! My Caribbean people can attest to this) and of course birthdays. 

Human interaction, that physical ingredient is greatly missed! Nevertheless, this pandemic has forced us to become creative in finding other ways to cope with loneliness and the feeling of being alone.

Here are some positive and healthy tips we can adopt:

1. Keep in touch with friends and family – We do this daily or should be doing it daily as a routine.  Check-in with your loved ones and people who can offer support.  This can reduce stress and loneliness a lot.  I know it’s virtual at the moment but it is a great option.
2. Don’t sit still for too long.  Keep active.  Keep moving – A ten-minute walk outside, a drive around the block.   A daily exercise routine can definitely improve your mood.
3. Detox from social media – During this pandemic, my iPhone has recorded my daily screen time at 9 or sometimes 10 hours.  That’s the total time I spend during the day checking social apps and other activities.  That’s a LOT.  I’ve started giving myself time away from social media and doing something else productive with my time.  To be honest, it’s even more depressing going online to see other people outside and “Livin la Vida Loca” around the world.  Then I read that studies have found that it does increase feelings of depression.  Go figure!
4. Find a hobby – Apart from work obligations, having a hobby can keep you occupied and take away boredom.  I’ve tapped into my hobby and passion for writing and reading and I’m definitely loving it!  Journaling, knitting, painting, poetry, or new DIY projects.  Find a niche.  It can definitely take away the lonely feeling.
5. Love and Invest in yourself – Don’t ignore YOURSELF. It is so easy to neglect self especially when we live alone.  You might be tempted to skip your daily showers, hair care routine or wear the same pajamas all week.  Trust me!  You’ll just look in the mirror and resent what you see looking back at you.  This is a true product of loneliness and depression.  Take time to invest in your health, eat healthily, keep up with your self-care routines, plan your outfits from the night before and dress up every day.

In conclusion, LOVE yourself, accept what is, and don’t beat yourself up about what you currently cannot change.  Work on being the best version of yourself. Always be positive and kind to yourself.  Loneliness is a state of mind.  What we feed our minds with will manifest into reality.  Keep yourself busy.  Human and physical interaction hasn’t become extinct.  You are not alone.

XOXO

“Music was my refuge, I could crawl into the space beween the notes and curl my back to loneliness”

MAYA ANGELOU