This article was written by one of our contributors, graduate of an MSc in Psychological Research Methods – Anais Elena Fernandez
Have you ever felt like you were too tired to go out with your colleagues, friends, partner? Yes? You’re not alone.
More than 9 million people in the UK have reported feeling always or often lonely. This astounding number of individuals (mainly between the age of 18 and 34, as reported by the Mental Health Foundation) is pervaded with a general feeling that their social contacts are inadequate, even when they are not socially isolated.
If the new restrictions have impacted your routine, your social life might have not been the only one who has suffered, your sleep probably has too.
A recent study has indicated that poor sleep can trigger a vicious cycle of growing feelings of loneliness, which can in turn increase sleep difficulties.
Poor sleep is associated with cognitive decline and psychological distress, with important effects on our self-esteem and appetite control, which are all important factors that influence our social relationships.
If you are already taking care of your sleep routine, but you are still noticing a decline in the quality of your social life, here are some things you can try to alleviate your distress:
Practice mindfulness
Besides being a great tool to reduce stress, recent literature has highlighted that mindfulness interventions, focused on the acceptance of the present moment, have a great potential to mitigate loneliness and promote social interactions.
There are many mindfulness apps to download on your phone/desktop so you can find the practice that is closer to you and start building your daily practice.
Try technology
Social media has a bad reputation when it comes to loneliness. Past research has supported this claim showing a positive correlation, the heavier the usage, the more the loneliness. However, technology can be a real asset to connect with people when the intention is untethered from a desire to display and project an artificial image of ourselves. Whether it is a Zoom party or a shared movie experience, video-conferencing could really alleviate your sense of social isolation by igniting a sense of bonding and belonging.
Help others
Remember? You are not alone. Nurturing others (including pets) has been suggested many times as an effective strategy to alleviate loneliness. Many people might be feeling lonely during these difficult times and reaching out first could help reduce their and your distress.
The talk about loneliness has been extremely stigmatised throughout the years. The COVID-19 pandemic has not exactly a long list of benefits, but it has sparked interest in the topic and aided the legitimisation of it, while at the same time it has slowed down massively our frenetic routines.
A suggestion is to take full advantage of this. Slow down. Whether you try mindful breathing or reach out to a high-school friend, remember to take one step at the time.
If you worry about your sleep quality and your increasing feeling of loneliness and want support to change this, contact us today
