Loneliness VS Solitude

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Solitude VS Loneliness

It is important to distinguish solitude from loneliness because they are not at all the same. While loneliness is an unpleasant circumstance than people do not choose for themselves, the term solitude describes when someone intentionally chooses to be alone for a while. This can actually be beneficial, as it provides an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and put things in perspective. After all, even Superman had his Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic.

Some people need lots of solitude. For others, a little goes a long way. The bottom line is that solitude can be beneficial, while loneliness is never a good thing. Now that we’re clear on the differences, what can you do to solve the problem of loneliness in your own life?

 

READ ALSO: Is There A Correlation Between Creativity And Not Socializing?

 

  • Reconnect with people. Call up your friends from school, or your family back home. Travel home for a party or some other function and reconnect in person. It’s easy to build up some positive social momentum by reaching out to people you already know. Given how common loneliness is nowadays, a lot of them are probably in the same situation and would be happy if you reached out to them.
  • Volunteer. Helping others will make you feel better as well. It’s also a great way to get out of the house and connect with more people. When you are spending your time and energy helping others in need, it helps you to realize that your problems, loneliness in this case, are not the only thing that exists, and it can help you get out of the negative space.
  • Join clubs and take classes. Pretty self-explanatory— plus it’s a great way to connect with people who will genuinely share your interests.
  • Treat your social life like a part time job. Once you’ve reached out to people and made some new connections, make a point of getting together regularly. Meet up for a happy hour or for coffee once a week, or have a backyard barbeque. It’s important to be hanging out in person (not on social media) with people you like and care about on a regular basis. It fulfills that innate need for social contact that all humans have.

Try these tips out for yourself. And while you’re at it— make some time for an occasional dose of solitude as well.

References:

www.theguardian.com

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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