As some countries slowly emerge from government-mandated lockdown, much of the world remains isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A debilitating feeling of loneliness is a concerning problem for more and more people. In this article, Joey Klein, Inner Matrix Systems Founder and CEO looks at five ways to combat loneliness, both during times of lockdown and after the pandemic ends.
1. Stop focusing so much on yourself
Feelings of loneliness and inadequacy are often the result of false comparisons. When you compare your worst-case scenario to someone else’s best, you will always come up short. In a world where many people go to great lengths to present a polished, even photoshopped, image, your real-life self may seem drab. By falling prey to the misperception that everyone you know has tons of friends, fascinating encounters, exotic experiences, and a clean house to boot will inevitably lead to feelings of loneliness and despair.
To combat loneliness, stop comparing yourself to the image that others present. Look beyond yourself for opportunities to lift others and contribute to a better world.
2. Pay attention to what really matters
Now that you’ve decided to stop focusing on yourself so much, what will be the object of your attention? Find something that matters. The best part is that you get to decide what matters because it only matters if it matters to you for this exercise.
It may be your family, a hobby, the planet, or social justice. Whatever it is, invest your discretionary time toward a goal or a cause bigger than yourself. With your newfound preoccupation with creating good outcomes, your feelings of loneliness may dissipate.
3. Develop an attitude of gratitude
Few things in life bring more satisfaction and repel loneliness better than taking stock of the good things in your life. Make it a part of your daily routine to appreciate what is “right” about your situation. Family, friends, a job, your health, even the weather can be an instrument toward helping you develop an attitude of gratitude every day.
4. Commit random acts of kindness
Doing something kind for someone else will undoubtedly help you feel better about your situation. To gain the maximum effect, make it anonymous. Find someone in need and fill that need. It doesn’t matter the size or scope of the kind act, a simple smile, a kind word, or bringing your neighbor’s trash can in will all drive away feelings of loneliness.
5. Limit your screen time
The amount of time you spend online, especially scrolling through your social media feeds, can have a negative effect on how connected you feel to other people. It is a counterintuitive idea since social media was intended to provide an easy way for people to stay connected. Facebook and Instagram are great for keeping up with the lives of family and friends that don’t live nearby. They are, after all, a step up from writing letters. Using these tools as your primary method for connecting with others, however, reduces every relationship to the level of your far-away cousin.
People need to interact with other people in real-time and in real life. To combat loneliness, limit time on social media and find ways to socialize on a more personal level. Face-to-face is best, but when that’s not possible or safe, a phone call is better than a “Like.”
About Inner Matrix Systems
Inner Matrix Systems, based in Denver, is a personal mastery training system for high achievers. For more than twenty years, IMS has delivered a proprietary methodology that rewires, trains, and aligns the nervous system, emotions, and thought strategies to create real-life results. CEO, Joey Klein, and IMS have worked with more than 80,000 individuals from around the world through both live and online training programs, as well as one-on-one coaching. Clients have included: Boeing, IBM, Dell, Google, Panda Express, Coca Cola and The World Health Organization. Joey is the author of The Inner Matrix: Leveraging the Art & Science of Personal Mastery to Create Real Life Results (June 2021).
This content was sponsored by Inner Matrix Systems.
