Call (951) 768-5398 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

Call (951) 768-5398 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

5 Ways to Combat Loneliness

Posted by Darrell Evans, April 10, 2019

Recent research, published by the AARP in 2018, indicates that more than one in three adults over the age of 45 suffers from chronic loneliness. The survey also found that loneliness is a complex issue, influenced by many different factors.

For example, even those who suffered the death of a spouse were often able to overcome that setback and enjoy positive social health, while others struggled significantly even in the absence of a single devastating event. Those with larger and more complex social networks were less likely to suffer loneliness, regardless of other events in their lives.

Since loneliness and emotional health can contribute to physical well-being, it is important to take steps to combat the feeling. Here are five things you can do to begin overcoming feelings of loneliness, or to prevent the problem from sneaking up on you after retirement.

Explore more. Whether it’s a nearby park, a new shopping center, a cultural event, or a trip to a foreign country, simply getting out of the house will work wonders. If you face mobility limitations or financial restrictions, remember that you don’t need to go far. Your neighborhood church or a local community center offers plenty of social interaction.

Get creative. Creative endeavors can provide the perfect distraction and emotional outlet. Once you’ve retired, now is the time to write a book, take up painting, or enroll in a pottery class.

Practice gratitude. Adopt the practice of naming one thing for which you feel grateful every day. It could be your continued good health, a close friend, a hobby you enjoy, a pet, or just a beautiful sunrise. Those who practice a mentality of gratitude are often more positive overall.

Volunteer. Volunteering not only gives you a chance to make a difference in the world; it’s a terrific social opportunity as well. You will make new connections with like-minded, generous, and positive people.

Adopt a pet. Visit your local animal shelter, and spend some time with the cats or dogs available. Many of them are lonely, too, and would provide grateful companionship if you decide to take one home.

And of course, if loneliness is impacting your health, emotional state, or quality of life, it’s time to talk to your doctor. He or she will have more suggestions, including perhaps a referral to a therapist or support group to help you learn more coping strategies.

Need more information?

Contact us online to learn more

Contact Us

Close Accessibility Tools
Accessibility Controls Reset
Content Adjustments
Font Size

Default

Line Height

Default

Content Scaling

Default

Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Highlight Forms
Align Left
Align Center
Align Right
Focus Mode
Color Adjustments
Desaturate
Monochrome
Contrast

Default

Saturation

Default

Accessibility Statement

Despite our attempts to make this website accessible for everyone, there may still be some pages or sections that are not completely accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or do not have a suitable technological solution to make them accessible. Nevertheless, we are always striving to enhance our accessibility by adding, updating, improving its options and features, and incorporating new technologies.

We want to provide our users with the best experience possible, so we strive to support as many browsers and assistive technologies as possible.

If you wish to contact this website's owner, please use the contact form on the website.

Our User Interface Adjustment Options

Font adjustments - With this tool, users can modify font size, style, letter spacing, and line height for improved alignment and readability.

Color adjustments - Users can customize their color contrast profiles to light, dark, desaturated, and monochrome.

Content highlighting - Users can prioritize key elements such as links, forms, and titles.

Content focus - Users can enable focus mode to highlight the current page information based on their mouse movement.

Close