Long-term tips to keep the ball rolling

Long-term tips to keep the ball rolling

As you become more comfortable with the day-to-day aspects of being alone, you can start digging a bit deeper.

Shake up your routine

Even a routine that works well can eventually morph into a rut, leaving you uninspired. Think about your day-to-day routine and immediate surroundings. What’s still working for you, and what’s become dull?

If you’re not sure, take a shot at it. Freshen things up. Rearrange your furniture or paint a wall. Start a garden, clean and declutter, or find a new coffee shop. See if there’s something you can change to pull yourself out of that rut.

Strengthen your coping skills

Life has its stressors, and bad things happen. There’s no point in ignoring this reality. But remember that time something bad happened and you figured out how to deal with it? That’s a skill worth continuing to develop.

Consider how you coped then and why that worked. Think about how you can use that same mindset to cope with events that are happening now. This is also a good time to give yourself some credit. You’re probably a lot stronger and more resilient than you realize.

Nurture relationships

As you become more comfortable being alone, you might find yourself spending less time socializing. There’s nothing wrong with that, but close social connections are still important.

Arrange to visit with someone in your family, a friend, or go hang out with the team after work. Call someone you haven’t heard from in a long time and have a meaningful conversation.

Practice forgiveness

What does forgiveness have to do with your happiness? A lot, as it turns out. Among other health benefits, the act of forgiveness may reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

It’s less about making the other person feel better than it is about making yourself feel better. Yes, that means writing a letter forgiving someone who’s hurt you without actually sending it totally counts.

Forgiveness can take a load off your mind. While you’re at it, don’t forget to forgive yourself, too.

Take care of your health

Emotional health can affect physical health and vice versa. Taking care of your physical health may help boost your overall happiness. Plus, it’s a good way to foster a good relationship with yourself.

Make eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sleep part of what you do with your alone time. Be sure to get an annual physical, and see your doctor to manage any preexisting health conditions.

Make plans for the future

Where do you want to be in 5 years or in 10 years, both personally and professionally? What do you need to do to accomplish those goals? Writing this down can be helpful in guiding your decisions.

Revisit this exercise annually to see if you’re on track or if goals should be revised. Having plans for tomorrow might help you feel more hopeful and optimistic today.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Sometimes, all the self-care, exercise, and gratitude lists in the world aren’t enough to shake feelings of sadness or loneliness.

Consider reaching out to a therapist if:

You’re overly stressed and finding it difficult to cope.

You have symptoms of anxiety.

You have symptoms of depression.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis point to get into therapy. Simply wanting to get better and spending time alone is a perfectly good reason to make an appointment. Concerned about cost? Our guide to options for every budget can help.

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