During the holidays, it’s typical to feel lonely. The elderly and people mourning the death of a loved one are particularly sensitive to feelings of loneliness. Unfortunately, loneliness has been related to major medical diseases such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, and heart disease.
Despite the problems associated with loneliness, you can do things to appreciate life in your later years. Here’s how to cope with loneliness during the holidays.
How to Cope with Loneliness During the Holidays:
Search for company
Overcoming the urge to isolate is the best way to deal with loneliness. You can do this by attending celebrations in the community, making a phone call to a close friend, or going shopping for gifts.
You could even go to a church or other religious site and speak with fellow members. Then, as you search for company, you’re less focused on negative thoughts when you’re out and about doing fun and exciting activities.
When you find others that appreciate the holidays as much as you, you’re able to break out of the self-defeating spiral that comes with loneliness.
Pursue Family
Unfortunately, many seniors express a desire not to burden their relatives during the holidays. As a result, they keep their urge for connection hidden, which increases the chances of loneliness.
As an elder, you should figure out what you want during the holidays and be as open as possible about it. It would help if you told your family exactly what you’d like to do together and how frequently you’d like to chat or check-in.
This shows you trust their abilities to say yes or no to make their own decisions. Furthermore, it provides them the best chance to satisfy your needs.
Plan ahead
To avoid being bored during the holidays, plan ahead of time what you’ll eat, who you’ll talk with, and what activities you’ll engage in during your free time. You could even plan a stroll throughout the day.
Other things include watching a TV show or movie, reading a nice book, writing a letter, looking at old family pictures, or listening to your favorite music.
If you and your family are up for a virtual visit, you may try playing a game, doing a craft project, or cooking a meal together.
Find a hobby
It’s a fantastic moment to channel your enthusiasm into something valuable and relaxing. Consider doing something creative, such as painting or writing, reading a good book, or starting a new fitness program.
Stay active to avoid experiencing loneliness during the holidays
To stay busy, you should find free fitness and health-management workshops that assist older folks with staying engaged in the community. Workshops are usually held at local community groups, and anyone can join!
To stay even more active, the Arthritis Foundation created an exercise session that includes weightlifting, stretching, and balance training that can be customized to any fitness level.
It has been proven that the program improves strength and reduces the danger of falling. In addition, friendships are formed as a result of the group activity, boosting confidence.
The fear of falling is a significant reason elderly folks don’t go out of the house, and this program can help them enjoy a healthier life.
Get in the spirit of the holidays to avoid experiencing loneliness during the holidays
To get into the holiday spirit, sometimes all you need is a little happiness. So if you’re having a bad day, remind yourself of the good things about the holidays, such as the food, decorations, and entertainment.
You could bake cookies and pies, watch Christmas movies, do crafts, and sing along to your favorite holiday songs. All of these items serve to remind us of our best Christmas memories and traditions, preparing us to celebrate and appreciate the next holiday season.
Instead of doing this by yourself, you can get help from family members or friends to help you decorate, prepare homemade gifts, or take you to see the holiday lights in your area.
Participating in holiday events serves as a way to get in the holiday mood, connect with loved ones, and create memories.
Conclusion
Aging is unavoidable. However, there are always possibilities to meet new people. Besides this, keeping in touch with family and friends is essential, and all you have to do is take advantage of the opportunity. Hopefully, these tips give you a chance to cope with loneliness during the holidays.
Check out our other articles about combating loneliness