Tis the season to be jolly… but is everyone this jolly or happy during the holidays? There’s many reasons why someone would find themselves alone, or lonely, during this period of time. Be it because they do not get along with their family, or other social issues which may prevent them from feeling safe at home. Or maybe they feel excluded or left out from social events.

So what can you do in this season to feel less lonely?

  1. Volunteer

By volunteering, not only are you going to release happy hormones by helping others (be they human or furry), but you’re also opening yourself up to the opportunity of making new connections with people who have similar passions as you do.

  1. Be proactive

Don’t wait for others to invite you to social events – make your own! Invite a friend out for coffee, and plan ahead so you always have around two social events a week.

 

Regardless of what you do this festive season, take care of yourself and of your needs. And remember, that you are not the only one who feels lonely or sad, even if it seems like the whole world is shining.

Mel McElhatton holds a degree in Social Work from the University of Malta. With Willingness, Mel does life coaching and is one of the facilitators in the IRL – In Real Life team. They are also the producer of the radio show Niddiskutu s-Sess. They can be contacted on mel@willingness.com.mt. You can visit their profile on: https://zme.tec.mybluehost.me/willingnessmt/team/mel-mcelhatton/