Loneliness
Loneliness affects millions of people globally. In the UK, 82% of adults say they’re lonely at least some of the time, yet according to research, 61% of them have never spoken to anyone about how they feel. Loneliness Awareness Week 2026 takes place from June 15th to 21st https://www.lonelinessawarenessweek.org and aims to reduce the stigma around loneliness and remind us that it’s a natural human emotion that we’re all likely to experience at some point in our lives.
Why do we feel lonely?
There are all sorts of reasons we might be feeling lonely. In general, it occurs when we don’t have the kind of social contact that feels meaningful to us. Our genes, life experiences, upbringing and environment all play a part, and it can also depend on how well other parts of our life are going, or how supported we feel. Even though our lives might look quite sociable from the outside, key life points such as moving away from home, becoming a new parent, retirement, navigating a relationship breakdown or suffering a bereavement, all increase the likelihood of us feeling lonely.
Sometimes we might not even be able to put our finger on a specific reason - it can just hit us unexpectedly. It often passes on its own, especially if we keep busy. But sometimes it doesn't - and if it's starting to negatively impact our daily life, it may be time to make some changes.
Making changes
Making changes can feel daunting, especially if we're feeling low, but deciding to make an active change can help us feel more positive and in control. We don’t have to overhaul our lives or do something dramatic - it’s about taking small steps to feel more connected.
Here are a few suggestions:
Joining a class or club can provide a sense of belonging that comes with being part of a group. Whether it’s an art class, exercise class, or book club, joining automatically introduces us to a group of people who share at least one of our interests. Check the local library or community college to see what's available, or join a group on social media to talk to others in the local area.
Volunteering is also a great way to meet new people and feel part of a cause or group. It’s not only good for the community, it gives us a sense of purpose and helps create new friendships that keep loneliness at bay.
Think of the ways you can build connections back into your daily life. For example, shopping locally in the same places, or walking regularly in your local park or outside spaces. Even the smallest things like seeing the same faces on a regular basis, or saying hello to your neighbours, will help you feel more anchored to a community. Spending time in environments where there are other people, such as in coffee shops or libraries, at the same time each day or week, and interacting in small ways with the strangers we encounter, enables us to improve our social and emotional wellbeing and start to form connections.
We probably already have people in our life that we could get to know better, or connections with family that could be deepened. Perhaps we’ve lost touch with friends over the years. If so, why not call or see them more often, and make an effort to strengthen those relationships?
Pets, especially dogs and cats, offer so many benefits. Rescuing a pet combines the benefits of altruism and companionship, and fights loneliness in several ways. Walking a dog opens you up to a community of other dog-walkers, and a cute dog on a leash tends to be a people magnet. Additionally, pets provide unconditional love, which can be a great salve for loneliness.
Looking after ourselves is very important. It involves nurturing our physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health to enhance our overall well-being. Self-care practices like healthy eating, regular exercise, and stress management can help promote lasting health. Taking time for ourselves, doing things we enjoy such as listening to our favourite music, reading, or meditating can help us relax and boost our confidence and self-esteem.
Reaching out and telling someone how we feel. When we’re lonely it can feel like there’s no one there for us, but loneliness isn’t something that can always be noticed from someone’s outward appearance. It’s not that people don’t care or aren’t there for us, it’s more likely that they don’t know how we’re feeling. When we’ve been lonely for a long time it can start to affect our mental health and wellbeing. If you feel that’s the case, make an appointment to see your GP to make sure you’re getting the right support. Some forms of therapy, especially cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), can help us to change our thoughts as well as our actions, to help us not only experience less loneliness, but to have the tools to prevent it.
Sometimes recognising that we feel lonely can be hard. It’s important to remember that lots of people experience similar feelings of loneliness, and that they can pass. Understanding our own reasons for feeling lonely can help us to identify and manage these feelings.
Thank you for reading this blog post. I would be interested to hear about your experiences. Also, if you have any thoughts to share or ideas for future posts, please do let me know. I would love to hear from you.