Did you know loneliness is a serious health concern?

In 2016 I traveled for 8 months on my own.

There were times that I did not meet anyone and there were times that I had beautiful connections.

There were days that the silence was long and painful and other days were full of laughter.

I never knew what kind of a day or week I was going to have.

I had to deal with the spontaneity of emotions: Loneliness, aloneness, spiritual, fun and everything else!

I never had to deal with so much loneliness but I managed and now I love my “me time.”

Staying curious and busy helped me learn how to deal with loneliness.

Walking was a bit part of my trip.

I feel that it kept me sane. I loved the idea of being in motion and that the scene in front of me was in constant change. That meant that my brain was taking in something new every few moments.  

My mind was busy and I did not have any time to feel anything. It was all about the visuals ahead of me.

I photographed a lot during my walks and that helped me stay curious and busy.

Walking helped me focus.

The other thing is that some walks were hilly or on unstable grounds so I needed to pay more attention to where I was stepping.

Getting lost challenged me to stay in the present

I got lost easily and that was also something that I needed to be more attentive about.

Many times I lost mobile connections and I could not check a map.  At the end of the day, I was exhausted mentally and physically and ready to rest at the airbnb or rental.  I loved these long walks.

All this to say that one way that I dealt with loneliness during my trip was to be extremely busy with what I was doing at the present time or at the moment that I was doing it.  This relates closely to all my meditation, yoga, tai chi and “zen” lessons. 

My walks kept me very entertained.

It really is fabulous to stay in the moment.

When you feel lonely, move. Do something that you like. It will help you to stay in the moment, it will help quiet your mind and your mood will shift.

So, what do you do if you fell loneliness has taken over your life?

Make yourself a cup of tea and get out a paper and pen.

Start to journal to find out what is making you feel lonely.

Ask yourself these questions:

• When did you start to feel loneliness?
• Are you alone all the time?
• Do you feel lonely when you are with people?
• Is there a time of the day when you feel the most lonely?
• Do you have friends who you can count on for support or are you a loner?
• If you are a loner, do you have a therapist you can make an appointment? You may want to see a therapist to help you deal with this situation just for a short time.
• What are some things you would like to do that puts you around people?
• Do you have a hobby that needs more attention? A fun hobby will help you stay curious and busy.
• Do you exercise? Exercising is important for your mental health. You don’t need to go to a gym if that appalls you! A few good walks will do the trick.
• If you live alone, make dates to meet up with people for dinner, a movie or a walk at least once a week.

Did you know there are more and more older women who choose to live alone and are thriving?

Did you know there is a Minister of Loneliness in the UK, I think we can finally just chat normally about loneliness!

What to do if you find yourself alone on Christmas, or any holiday?

Tips for the woman over 50 who lives alone.

Do you have a question or a tip? Please write to me.  I would love to hear about it.

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Updated August 2025