For some people the holiday season is a wonderful time of year. Yet for others it is a time of sadness due to some type of loss or illness. The holidays can be a painful reminder of this loss. Thus it is important that you don’t isolate yourself and connect with others.

We tend to be social creatures, so it is important that you spend time with family or friends. This certainly doesn’t mean that you have to be with people 24/7, but spending time with others will help decrease your sadness. You may also enjoy your alone time, as people vary in how much socialization they need. To isolate yourself is detrimental to your mental health.

Hopefully you have good relationships with some of your family members, and a few close friends. It is important that you engage in some face-to-face activities with these people. Online relationships may be helpful but they should not replace live contact, as we connect in a different way in person.

Think of some activities that you enjoy and do one of them on a regular basis. This will get you out of the house and involved with others in some way shape or form. Everyone is different as to the types of things they enjoy doing. Here are some suggestions from a website called Between Sessions:

Have dinner with a friend

Obviously it could be any meal or even coffee. The importance is that you are spending time with someone and are able to share and check in on each other’s lives. Doing so will help you feel connected to someone else.

Go to a Meetup group

Go to meetup.com and see what kinds of groups are available in your area. What do you like to do? My guess is that there are also others in your community that does the same thing. This is also a great way to connect with new people, and you obviously have something in common.

Walk or exercise with a friend

Getting out in nature with a friend is a wonderful way to feel connected. Walking is one of the activities that people who don’t usually exercise enjoy. Sometimes it is finding the least of all evils when it comes to exercise. Or perhaps the two of you go to a gym or workout in your garage. Whatever it is, enjoy it with a friend. Exercise is also the best way to relieve stress.

Go to some type of service group meeting

Is there a chamber of commerce, Rotary Club or Kiwanis in your area? Do you want to help out in your community in some way? This is also another place to help you connect with others in your suburb or city.

Contact someone who hasn’t heard from you in awhile

Is there a friend that you have lost contact with? My guess is that there is someone out there that if you contact and ask to meet for a meal or coffee that they would say yes. Call that person and set something up. You just might make their day.

Go to a religious or spiritual group meeting

Perhaps this might fill you up if you are religious or spiritual. If this isn’t your thing, that is fine too. Joining this type of group may also make you feel connected.

Join a hobby group

Do you have some type of craft or hobby that you enjoy doing? Can you look on line and see who offers some type of group to join. You may like to hike, play a musical instrument, knit, bead, or take pictures. If you engage in this type of activity you can connect with someone and maybe improve your craft at the same time.

Take a class

What does your local community college offer? You may even find something at one of your local museums. Look at leisure learning in your area and see what comes up. There may be something that is of interest to you.

Support group

Are you struggling in some way? My guess is that there are others out there struggling with the same thing as you. When you share your struggles with others, you feel less alone.

Volunteer

There are so many ways to volunteer in your community. If you don’t have a specific passion and know where you’d want to volunteer, look online. Put in volunteer and your city. Many opportunities will come up for you to choose from. Giving to others makes people feel good. It also gets you out of your own head.

These are just a few ideas on how to connect with others, and by no means an exhaustive list. Hopefully one of them will appeal to you. If planning social activities and getting involved is a challenge for you, give me a call at 713-304-6554 and we can come up with a plan that is best for you.

Take care,

Debbie