The words alone and lonely do not have the same meaning. The first is a state of being and the second is a state of mind. Many people find their loneliest moments come when they are with others. The worst loneliness of all is being with someone but feeling that you are invisible. Loneliness is not exclusive to those who are alone, but it is likely felt more deeply by those of us who have no one to share our joys and sorrows with daily. Fortunately, there are many ways to conquer loneliness. The following are things SMART singles can do to lessen our sense of isolation and improve our quality of life.
Volunteer
Reaching out to others has significant benefits. It not only helps us conquer loneliness but helps others, as well. Listed below are many organizations that offer volunteer opportunities suitable for older adults. There are many more to be found with a simple internet search.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Canine Companions for Independence
Volunteer at a Local Hospitals
Volunteer at a Local Libraries
Join a Club
There are many community groups out there based on several different hobbies and interests. Here are a few ideas to get you out of the house and interacting with like-minded friends.
Become a Bird Watcher
Get Involved with a Walking/Bicycling Groups
Gransnet is a site for grandparents to swap ideas and brag
If you have a dog, get involved in some K-9 clubs
Join A Camera Club
Join a Drama Group
Join a Gymn, Exercise Class, or Yoga Group
Join a Historical Society
Join a Retirement Association (ex. Retired Teachers Associations)
Join a Sewing Group or Start a Scrapbooking or Painting Group
Join a Women’s Travel Group
Join Meetup to find new friends with common interests
Join or Start a Book Club or a Writer’s Group
Join Some Facebook Groups
Join Your Local YMCA
Ladies Groups at Your Local Church
Look into Senior Centers Near You
Never Mind The Bus Pass for energetic seniors
Stitch is another social networking site specifically for seniors
The Red Hat Society is for Senior Ladies
Avoid Boredom
Many people have discovered that staying busy is the secret to combating loneliness. We tend not to feel so alone if our minds and our hands are occupied. Below is a list of many hobbies and interests that are popular. You can check out this Wikipedia list for more ideas.
- Antiquing
- Art
- Arts & Crafts
- Astronomy
- Baking/Cooking
- Calligraphy
- Camping/Hiking
- Ceramics
- Collecting (stamps, coins, art, etc.)
- Coloring
- Community Radio/Podcasts
- Dancing
- Decorating
- Flower Arranging
- Gaming
- Gardening
- Genealogy
- Golfing
- Model building
- Mosaics
- Music
- Origami
- Pets
- Puzzles
- Reading
- Re-enactment/cosplay
- Sewing / Embroidery/Needlepoint / Quilting
- Videography
- Writing
- YouTube Creator
Check out more of my thoughts about single living for seniors.
