Feeling Lonely? Here’s How To Deal
Here is your mental health roundup this week, including some fab self-care tips
Welcome to The Roundup, a Monday series featuring THE BEST OF in Mental Health + Motherhood + Fashion + Identity.
Happy Monday guyz!
How are you doing in quarantine lately? How is your mental health? How is your physical health? Don’t forget to be yourself today, and every day. And never, ever apologize for being you.
That’s my pep talk. Here is this week’s roundup.
Mental Health
Researchers have coined a new term for loneliness, “alonely.” While loneliness is “a mental state that taints personal perception and impacts overall health,” aloneliness is an overwhelming feeling of dissatisfaction that comes from spending too much time alone.
New studies say quarantining — by yourself and with others — can make you feel extremely alonely (JUMPS ON TABLE & RAISES HAND).
According to researchers, seeking solitude can be beneficial IF it’s enjoyed in moderate amounts, and is balanced with spending time with other people. Something damn near impossible for us to achieve right now if we don’t have a reliable quarantine pod to lean on.
Great! Another life balancing act for us to figure out.
Here’s how to cope: If you’re feeling an overwhelming sense of loneliness right now, the cure is to make sure your alone time is quality time. Aka being intentional with your solo hangouts. Examples? Reading a book for pleasure, spending time outside, taking the focus off yourself and placing it on helping someone else.
Takeaway? Instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media, do something more mindful instead that brings you happiness. I like to read fiction novels, color pictures, write letters, and Pinterest my future clothing brand.
Motherhood
Feeling overwhelmed by loneliness and motherhood right now? Per usual, you’re not alone.
Here are some self-care reminders to superglue on your bathroom mirror:
- Create a capsule wardrobe from your existing wardrobe
- Cut down on TV
- Make a teeny goal for yourself each day, and reach it
- Switch up your makeup
- Switch up your workout
- Journal your anxieties out
- Believe in yourself
- Invest in the woman you want to be
These things will declutter your mind, your home, and your life. Be zen. Chaos isn’t cool.
Fashion
For your viewing pleasure, here are some anything-but-basic brands I’m loving (and will be taking inspiration from for my clothing brand, VALT)
Identity
If you’re confused as to how to find meaning in your life, here are some ways that can help you figure it out:
- Choose your friends wisely.
- Set goals.
- Help others.
- Focus on things that are important to you.
- Follow your gifts and talents.
Ending Quote
From the no-bullshit self-improvement master himself, Mark Manson:
“You don’t have to be extraordinary to do valuable and meaningful work. Read a book to your kid. Call your grandma. Message an old friend. Cook dinner for your partner. These things are ordinary for a reason: they are what matters.
While the ordinary doesn’t get attention, it tends to be what actually makes us happy.”
Thanks, Mark. You always bring us back to Earth.
THANK YOU FOR READING TODAY AND ALWAYS!
If you enjoy this newsletter, share it with your friends. The more subscribers we have, the closer we are to launching our clothing brand Co-Op and giving back to mental health organizations hard at work de-stigmatizing mental health issues. You’re awesome.
Give the gift of mental health support by subscribing here :)
Be you.
Xo,
Ashley
Ashley is a writer based in Connecticut, currently working on a memoir focusing on the becoming-a-mom identity crisis. She is an advocate for mental health, on a hard mission to show people the incredible power that dressing up has on your mindset.
This post is brought to you by Take A Sip, a weekly newsletter dedicated to improving your mental health. You can sign up for her newsletter here, and keep up with her here.
