All around the world, students have had their university experience flipped upside down in the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most students, at some point, will have had to enter periods of lockdown or self-isolation and have been unable to leave their student accommodation for non-essential reasons.
It has left students feeling lonelier than ever, as the often country-wide lockdowns mean that students felt out of touch and isolated. According to a study by Save The Student, two-thirds of students said that their mental health has suffered as a result of the pandemic. We have a brief look at what you can do you combat COVID-related loneliness at university.
Have fewer, higher-quality relationships.
Having fewer, but higher-quality relationships, as opposed to many superficial ones, can help reduce loneliness. Often loneliness is not about the quantity of people you have around you, but the quality.
Make an effort to help others.
Making a conscious effort to help those around you is one of the best ways to combat loneliness. There may be others around you who are also feeling lonely, but by simply talking through loneliness, you can normalise the experience, and showing kindness to others can help make you see relationships as more meaningful.
Have intimate conversations with friends and family.
It is more important than ever to reach out to friends and family. Check-in with your friends, be sure to be honest about your feelings and loneliness and find out how they are feeling. When talking to family and friends, to try to be as positive as you can, for instance, invoking nostalgic memories, such as trips you took or memorable nights out, can also help reduce loneliness.
Get help if you need it.
However, if you’re still finding it difficult to stop those feelings of loneliness, it might be best to contact a professional. Most universities will have counselling services, and also try to leverage any mentoring opportunities to help with your careers and socio-emotional needs.
If you’re looking for a student wellbeing service, talk to us today.
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