How to feel less lonely as you get older
https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-feel-less-lonely-as-work-and-family-quieten-down-later-in-lifeMany older adults find themselves feeling more isolated than they did at earlier points in their lives. Often, grown-up children have moved elsewhere. One or more close family members or friends may have passed away. For many, retirement has ended the days of hustling off to a workplace full of colleagues.
Do you, too, feel a sense of being less connected than you were before? Perhaps you wake up some mornings wondering what to do with your day, feeling unmotivated to go out into the world. Or you find yourself tearfully looking at old photos and longing for days past. You may even feel forgotten by loved ones, or frustrated with them for not calling or visiting. If you can relate to these or similar experiences, you might be struggling with the very common experience of loneliness.
This Guide is intended to instil in older adults – particularly those who are in their 60s or older – the idea that, although loneliness may not be a welcome experience, it is something that you can cope with if you do experience it. To start, it’s useful to differentiate loneliness from the physical states of living alone or being alone, although they sometimes go together. Loneliness is a subjective experience, one that can be described as a form of suffering due to the sense that your social needs are not being met.
For older adults, experiences such as the loss of loved ones or the end of certain routines may contribute to the risk of loneliness. While estimates of its prevalence among older adults vary across the world, surveys suggest that up to about a third of older people in the United States are experiencing loneliness; those who are unpaid caregivers, have a low income, or identify as LGBTQ are at increased risk.
Well, that's cheerful.
Here's the cheat-sheet. (a single jpeg)
Cheerful point: I find myself looking tearfully at new photos. They're so damn good, and look forward to newer ones! See you in the photo group ... now and then.
Classical music helps a lot. In recent times, my sight-reading improved a lot (who says you can't learn as you get older?) and it's a kick to be able to attempt pieces I never thought I could earlier on.
CIAO!
Mazeltov!
Mabuhay!
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I've been alone a few hundred thousand times, but never lonely.
Now for the record I'm 78 years young and widowed.
I have about 4500 books, about 4000 cds and dvds, six cats and one dog. So, no, I am never lonely.
To add to the discussion, I can be in a room full of people and still feel alone, but not lonely.
I have no need for loneliness, but that is just me.
Hope everyone who posted to have a good day. I know I will.
I missed my husband, but I think that's different from feeling lonely. I was always sort of solitary, so while I missed my husband, I wasn't lonesome. I made some choices, and living alone is one of those choices. Does that make it easier? Maybe knowing I'm the boss of it does help. I cook most of my meals from scratch, and put effort into my food plan. My last cat has revealed her personality since she become an only cat, and she keeps me busy with her expectations 
Before I get out of bed, I go over things I need or want to do and have a sort of plan to use up the day.
Before Covid, my kids and I got in the habit of texting in the morning. I knew they were worried about me, and it was easy to start saying hi. When the Covid shutdown started, I asked a couple of relatives and friends if they wanted to join in a morning text and we all thought it was a terrific idea. We've continued. For whatever reason, my friends and relatives in the morning cirlce are single. We keep it upbeat and short.
I've got local friends I stay in touch with. My daughter and her family live locally, and if they don't need help with the kids, they might ask me to help with the dogs. I've been a member of DU for 22 years, and being here is a big help. I feel like I got friends here that would meet for a cup of coffee
I started collecting when I was 8, and when my husband and I married, he got interested, too, so we spent over 40 years in a terrific hobby. I had time to think about things, and last year started a booth in a vintage mall. So I'm physically involved in something I've loved. On DU and on fb, I've found antique and collecting groups, and I really enjoy reading and contributing to discussions.
I'm active in my neighborhood and friendly with several of the families. I watch dogs, cats and chickens if I'm asked.
With all of this, it is still very easy for me to isolate myself. I'm glad all of my friends and relatives have a similar outlook We understand each other.
