February is often touted as the month of love and romance. In Western cultures, we celebrate the familiar Valentine’s Day on February 14th. In Eastern cultures, we celebrate the Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao Jie), also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day, on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year.
Navigating through these special dates might not be a walk in the park for everyone, especially the singles. In Singapore, as in many other countires, holidays can sometimes magnify feelings of loneliness or social pressure. With an emphasis on romantic relationships, some individuals might find themselves feeling isolated during these occasions.
Moreover, high workload or intense societal pressure, such as during exam seasons for students, or demanding work projects, can also contribute to stress for singles as they navigate these challenges without a strong support system.
If you’re struggling with loneliness and stress, EMCC’s Head of Counselling, Dawn Tan, has some words of advice that may help.
1. Recognise that your loneliness is normal
Everyone goes through seasons in life where you’ll feel lonely. This doesn’t mean that something is wrong with you. For example, being single when those around you are all attached can feel isolating. Parenting alone can also be very stressful, and you will naturally wish for company.
2. Take the feeling of loneliness as feedback
Humans were created to be ‘social animals’, and not ‘lone islands’. Feeling lonely could sometimes be a signal for you to seek company. You can respond to this feeling by reaching out to a trusted friend or family member to talk to.
3. Engage in healthy activities
Take stock of your daily lifestyle. If you have been only occupied with school or work, you can consider incorporating healthy activities, such as exercising or spending time around nature, into your routine. Studies have shown that engaging in these activities for 20 to 30 minutes a day can increase the endorphin levels in your body, making you feel better.
4. Expand your mental health tool kit
Expand your tool kit, your inventory of tools to help you during difficult times, by having conversations with your loved ones about how they deal with loneliness. Hear them out, take the methods that you feel will work well for you, and place them in your mental health tool kit. Whenever you’re hit with a pang of loneliness, go to your tool kit, and try out a new method. If it works, that’s great! If it doesn’t, you can still try the next tool.
We hope these tips will help you. If you know of others who are feeling this way, share these with them! Remember, extending a listening ear to those who may need it during this time can make a world of difference.
If you’ve tried these methods and still feel overwhelmed, we are here to provide you with professional counselling support. For more information, click here.
