Feeling lonely? Discover helpful advice and learn when it’s time to seek help.
When you feel lonely at uni, it is easy to isolate yourself from the people around you. However, it’s important to know that you are not alone, and this feeling is more common than you might think.
According to the Independent, nearly a third of students feel a sense of loneliness on a weekly basis, while 15.8% feel that way daily.
Moving to a new city, or even a new country, is daunting. You are in unfamiliar surroundings and might not know anyone. Some people settle in quickly, whilst others may feel homesick for quite some time.
There are several ways to overcome loneliness at uni, such as reaching out to family, joining social clubs, getting a part-time job, and spending time in communal areas. In this article, we’ll discuss different ways to cope with feeling alone.
First, try to identify the source of your loneliness. For example, it could be caused by moving away from the familiarity of your hometown. Or, if you decided to live at home, your loneliness could be caused by the feeling of missing out.
How to cope with loneliness at uni
Talk to someone
Like many of us, you may find it difficult to talk about your feelings with others. However, bottling up your loneliness and not reaching out for help will only make you feel worse. Try talking to someone about how you’re feeling. This could be a flatmate, lecturer or doctor — it doesn’t matter who, as long as it is someone you feel comfortable and safe around.
Evidence shows that you are certainly not alone in the way you are feeling, so reaching out to someone is a good place to begin.
Join a society or club
Societies are, well, social. And the best part is that universities are full of different clubs to join. One of the best ways to combat loneliness is to encourage yourself to join one of the societies your university has to offer.
If you can’t decide which club to join, then attending the Freshers’ Fair is a brilliant place to start. Societies will often have a stall with a few members there, so you can have a browse and talk to existing members with no pressure to sign up.
Joining a society is a great way to meet like-minded people with similar interests.
Contact family and friends
While it’s important to engage in activities in your new hometown, don’t forget to stay in touch with family and old friends.
If you are feeling lonely, call a friend or family member. You have spent years building up friendships at school, so it is completely normal to find it difficult being far away from the people you are closest to.
Create a routine
Reading a chapter of your favourite book, sitting on the sofa with a coffee, or simply giving yourself an hour before starting your daily tasks are just some of the ways you can improve your mindset by building a consistent routine.
With the stress and busy lifestyle of being a student, taking time for yourself is really important.
Make sure you create small, healthy routines such as going food shopping or going to the gym on certain days of the week. These small but consistent changes can have a hugely positive impact on your life and help tackle feelings of loneliness at uni.
Keep going to lectures
The issue with feeling lonely is that it can become easy to isolate yourself from others. That’s why it is important to do your best to find the energy to go to lectures and seminars. Even if you don’t necessarily talk to many coursemates, it is still healthy to be surrounded by others and stay engaged with your course.
You don’t want to fall behind on your classwork, as this will only add more stress. Your coursemates are all there for the same reason, and you already have something in common by choosing the same subject. Try to begin with small conversations and, over time, you may build solid friendships.
Exercise
Exercise releases endorphins, which can improve your mental health. Find an activity that you enjoy. This could be anything from running and yoga to rock climbing, weightlifting or Zumba classes. There are so many different forms of activity that you are bound to find one that suits you.
Attending classes is also a good way to meet new people, and if you go each week, you may soon start making new friends.
Get a part-time job
A part-time job is a fantastic way to combat loneliness at uni. You will earn money to help with the costs of university life whilst also meeting new people.
This can help you feel less isolated and lead to new friendships with your colleagues. Bars, restaurants and retail businesses are often looking for part-time staff, and they can be very sociable places to work.
Hang out in communal areas
If you are feeling lonely at uni, you might find yourself spending a lot of time in your room. This can make you feel even more isolated, so it’s a good idea to spend time in communal areas whenever you can.
Forcing yourself to be social when you are feeling down is extremely difficult, but try to sit in a communal area at least once a week. This can help you get to know your flatmates and build stronger relationships with the people you live with.
At Vita Student, all of our accommodation buildings contain inspirational hub spaces where you can hang out and have fun with others. We also host daily activities and workshops, cooking events and VIP brand events — giving you plenty of opportunities to get involved and meet new people.
Seek professional help
If your feelings of loneliness at uni don’t improve over time, it is important to seek professional help. You may be experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, so getting the right support is crucial.
The first place to seek help is your university counselling team. They may be able to offer professional support, as well as peer mentoring and buddy schemes.
Alternatively, below are some helplines you can contact at any time:
- Samaritans — phone, email and face-to-face support
- Mind — mental health support and advice
- Student Minds — guidance and support tailored to university life
What do you do if you have no friends at uni?
Having no friends at uni can be difficult, but this is often only temporary. There are many ways to make friends at uni, such as joining societies, spending time in communal spaces, sitting next to someone in your lecture, or organising a study group.
Remember that everyone is in the same boat. Most people will have flown the nest for the first time and, chances are, they may be feeling lonely too.
How can you help a lonely student?
If you’re an extrovert and are looking for ways to help a lonely student, here are a few things you can do:
- If you notice someone often sits by themselves in lectures, go and sit next to them and start a conversation
- Ask someone if they would like to join you for lunch
- If your flatmate spends a lot of time in their room, knock on their door and invite them into the kitchen for a communal dinner or movie night
We hope you have enjoyed this blog on how to tackle loneliness at uni and now have some ideas on where to start.
Head to the Vita Student Blog to find more helpful tips and advice, such as how to boost your CV and how to prioritise your wellness.
