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Let’s face it: finding solutions for how to be happy without friends is not as simple as it seems!
As social creatures, we depend on human connections (and friendships) to keep us happy and sane. Yet, if you find yourself in a more isolated season of life, you need the right coping skills to adapt.
That’s why in today’s post, I’m sharing proven strategies for how to be happy without friends, feel comfortable in your own presence, and love yourself.
This post is all about how to be happy without friends.
How to be Happy Without Friends
While some of us are naturally happy on our own, others find being solo a HUGE challenge.
If you find yourself doing any of the following when you aren’t able to spend time with a friend:
- Panicking, overexaggerating, and/or projecting thoughts into the future
- Feeling like a loser, a bum, etc
- Wondering how you’ll go shopping alone
- Afraid to sit in the silence of your own presence
- Searching online for another form of stimulation so you don’t need to be “alone”
You likely don’t believe you can be happy unless there’s another person with you.
Luckily, there are extremely inspiring ways to become more comfortable with being alone. This is something you can learn over time–you are not stuck!
Also, it’s important to note that no matter how you feel about being alone, developing the relationship you have with yourself is ALWAYS the best investment you can make!
Along the course of your life, you’ll be spending a ton of time in your own skin… so you might as well learn to enjoy it.
How to be happy when you don’t have friends?
Now, I’m sure you constantly ask yourself questions along the lines of:
- How to be happy if you have no friends?
- Should I have more friends?
- Is it ok not to have friends?
- How to be happy when you don’t have friends?
And trust me, you’re not alone!
As a young twenty-something, our lives are constantly evolving and taking twists we did not see coming.
With that said, our friendships change as we undergo these changes.
So, part of learning to be happy without friends is accepting that it’s normal to feel like your social life is suffering, especially as you move through life pivots.
At the end of the day, being happy alone is all about your mindset.
When you remain confident in who you are, and learn to love your own presence, you ultimately grow much more at peace without constant social plans or friend interactions.
- Your life is so much larger than the quantity of friends in your circle
- There is a huge difference between being alone without friends, and being lonely… just because you are solo right now, does not mean you have to be a lonely person!
- Remember that life happens in seasons: you will make new friends when you’re ready
If you need more direction on being happy by yourself, keep scrolling–we have some incredible words of advice for you:
Guide to Being Happy Alone
Below, you’ll find some of the top, proven strategies for how to be happy without friends.
I suggest you take notes and try to incorporate a couple of these self-love practices into your weekly routine.
Be your own best friend
My first (and favorite) idea for being happy without friends is truly becoming your own best friend.
While it may sound easy to love yourself, to feel secure and proud of who you are, for some of us, it is not that simple.
So, here are some pointers for becoming best friends with yourself:
- Make an effort to accept yourself for who you are: remember what makes you special and that you will never get another body to live in, but yours!
- Actively date yourself by taking care of your wellness goals and treating yourself like you would your significant other… you are the love of your life!
- Stop comparing yourself to those around you, especially as you judge online!
- Don’t be your own worst enemy: be gentle with yourself, and don’t judge yourself so critically that you feel powerless and forever imperfect
- Listen to self-love podcasts that inspire you to cherish and value yourself: at the end of the day, you’re teaching the people around you how to treat you based on how you treat yourself.
- Build a being your own best friend aesthetic by investing in clothes, skincare and makeup products, and home decor that brings you closer to your highest self
Take ownership of your life
Another one of the most important ways to be happy alone (like, genuinely happy about it) is to take complete ownership over your life experiences.
Essentially, this means to accept that no matter the outside forces at play, you and you alone are the reason your life is where it is right now.
The good and the bad! AKA, not having friends right now is a result of how your life has played out, but so is all the good fortune and incredible memories you accumulated along the way.
Once you’re able to reach this level of vulnerability and true self-acceptance, it becomes so much easier to express gratitude for what you do have–and make strides to manifest what you are still yearning for.
Lastly, remember that when you’re in control of your life, you’re also in control of your mindset–which dictates how you ultimately become happy no matter how many friends you have.
You determine your value!
Disconnect from social media
In addition, being happy alone starts with removing any distractions, messages, and content that make you feel like no friends is a “bad” thing.
In order to find joy in your own presence, and stop contemplating whether there is something wrong with you for your lack of friends right now, I *highly* suggest taking a digital detox.
- Set a time limit on your scrolling time, and actively catch yourself when you dip into the cortex for too long
- Monitor your emotional and physical health as you disconnect: do you feel less stressed, more present, not as overwhelmed or confused?
I implore you to regain your time and mental energy by taking a break from social media. Live your life to the fullest instead of living it through a screen!
Focus on your wellness habits
Next up on this list of how to make yourself happy without friends is concentrating on building the identity of your dream woman!
Again, let’s bring up being mindful: actively change your thoughts from repeating “this is terrible, I’m a loner, why doesn’t anyone want to be my friend” to “this is just a period of life, and I can use it to dig deeper into myself and become the most authentic version of me.”
- Sit down for thirty minutes and brainstorm all the tasks, experiences, and goals you’ve been putting off because you didn’t have the time, procrastinated, etc.
- Develop a list of items you want to concentrate on across all dimensions of wellness: emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual
- Ex: go on a solo trip, get into a regular journaling practice, run a half marathon, etc.
- Make an actionable plan to reorient your lifestyle around the intentions you just set for yourself!
Spend time in nature
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
– John Muir
“A walk in nature walks the soul back home.”
– Mary Davis
Self reflection almost always happens when breathing in some fresh air and contemplating that the world is so much bigger than anything going on in your life right now.
While that may sound harsh, it’s true: knowing how to be happy alone starts when you accept that there’s so much more to who you are than your friend count!
In order to leverage the power of nature, set a goal to be outside for at least twenty minutes a day.
Wander through trails you’ve never seen before, walk your dog at the local park, or complete your guided meditation on your porch.
Over time, you’ll notice how much more connected you feel with the world around you–and how much happier you become knowing you always have Mother Nature to sit with!
In addition, scientific research shows that spending time in nature can reduce and prevent emotional problems.
In case you need some more convincing on the power of being outdoors, here are two of the best books I’ve read on this topic:
Build up your passion project
Especially if you’re wondering how to stay happy without friends (and make this a long-lasting habit), it’s important to dive into hobbies you care about.
You can pursue these wellness activities for fun, or you can eventually find ways to monetize your passions and turn them into full-fledged business ventures.
Here are some ideas for finding a passion project you’re excited to pour energy into:
- Think back to the things that made you excited as a little kid–before you had extensive responsibilities and adult job requirements… herein lies the key to your early callings
- Make a list of two or three hobbies to implement into your schedule for fun
- Ex. painting, playing soccer, woodworking, etc.
- Over time, see which passions are most strongly attached to who you are, and explore ways to turn them into a more extensive project
- Ex. selling your work online, building a brand around your beliefs, etc.
Over time, you’re realize that when you actively do the things you enjoy, you can stay content even when you have no one else around.
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Create a consistent exercise routine
Additionally, another great route to being your own best friend is taking exquisite care of your body!
To start, set a regular exercise regimen for yourself: decide which types of movement you like best, and create a reasonable expectation for yourself to workout throughout the week.
Exercise releases endorphins, which is why you tend to walk away from a sweaty workout feeling much happier and alive!
Also, know that when you prioritize your health and fitness goals, you’re proving to yourself that you’re worth investing in.
By remaining disciplined and persistent, you end up falling in love with the person you’re becoming because you’ve worked so hard to become her!
- Sign up for a local gym membership and attend a few different types of classes (pilates, Zumba, spin, etc.)
- Invest in an at-home workout program
- Buy a Peloton bike
- Take 1-1 personal training sessions with someone who motivates you
- Consult a registered dietitian when creating a nutrition plan
Volunteer solo
If you really want to feel alone but not lonely, consider volunteering for a cause you truly care about.
Odds are, there will be several other like-minded individuals there by themselves–and you never know what you’ll connect on!
Either way, volunteering is an excellent way to give back to your community and gain personal satisfaction for offering up your time to others.
Most importantly, volunteering can help you feel connected to others while still getting quality alone time–and concentrating on being present and happy about it!
Leverage spiritual activities
Another one of my favorite tips to be happy without friends is intentionally engaging in spiritual wellness activities.
As I’ve mentioned throughout the post, being happy without friends is ultimately an inside job–it’s all about your mindset!
Luckily, spiritual health is all about cultivating a set of beliefs and patterns you choose to live by, and strengthening your connection with your thoughts.
Some powerful ways to become a more spiritual person and find joy in the simple things include:
Creative hobbies
Use the guidance from the section on passion projects to come up with hobbies that foster your emotional wellbeing–and use them to continue healing your mind.
Meditation
There’s really no better way to hear your thoughts than intentionally meditating.
Here is one of my favorite guided meditations for anxiety, to help you quell thoughts of loneliness and concentrate on becoming the highest version of yourself:
Vision boarding
Lastly, let your imagination free while developing a roadmap for your future by curating a Pinterest vision board.
As you can see by the example below, this is a fun, empowering way to get clear on your goals and fall in love with the life you’re building for yourself:
Strengthen your coping skills
One of the final ways to be happy when you don’t have friends is to bolster your coping skills when uncomfortable thoughts (inevitably) arise.
To start, develop a few go-to strategies for self-soothing when you find yourself getting down about the lack of friends you have right now.
In doing so, you become much more compassionate with yourself and attentive to your needs.
- Go for a drive and listen to your favorite playlist to turn off negative thoughts
- Phone a family member who understands you and can listen to your emotions
- Ground yourself in the present moment with a deep breathing exercise
- Make a list of ten things you’re grateful for
- Exert your energy with a run when you need to clear your mind
Continuously develop your mindset
Last but not least, make enhancing your mindset a forever thing–not just something you’re doing to find happiness in momentary pleasures.
We’re all susceptible to negative thought patterns and tend to gain energy based on those we surround ourselves with.
Throughout life, you’ll experience situations where external influences derail the progress you’ve made in finding joy in yourself.
My challenge to you is to set boundaries and continuously catch yourself when you feel like you’re reverting back to mindset patterns you’ve already outgrown.
Ultimately, this is one of (if not) the most crucial ways to be your own best friend: you’re holding yourself accountable to a life-long commitment of prioritizing your peace.
How to be Happy Without Friends: Wrapping it Up
Being alone is difficult, but learning how to find happiness without friends is an empowering act of self-love.
I hope this post gave you the inspiration you need to truly become your own best friend!
Remember to check out all of our FREE resources for more must-see wellness advice.
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