You might think it is challenging to live without friends. While other people do add to the value of your life, your happiness is not dependent on whether or not you have friends. Furthermore, there are many situations when you might not have other people around you. So, it is essential to learn how to make yourself feel good during these times in your life.
What you will find through becoming happy without friends is that your relationships are a lot more rewarding. You can be pickier about the people who surround you. Plus, having some time to yourself is a great way to work on becoming truly happy as a person.
Do You Need Friends?
You will find that if you are happy, friends and family help to increase your happiness. They are a sounding board when things go wrong and someone to celebrate with when things go right. However, other people always expect something from you. All relationships thrive based on giving and receiving.
So, if you find yourself without your friends or maybe it is hard for you to make friends, consider yourself lucky in some ways. You can do things for yourself rather than feeling like you have commitments to other people.
If it is difficult for you to make friends, that might be a sign that you need to focus inward for some time. When you are happy with yourself, other people will be drawn to you.
Living Without Friends
If you do not have friends and you feel unhappy about that, take some time to make yourself happy before you look for friends. The type of people you attract when you are desperate or lonely might not be the people you want in your life.
Choosing to make yourself happy instead of looking to others for that fulfillment will not only serve you throughout your life. It will also help you to create healthy boundaries with people in the future.
If someone mistreats you, you will not put up with it. You will think back to the times when you did not have friends and have the confidence to tell anyone who treats you badly to hit the road.
Reasons People Live Without Friends
Many people realize at some point in their life that they are giving more to everyone else than to themselves. When this happens, you become mentally drained. You do not have time to do anything for yourself. So, it becomes necessary to focus on yourself to preserve your mental health and happiness.
The Relationships in You Life Are Toxic
Becoming overrun by toxic relationships is easier than you might think. If everyone in your life is taking from you but not adding to your life, it becomes necessary to take a step away from everyone and work on yourself instead.
In these situations, it might be easier to be happy without friends because you find relief from the constant expectations of others by being alone. If you feel mentally drained or you are continually doing what other people want and putting your dreams on the back burner taking some necessary time to yourself is incredibly freeing.
You Grow Up
Growing up often means that you have adult things to take care of in your life and less time to spend with other people. That does not mean that you cannot have friends. However, as people age, they often realize they do not need to rely on others to be happy.
They start to enjoy being at home more. That does not mean as you get older that you will not want to go do things or enjoy the company of others. However, growing up and having your own life to focus on usually makes it easier and more necessary to limit the amount of time you spend with other people.
You Have a Goal You Need to Meet
When you have an important goal, you want to achieve the fastest way to accomplish it is to limit your distractions. So, it might be necessary during times when you are working on something important to limit your interactions with others.
If you need to handle things in your life, you will likely find that it is easier and a lot less stressful with other people’s expectations. Friends have a way of pulling us away from things that need our attention.
For example, it always seems like if you are studying for an exam or working on a big project that everyone calls and wants to do things with you. So, limiting the number of people, you have to distract you when you are working on your career or other goals that will help you live a better life might be necessary.
You Have Children
When you have children, they demand a lot of your attention. Your life is not the same after you have a family. Your children have to come before the needs of others. If you have friends without kids, they likely will not understand that.
However, this is just the way that it is. The things you were once able to do, you simply do not have time for anymore. While it might be hard not to have friends to share your life with anymore, you can find immense joy by focusing on your children.
You Get Married
While it is possible to have friends after marriage, it is not the same. Things you once did with your friends can be toxic to your relationship. You won’t want to be going out every night with your friends if you have a spouse at home, and doing so will likely end in a failed relationship.
So, it is essential to be happy with your home life and put more time and energy into that. Unfortunately, when you do this, friendships often fall away. You simply do not have the same time to foster them anymore.
People move on with their lives when you do not spend time with them regularly. That is especially true if you have friends who are still single. They will likely find other single friends to do things with instead of waiting around for you to be available.
You Have to Take Care of a Sick Parent
Caring for your parents as they age is one of the most challenging things you can do. It is often mentally draining, and it usually requires a lot of your time, which makes it very challenging to do things with other people in your life. While it might be upsetting not to be able to do the things you once did, you can feel good about helping your parents and spending time with them while they are around.
If you have good friends, they will be there for you when things get easier, and you are able to see them. If they do not understand, you do not need them around anyway.
There is Not Enough Time to Foster Friendships
There are only so many hours in the day. If you are busy with work, taking care of your home, handling personal issues, and taking care of your children, there is little time left to give to friends. That is why, as people get older, their list of friends usually dwindles.
Ways to Spend Your Time Without Friends
Knowing some constructive ways to spend your time when you are not with friends is an excellent way to be happier during times when you are alone. There are many things you can do by yourself that will make you happy. You do not need other people around you to enjoy yourself.
Focus on Bettering Your Situation
When you have fewer obligations to others, it is the perfect time to make your life and situation as good as it can be. If you are in school, focus on making the best grades you can. If you have a career, make career advancement a priority. If you need to lose weight, start working out.
Imagine where you want to be in life and start taking steps to get there. The truth is, you do not need anyone but yourself to be successful in life. You have everything you need to make it happen within you. You just have to believe in yourself.
Find Hobbies
Hobbies are a great way to spend your time, and they help to enrich your life. Many people who are surrounded by friends all the time do not even know what they enjoy doing. So, try some different things to find out what you enjoy getting involved in. Some great hobbies are:
- Photography
- Sports
- Art
- Gardening
- Yoga
- Racing
By getting involved in activities, you enjoy benefits your mental and physical health. It is also a great way to meet people with common interests.
Volunteer
Volunteering helps you to serve others and makes you feel good. There are many places that you can volunteer your time. Knowing that you are helping others will give you joy. So, even if you do not have friends, you can still enjoy interacting with others in this beautiful way.
Some great places to volunteer are:
- Food Pantries
- Homeless Shelters
- Youth Centers
- Animal Shelters
- Churches
All of these places regularly accept help from people who are willing to give their time.
Clean Up Your Environment
Living in a clean home is one of the best ways to be happy. When you are on the go all the time doing things with friends, keeping your house clean is difficult. When you are alone, it is really easy to dedicate time for fixing up your home.
You can even do home improvement projects to upgrade your home. Each time you improve your environment, you will feel great about yourself. It is also lovely to relax by yourself when you enjoy your space.
Get a Pet
Pets are loving and sweet. If you are lonely, a dog, a cat, or another animal will keep you company. Walking your dog or caring for your pet is also a great way to pass the time. Plus, you can take your pet with you to do many things if you want companionship.
When you move to a new place and do not know anyone, your pet can give you the confidence to go to new places and potentially meet other pet owners. Especially with so many pet-friendly places now. You can bring your dog to many:
- Parks
- Breweries
- Outdoor Restaurants
- Pet-friendly Hotels
- Pet Stores
If you have your pet declared a service animal or an emotional support animal, you can take them to even more places. It is also worth noting that experts say dog owners are happier than other pet owners. So, if you are looking for the perfect pet companion, a dog might be your best option.
Meditate
Meditation is a great way to relax. However, it can also help you to become a happier person no matter where you are in life. You can transport yourself anywhere with the power of meditation. All you have to do is close your eyes and imagine being wherever you want to be.
If you are struggling to find happiness and you are feeling lonely, give it a try. It is a practice you can utilize throughout your life to live a more satisfying life. So, this is a skill that will serve you well when you do make friends, too.
Do Not Dwell On Not Having Friends
The more you think about not having friends, the more upset you will become. So, try not to think about it too much. Just enjoy living life. There are plenty of people who are successful at being alone, and you can be too.
Tap Into Your Artistic Side
Art and crafting is a great way to add happiness to your life. It does not matter what kind of art you do. It can be as simple as coloring pages in a coloring book you buy from the dollar store. Or, if you are an artistic person, you can work on creating a masterpiece.
Making things gives you a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Plus, it is excellent to embrace time alone to do something like this. When you are always spending time with friends, you do not have much time to get into art projects.
Start Playing an Instrument
Learning to play a musical instrument is a great way to spend your time. Playing a musical instrument can boost your mental and physical health. Music, in general, is good for the soul.
When you learn to master an instrument, you feel better about yourself. Plus, the music you make can lower anxiety and help you have a better overall outlook on life. So, if you find yourself with few friends to help you pass your time, try learning to play something.
There are plenty of tutorial videos on YouTube to help you learn. Or, if you crave interactions with others, sign up for music lessons. A music teacher can help you learn, and they are usually compassionate individuals.
Journal Your Feelings
One of the main reasons we feel that we need friends is to have someone to talk to about problems and joys in our lives. If you do not have a support system, start journaling. You can share anything you would share with a person in this way.
Writing in a journal helps you to become more connected with yourself and less dependent on others. You do not have to tell people everything. Plus, it is an excellent way to practice restraint when it comes to sharing information about your life.
Talk to a Professional
If journaling does not work for you, and you still need someone to talk to, try hiring a therapist. These professionals have experience helping people through difficult times. They can listen to you from a non-judgmental position and give you tools to help you become a happier person regardless of whether or not you have a support system.
Travel
Most people think they need friends to accompany them on vacation. However, that is simply not the case. Some people long to travel to faraway places but feel they cannot do that without a companion. The desire to see go places they have never been is a major drag on their mood.
You can go almost anywhere by yourself, though. Furthermore, when you travel alone, you can spend your time exactly the way you want to spend it. You do not have to entertain someone else.
A world of opportunities opens when you explore on your own. Plus, you can always meet people in the places you visit. You can also plan to go on a trip with a group. There are plenty of services for people who want to travel with others.
These trips allow you to tour places that otherwise might be dangerous without a companion. You can find these vacations through churches or companies that specialize in singles’ trips.
Spend More Time with Your Family
If you have a family, spend time with them. Being an involved spouse, parent, sibling, or grandchild can add a lot of joy to your life. We often overlook our family members and fixate on doing things with friends.
However, you can do a lot of things with your family that you could do with your friends. If you have children, they will be thrilled to spend time with you.
Get a Second Job
Some people might think that work is merely working. However, working, especially in an environment where you get to meet a lot of people, is a great way to interact with others if you do not have friends.
If working around people interests you, try getting a part-time job at a restaurant, bar, store, or anywhere else where you can talk to others. Not only will you enjoy your time meeting new people, but you will also be able to save more money to do things you love, put a downpayment on a home, or buy a new car. So, this is a win-win option.
Write a Book
Writing a book is a great way to express yourself. You can write about pretty much anything. Sharing your own story is a great way to help you work out difficult times in your life and potentially help others.
If you do not want to write about your own life, you can create a world of your own by writing a fiction novel. While writing your story, you can create all of the experiences you would enjoy in your life by developing the scenes and characters.
Read Books
Books have the power to transport you to different places and periods. Many people who lack a large group of friends find that reading is a great way to escape loneliness. Even if you have not read books in the past, when you find one that speaks to you, you will likely be unable to put it down.
You might even notice that when your friends call, you are more interested in finding out what happens in the book you are reading than speaking to them. Furthermore, going to the bookstore to pick out a new book is an activity you can easily do by yourself.
When you are at the bookstore, look around and see how many people are scattered throughout the store by themselves. You will see people sitting in different areas engrossed in what they are reading. These people are paying very little attention to the people around them.
They are content spending time in the bookstore all alone. They might have friends when they leave, but at that moment, they do not need them to be happy.
Try New Things
If there are things you want to try, you do not need to wait for a friend to experience them. One of the reasons people are so obsessed with whether or not they have friends is because they are unable to do the things they want in life without them. However, you do not need other people to enjoy new things.
In fact, getting comfortable going to a restaurant or other place alone is something that a lot of people will admire in you.
Learn to Enjoy the Little Things
Enjoying the little things in life helps you become more joyful no matter what your situation is in the present moment. However, most people are so involved with their daily lives that they do not notice all of the beauty around them.
Learning how to appreciate a sunset, the beautiful stars in the sky, the breeze as it brushes across your skin, or the way a delicious meal tastes can help you be happier no matter who is with you. Coincidentally, when you are engaging with other people, doing this might be more difficult. So, if you find yourself alone, give it a try.
What You Need to Be Happy Without Friends
Being happy without friends is not always easy. It requires you to be comfortable being alone, and many people are frightened to be by themselves. However, if you learn to love yourself, you will find that you can keep yourself company.
You will need to get to know and love yourself. When you fall in love with who you are, you will find that you are your best companion.
You also need the confidence to be happy without friends. The fact is that many people who are unable to enjoy going to dinner, new places, or traveling by themselves just do not have the confidence needed to do that.
They wonder what other people will think about them when they see them sitting alone. Or, they are nervous about other people judging them. When you become a more confident person, you will not care what people think about you when they see by yourself.
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself without friends, regardless of the reason, remember that you can be the best friend you could ever have. While having other people in your life to share things with is an essential part of our human experience, it is not necessary all the time.
Furthermore, having the ability to be happy no matter who you have in your life helps you to be a healthier and happier person. When you know you can be satisfied with no one but yourself, you can say no to the relationships that are not right for you.
Too many people surround themselves with people who are simply not right just because they fear they will be lonely or unhappy without them. However, you never know the possibilities life holds until you learn to be happy without friends.
At first, especially if you are someone who has always had a large group of friends, this might be challenging. However, the more you work towards happiness on your own, the easier it becomes. It is also a great way of knowing areas you need to work on within yourself because until you strip away friendships, you do not know if you are happy being alone or if you are genuinely a confident person.
After you work towards finding joy in yourself, you will notice that you attract better people into your life. These are the people you want around you because these people are friends with you for the right reasons.