Tips for Dealing with Loneliness in University Students

If you’re facing loneliness as a university student, you may be wondering what you can do to combat this.

While this guide was originally written to help students handle the specific challenges of COVID-19 self-isolation, the lessons we learned about staying connected are more relevant than ever.

Student loneliness can be pretty tough. And if, as a student, you're wondering how to cope, then you're not alone. If you’ve not made friends before starting university, you’re a commuter student, or you’re simply feeling a bit isolated, read on to find out more.

How to deal with loneliness as a university student

1. Reach out to your housemates

Housemates are usually the easiest people to reach out to since they are literally on your doorstep! Suggest having a flat dinner, film night, or pub quiz outing.

If you don’t get on with who you live with, learn more about how to deal with difficult housemates to ensure your living space is tolerable.

2. Join a club or society

If you feel lonely as a student, you’re certainly not the only one. Plenty of students suffer from homesickness or find they don’t get on with their housemates as well as they’d hoped. In this case, it could be worth venturing out of your house and joining a club or society. University Students’ Unions typically boast hundreds of societies, so there’s bound to be one suited to you where you can meet like-minded individuals.

And if you’re nervous about going to a society session by yourself, just remember – there will be plenty of people in the same boat! Plus, many societies are activity-based, so you can focus on the hobby at hand rather than having to force small talk straight away.

Explore our guide on weird and wonderful university societies to join.

3. Keep your mental health in check

There are certain things you can do to give your mental health a boost at uni. For example, fresh air and exercise will help keep you sane and assist you in avoiding burnout. Exercise helps our bodies release any tension, so if you have the option to get outside and move, make sure you take advantage of it as much as possible.

If the loneliness you feel as a student is persistent, you could always see what kinds of mental health support services are available at your university. Specialist advisors may be able to tailor advice to your specific case.

4. Give your loved ones a call

Keeping in touch with friends and family will help you feel connected to the outside world, and with support, they can help you keep your spirits up. Feeling lonely at university is normal, so it’s important to reach out to your existing friends and family to remind yourself you’re not alone.

5. Go to all your lectures and seminars

You may not feel like going to a seminar (especially if it’s at 9 AM…), but this could open opportunities up for you to meet people in your course and potentially make course friends.

Make a point of sitting next to someone also on their own and strike up a conversation to get started. Topics could include your latest assignment, where you are from, which student accommodation you live in, and the course modules you have picked!

6. Get off social media

Social media can often glorify the student lives of your peers – showing off nights out, brunches, day trips, and coffee stops – but if you’re feeling lonely, seeing this online isn’t going to help matters. Give yourself a social media break to focus on yourself rather than what those around you are doing.

7. Volunteer or secure a part-time job

Looking for work experience can not only help your CV, but it can also boost your confidence and get you out of your room to meet people. As you can still feel lonely in a crowded room, finding meaningful time through volunteering could be a solution.

Alternatively, you could start putting some pennies away into your student savings account with a part-time job. You may end up making friends with your colleagues!

Secure your student house and make friends for life

Remember, student accommodation sometimes ends up creating friendships that last a lifetime. Explore UniHomes’ student accommodation listings today to find your new home away from home. You can filter by budget, location, and number of bedrooms to ensure it ticks all your boxes.