5 Easy Ways Travel Therapists Avoid Loneliness
Having a career in travel therapy is undoubtedly exciting. Getting to travel, meet new people, work in facilities where you gain tons of experience, and receiving top benefits are great and everything—but, there’s still a level of loneliness that comes to staff that are new to a city and new to a workplace environment. In fact, some studies show that lonely people are more likely to have early death than others.
Being away from family and friends for months at a time can be detrimental to a person’s life. Sometimes the lack of familiar faces can drain a person’s spirit, especially in the first few weeks of a new travel therapy assignment. But, cheer up! There’s no reason to dwell on the loneliness like that if you try these 5 simple techniques.
5 Simple Ways to Beat of Loneliness
1. Turn the negatives into a positive.
Here’s the scene: you’ve just arrived into a new town to begin a new assignment. Your first night may be the hardest of them all. So do you turn on the weepy music and draw the curtains? HECK NO. Instead of dwelling on the sadness, embrace the independence! You have so many things you can explore, so many restaurants to try, people to meet, and culture to get immersed in. Take your lonely time and use it to research some activities that would interest you in your new location.
2. Make friends with coworkers.
Getting to know the people working alongside you in your facility is the best thing you could do. Not only will it mean you gain pals to spend time with, but it also can be very beneficial for your workload. Since you’ll be a rookie to the policies of the particular facility you’re working, it can only help you to gain trust of permanent staff that can show you the ropes.
3. Get physical.
Feeling sad? Then work it out! Literally. Whether you’re choosing to hit the gym or the dancefloor, there’s tons of added benefits of physical activity. It will keep your mind actively engaged in something other than your feelings of seclusion. Plus, exercise releases endorphins, AKA those feel-good chemicals in the brain. And of course, it’s just good for you to live an active lifestyle. Consider going on hikes on some scenic trails, joining a gym, or taking a yoga class. You may even make some friends in the process.
4. Keep busy.
When you’re not working a shift, make sure to keep yourself occupied with activities. Constantly challenge yourself with new things to try out. Perhaps you can learn a new recipe and try it out, maybe you want to engage your free night by attending a wine tasting, or even just go on a cleaning spree.
5. Join a club.
If you’re someone who really hates spending time alone, then consider joining a club, class, or church while you are on your assignment. When you put yourself in small groups of like-minded people like that, friendships just form naturally.
Roaming alone doesn’t always equal desolation. Even inhibited individuals can find ways to fight off the lonesome feelings of being in a new city. So before you feel like crying about your lack of loved ones in your area, just keep a positive attitude and you’ll be just fine.
