Being alone is a hard thing to do. You’ve worked hard to find someone, and then one day you wake up and the person you love isn’t there. No longer do you have to suffer alone. Let this article help you to be a happier being.

1.Say goodbye to your negative thoughts about being alone.

First and foremost, don’t be afraid of being on your own. If you’re single or haven’t had a date in a while and are feeling down, remember that everyone goes through that stage—and those who have someone special in their lives have been where you are now. Try to find solace in the fact that it’s not just you who goes through this kind of thing.

Next, when you’re alone, try to enjoy it as much as possible. Instead of worrying about finding a companion, do something fun: read a good book, watch an exciting movie or listen to some music. These are all activities you can only fully enjoy when you’re by yourself. You don’t need anyone else to make them more fun for you—in fact, having someone else there might actually detract from the experience!

Finally, try to avoid comparing yourself to others around you. Don’t look at people who seem happy and wonder what they’ve got that you don’t—instead, ask yourself what sort of things make other people happy.

2. Keep a gratitude journal

Keeping a gratitude journal is a simple yet powerful practice for appreciating the positive things in your life. It not only makes you happier, but it also improves your health and reduces stress and anxiety. The next time you’re feeling lonely or sad, take a few minutes to write down what you’re grateful for. It will put your troubles into perspective and remind you that there are plenty of things in your life that make it worth living.

3. Choose a hobby you enjoy.

When you’re spending time with others, you may not get enough time to work on your creative projects or improve your skills in the things you enjoy doing. You usually have other obligations that take up most of your free time, like seeing friends and family or running errands. But when you’re alone, you can really devote some time to improving at something that brings you joy.

For example, if you’ve always wanted to learn how to paint, but haven’t been able to find the time between work and socializing, making some alone time is essential! You need to carve out some space in order to improve at drawing or painting if those are things that interest you—and it’s possible!

4. Set new goals and challenge yourself.

Achieving a goal will give you a sense of accomplishment and control over your own life, which is especially important when you’re going through such a big change. If you’ve never gone skydiving before—or done anything else that seems completely out of character for who you used to be—this could be the perfect time to give it a try!

5. Stay connected.

The more connected you are with the people around you, the less lonely you’ll feel. So while it’s good to get comfortable with being alone, it’s also important to keep in touch with the people you care about. Stay in touch with friends and family, even if they’re far away, and talk to your neighbors and co-workers as much as possible. It can be tempting to isolate yourself when you think that no one understands what you’re going through or how you’re feeling, but reaching out will help you make new connections.

6. Do things you enjoy by yourself.

Many of us fear being alone, so we spend our time watching television, or going out with friends, just to be in a crowd. But this doesn’t help us overcome the fear. In fact, it may even make you feel worse about yourself.

People who are used to being alone—and comfortable with it—are more likely to enjoy their own company and less likely to get depressed or lonely. If you want to be happy alone, take up a hobby that you can do on your own, such as knitting or reading. Learn how to cook or play an instrument. Adopt a pet you can talk to and take care of. Find something that will take up your time and allow you to enjoy your own company. Don’t let loneliness lead you into a relationship that isn’t right for you.

7. Stay away from people who make you feel bad about being alone.

There are those who will try to make you believe that being alone really means being lonely, and the two are not the same. Everyone needs time alone to decompress from life’s stresses, and it’s a time when we’re supposed to be focused on ourselves. If you have people in your life who think this is a bad thing or that it means you don’t love them enough, then it might be time to distance yourself (or at least not spend as much time with them). It’s important to be around people who want the best for you and want you to be happy—and if they can’t respect your need for alone time, then they’re probably doing more harm than good in your life.

8. Love yourself.

Loving yourself is the most important thing a person can do. It sounds cliché, but it’s true. And when you love yourself, you spend time with yourself—you aren’t afraid of being alone. You don’t need anyone else for validation or for happiness; you already have that inside of you. Think about it: why do you go out with your friends? Because they’re fun and make you happy, right? Well, if you are fun and make yourself happy, then being alone will be just as enjoyable as spending time with those friends. But how do you make yourself happy? The same way you’d make someone else happy: by making them feel special and loved. So when you’re alone, think about things that make you feel special and loved. Do those things! Treat yourself to a nice dinner. Take up yoga or meditation to develop an interest in something bigger than yourself (quickly realizing that your problems are much smaller than they seem). Go out in public and smile at everyone walking by (I promise they will smile back). Stop worrying about what other people think of you, because chances are they aren’t even thinking about you at all.

Being alone can be liberating. It is a chance to reflect, to introspect, and to work on your own self-pleasure and happiness. While it’s true that living alone does not provide the benefits of communal living, it does allow for more personal freedom than having someone else in your life. Ultimately, the choice about whether to live alone is up to you. But if you do decide to embark on this journey, be sure to keep in mind these efforts that have helped me on my own journey to being happy alone.