Managing Loneliness as a Solo Traveller.

It really is one of the most enlightening experiences, to travel to new and far away places all by yourself. You can learn so much not only about the world, but also about who you are and what you value. But, truly embracing solo travel comes down to the power of your mindset, and your willingness to leap into the unknown. I have plenty of friends who could not fathom the idea of travelling the way I have done, and also many people I met along my travels who were really not enjoying their experience of travelling alone. Despite this, for those of you ready to give it a go, these simple steps have really helped me in feeling less lonely during my adventures.

Always have a book at the ready.

My dad used to say to me “you’re never alone if you have a book”, and only when I left Australia last year did that really make sense to me. Wherever I go, no matter what I am doing, I will always be found with a book in my hand. Many times when I’ve been feeling a bit awkward sitting alone at a restaurant, or have had hours to spare in an unknown city, I have whipped out my book and felt instantly at ease in the situation.

Podcasts and audiobooks.

I am a big fan of walking, and will spend most of my days in a new place just aimlessly strolling around and seeing what I stumble into. On days like this, sometimes my own company is not enough, and some familiar voices chatting away through my headphones is just what I need. Audiobooks and podcasts give you a sense of conversation and company when you’re alone, and are also a great way to keep the brain juices flowing. I often find podcasts on local history and tourism, or audiobooks based in the location I am visiting to listen to when exploring. Some cities even have free audio tours and things, which is a great, cost-effective way to learn about your new surroundings.

Group activities.

When I first started my solo trip, I really struggled to meet new people. I was too nervous to go join conversations in hostel communal spaces, or to crack a joke at my bunk buddies. It was when I took a group walking tour in Belfast that I quickly realised the social benefits of these types of tourist activities. Moments into the tour I was chatting away with the loveliest woman, Liz, a passionate botanist from the Blue Mountains. We instantly clicked and ended up spending the tour together, and later reconnecting and catching up in Dublin. After this experience, I became a big fan of signing up to walking tours, activities hosted by hostels I was staying in, and also using the chat function in apps like HostelWorld to branch out and meet new people. I have now done two surf camps too, one in Portugal, one in Morocco, which have been such fun and social ways to meet awesome people!

Practice Makes Perfect.

The funny thing is, even something like travelling alone or sitting having a romantic candle-lit dinner for one, takes practice! Start small, grab a coffee and sit at the cafe with your book or even on a phone call if you’re more comfortable with that. Slowly but surely you will begin to find solitude in these moments alone in busy places. I love to go get a beer and read my book out at a local bar when I’m in a new place. Enjoying your own company is kind of the cure to loneliness. So it’s time to start soaking up everything about yourself and what great company you can be for yourself!

How do you manage loneliness when you’re travelling? Let me know in the comments below!