5 ways to beat loneliness in the big city

Moving to London by yourself can feel daunting and at times very lonely. The English are famous for being very private and it can sometimes be difficult to get to know new people.

So here are my 5 ways to beat the lonely feeling and start meeting new people. 🙌🏼

1. Join a club or society 💪🏼
   UAL has lots of societies and clubs that are completely free to join, with only a few being paid. Not only will it give you a chance to meet new people that share the same interests as you, but you can do it whilst taking up a new hobby or revisiting an old one.
   
   
2. Learn to look for the lonely people 🫱🏼‍🫲🏽
   You are not the only lonely person! Look out for classmates that are by themselves, or people sitting alone in the canteen. Introduce yourself and start up a conversation. Yes, it can be scary, but two lonely people together is better than two lonely people apart. You never know, they might end up becoming your quintessential university best friend.
   
   
3. Befriend your housemates 👯‍♀️
   You are probably living with housemates in halls or a privately rented flat. My suggestion is going out as a group or having a meal together. Living with people you can call friends is much more comfortable than living with people you just nod hello to once a day.
   
   
4. Keep busy but not too busy 🕺🏽
   University can keep you very busy and, although that can help distract you from feeling lonely, it might also prevent you from making connections with people. Every now and then, it’s a good idea to put down the coursework and go out with your friends, otherwise, you might find that when hand-ins are over you have no one to celebrate with.
   
   
5. Get a job 👩🏻‍💻
   For some this won’t be optional, but getting a job - volunteer or paid - will make you interact with people. Work colleagues can become great friends outside of the workplace too. Bring on the work party!

And remember: you can always join in the UAL Social events 😍. They happen in and outside halls every month, and they're a great way to meet your fellow hall mates and UAL students while having fun. And they're usually either free or very cheap. 😉