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Letter

Council cash could be better spent

If you suffer from loneliness from time to time, ironically, you’re not alone. According to ‘The Lonely Society’, a report published by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF), 48% of those surveyed believed that Britain is becoming a lonelier place.

The Covid-19 pandemic is partly to blame. After spending so long in survival mode, isolated from the ones we love, many of us still find it increasingly hard to coax ourselves out of that more guarded and introverted mindset. This is made even more pronounced when we factor in the move from communal offices to remote working, which has changed the lives of millions of people across the UK.

The ever-advancing progression of technology and social media is also believed to be a contributor. Despite claims that technology helps us connect with people, many experts believe that having constant access to technology can actually prevent us from building personal relationships.

Although many of us will be familiar with the upset of not being invited to a party, or the devastation of losing a loved one, what many people don’t know is that loneliness can also have a serious impact on our physical health. The work of neuroscientists such as John Cacioppo at the University of Chicago has shown that the stress of loneliness can directly affect our mental and physical wellbeing, with a cumulative effect on the heart that is the equivalent of a non-smoker taking up smoking. So, with this in mind, what’s the best way to overcome loneliness?

Get a new job or share your skills

You could use your free time to volunteer for a local charity, or try joining a new group or class. You’ll meet new people and be filled with a revived sense of purpose.

Practice self-care

It’s easy to let loneliness eat away at your confidence and self-esteem. Try to avoid falling into a negative headspace by practicing gratitude, meditation and mindfulness. Reminding yourself about the good things in life or reminiscing on happy times can help you to think more positively.

Reach out to someone

Talking to someone about how you feel can be a helpful way to cope with the negative emotions associated with loneliness. If there isn’t anyone you can trust, the campaigning and lobbying organisation Campaign to End Loneliness can help. Although they don’t recruit volunteers directly, you can visit their website at www. campaigntoendloneliness.org to find information about volunteering opportunities.

Find

Support Online

Using technology in the right way can be a fantastic way to meet new like-minded people. Find people with similar interests by joining Facebook or Meetup groups, and check to see if any apps you use, like fitness or workout apps, have a social element or discussion board to join. While you do have to be careful, it’s possible to find real support, connection and lasting friendships with people you meet online.

RECENTLY when walking by Bluebell Drive to catch the bus into Leicester, I saw five County Council workmen cutting hedgerows back. It did not need doing as there was no threat to anyone walking to the bus stop. The Council say they have no money to subsidise bus services yet needing five men was a waste of money and time. I see it everywhere with the GCR, with the help of Network Rail, cutting 30 tons of trees down in four days. This is happening countrywide. With losing land, trees, hedgerows there is no hope for the end of climate change worldwide.

Trees and hedgerows give life to animals, insects and birds and many species are being threatened with extinction. I feel sorry for the people losing their bus services and bus drivers in the county as we need public transport not less.

D A Cookson

Smile Time

JUST ASKED my wife what she’s ‘burning up for dinner” and it turned out to be all of my personal belongings.

A COUPLE are on a date at a fancy restaurant. The woman tells the man to say something to her that will get her heart racing. He replies, “I forgot my wallet.”

BOY: *calls 999* Hello? I need your help! Two girls are fighting over me!

999: So what’s your emergency?

Boy: The ugly one is winning.