Loneliness

Stepping outside your comfort zone.

It can be very stressful meeting new people and attending group events, however sometimes just putting yourself out there and talking to people can give you a sense of accomplishment and confidence.

Find like minded people.

If you have an interest or a hobby, you can find lots of student groups or online communities of people who share your interest. You could also try volunteering to meet new people whilst helping the community and getting great working experience!

Monash's English Connect team is also a great way to meet other international students in the same boat and improve your language skills together.

You can find more details about their 'Lets Chat' program which has an entire module about 'Making New Friends', and listen to other international students' experiences through their videos.

Get active.

If talking isn’t really your thing, you can try joining a sport or exercise group. This could be a sporting team or group fitness class at Monash Sport, allowing you to meet new people without the pressure of maintaining conversation.

You might also find that regular exercise and a place to go a few times a week, makes you feel more connected with the Monash and Melbourne community and boosts your confidence to try new things.

Remember, it takes practice.

Small talk and meeting new people can be really difficult, particularly if you are not naturally a talkative person. Remember that it will take a lot of practice to learn these skills and you might introduce yourself to lots of people you never speak to again. Try not to feel discouraged, sometimes others are shy too and don’t feel like talking.

Be kind to yourself

Sometimes when we fail or feel frustrated, we can be really cruel to ourselves. We often would never talk to a friend the way we talk to ourselves, so when you are angry or upset try to monitor your thoughts and think about yourself in a kind way.

Find a hobby that gives you joy

Hobbies and activities don’t always have to be done in groups. You can always follow your interests or goals alone. Whether that is learning a new language, or taking up jogging, find something that brings you happiness and makes you feel confident and in control.

Let yourself have emotions

Sometimes we can feel like we need to be tough and ignore feelings of sadness or loneliness and just get work done. Ignoring your emotions doesn’t make them go away, in fact in some cases they can even get worse over time.

If you feel lonely, acknowledge it and remember that it’s not just you, we all feel lonely from time to time.

Treat yourself

You don’t need an excuse or a reason to treat yourself, whether that is ordering your favourite take-away meal or dressing up to leave the house. Allow yourself to indulge in something that makes you happy.