In addition to seeking counseling, there may also be some things you can do on your own to begin addressing your feelings of emptiness. Making some changes to the way you respond and cope with your emotions and the way you spend your time are usually important components of feeling better.
Here are 10 ways to start combating feelings of emptiness:
1. Start a Meditation or Mindfulness Routine
Meditation and mindfulness describe the practice of being more aware and present in your moment to moment experiences, helping people feel more connected to themselves and their experiences. Mindfulness and meditation also involve being able to pull back and get distance from difficult thoughts, stories, and feelings, which you may have been unconsciously numbing or avoiding.
2. Spend More Time Connecting With Others
Humans are social beings and depend on connection and interactions with others. Social connection is central to your physical and mental health and can address feelings of emptiness that originate from feeling lonely, disconnected, or depressed.
3. Be Intentional With Your Free Time
Instead of watching TV on weekends, make your time off count. Plan things on weekends and evenings that are normally fun, interesting, and fulfilling to you, and push through the initial resistance you might encounter because you “don’t feel like” doing them. Often, you will experience that getting started is the hardest part, and that you feel better afterwards—about both yourself and about making good use of your time.
4. Set & Work Towards Goals
Setting goals can combat emptiness caused by hopelessness, worthlessness, and longing, helping you direct your efforts towards improving your life and circumstances in measurable ways. Setting goals also provides purpose and meaning to your daily life, encouraging you to keep a hopeful view of the future.
5. Find a Creative Outlet
Being creative is good for you in many ways, helping to challenge your brain to think in new ways, giving you an outlet for thoughts and feelings, and providing the satisfaction of bringing your ideas to life. Many creative pursuits are also “flow” activities, or activities that are mentally stimulating and engaging, good for your psychological well being, and providing a sense of calm confidence.
6. Feel Your Feelings
Emotions are part of what make life full and meaningful, and connect you to yourself, others, and your experiences. People who suppress their emotions may experience a sense of emptiness. Learn to sit with your feelings without getting lost or caught up in them or the thoughts that feed them, and you will often find they come and go fairly easily.
7. Heal Old Wounds
Feelings of emptiness stemming from past traumas or losses require people to do the hard work of revisiting and healing these old wounds. This is best done in therapy with a licensed and experienced counselor, but there may be some ways you can work outside of sessions by reading self-help books, joining a support group, or working on developing more self-compassion.
8. Learn More About Yourself
Many people who describe feeling empty inside feel disconnected from themselves and can benefit from doing some introspective work. Consider taking a personality test like the Myers Briggs or Big Five to learn more about your personality and the way it impacts how you think, feel, and behave. You could also work on identifying your core values, which represent the things in life that matter most to you and can provide you with a sense of direction.
9. Be More Active
Exercise and physical activity are good for all aspects of your physical and mental health. Being more active helps you balance brain chemicals that regulate your mood, reduce stress, and provide energy. Making time to be active also helps you get more attuned to your body, which is especially good for people who experience emptiness as feeling disconnected from their bodies.
10. Find a Way to Contribute or Give Back
The act of helping others is one of the most rewarding and psychologically beneficial ways to spend your time and energy. Finding ways to contribute also helps with feelings of emptiness that originate from a lack of connection, purpose, or self-worth. Contributions can come in many forms like volunteering your time, offering to help a friend or coworker, donating to a charity, or even small random acts of kindness.
