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VIEWPOINT: How to Combat Loneliness, Especially Now
VIEWPOINT During the COVID-19 crisis, all of our lives have been disrupted. We’re not connecting with family, friends, and colleagues like we used to, and it’s easy to feel lonely. To help some of the people I was coaching, I wrote down eight ways to combat this feeling and tested them on our business clients, […]
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VIEWPOINT
During the COVID-19 crisis, all of our lives have been disrupted. We’re not connecting with family, friends, and colleagues like we used to, and it’s easy to feel lonely. To help some of the people I was coaching, I wrote down eight ways to combat this feeling and tested them on our business clients, executives, and even some friends. What they found was they could, indeed, address their own sense of being alone and fill their days with well-being and even happiness.
I thought I would share those eight ways.
1. You can manage your mind. If you visualize each day as one filled with purpose and meaning, you will find that the act of being alone or distant from those you care about becomes less important. With a little practice, you really can train your mind to believe that it is happy without others. Seriously, collaborate with your mind. It will do exactly what it thinks you want it to do.
2. Exercise is especially important. It’s an essential part of a healthy mind, body, spirit. Find a ritual every day that gets you up, walking, working out, or biking — anything that is not sitting in a chair.
3. Plan weekends where you are at public spaces. Visit a park, a hiking trail, or a playground, and talk to other people. Wear your mask and introduce yourself. You will find that you and they will feel less lonely. I did a podcast once with a woman who was always on the airplane working in all kinds of places — much as I had been. She used to walk in the parks just to create the feeling that she was not alone. Neither of us were ever really alone, but we were often lonely. The walks always quieted our minds and engaged our spirits in healthy feelings.
4. If you like to Zoom, set up a time with friends on a regular basis for tea or a cocktail hour. You will find that the week flies by as you look forward to the gathering, and the time spent together is priceless. Even with family, family Zoom time becomes remarkably sacred. It has in our home. But, our friends are also happily Zooming in and we are all talking longer and deeper than we might ever in a restaurant.
5. If you are a Facebook person, join some new groups. In these groups you can share insights, things you have learned or want to know about, or possibly new career paths you want to explore. Our “Rethink with Andi Simon” group has been growing beautifully with professional women from across the globe who want to help other women become the “best they can be.” Sharing has become a gift for each of them.
6. Book groups are terrific on Zoom. Book clubs, where you can join others and discuss hot books together, are booming for good reason. If you have not joined one, find a theme that might reflect your own interests and see what you can do to get involved. Here is a link to some that are open for you to join: https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/books/info-2020/online-book-clubs-to-join.html.
7. Tutor someone. Find ways to identify young people who would like a tutor for math, science, geology, or anything that is your area of expertise. Sharing is an immensely powerful antidote for loneliness. The gift of giving will make your loneliness go away as acts of gratitude will make you feel purposeful and positive.
8. Cook. Make something (for others or maybe just yourself) and sit and eat it slowly. Savor each bite and enjoy all the different flavors and tastes.
COVID-19 may have kept people apart in 2020, but with a little ingenuity and effort, we can find ways to connect — with ourselves and with others.
Andi Simon, Ph.D. (www.andisimon.com), author of the upcoming book “Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business,” is a corporate anthropologist and founder of Simon Associates Management Consultants (www.simonassociates.net).

GREG JARVIS has joined Bowers & Company CPAs, PLLC as a tax manager in the Syracuse office. He has more than eight years of public-accounting experience at Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa, CPA, P.C., where he was a tax manager and spent six of those years providing tax-accounting services. Jarvis received his bachelor’s degree in
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GREG JARVIS has joined Bowers & Company CPAs, PLLC as a tax manager in the Syracuse office. He has more than eight years of public-accounting experience at Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa, CPA, P.C., where he was a tax manager and spent six of those years providing tax-accounting services. Jarvis received his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2011 and his master’s degree in accounting in 2012 — both from Syracuse University. He is a CPA. Jarvis brings a broad range of industry experience, including client-service experience in the construction, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and professional and business services industries.

SHENEÉ BLETSON has joined Pinckney Hugo Group as an accounting assistant. She previously worked as an accounting manager and staff accountant at a construction and retail firm in the Seattle, Washington area. Bletson also gained experience in accounting at other organizations in that region. She has an associate degree in business administration from Colorado Technical
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SHENEÉ BLETSON has joined Pinckney Hugo Group as an accounting assistant. She previously worked as an accounting manager and staff accountant at a construction and retail firm in the Seattle, Washington area. Bletson also gained experience in accounting at other organizations in that region. She has an associate degree in business administration from Colorado Technical University and is a U.S. Air Force veteran.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced AUDRIANA ORTEGA has joined the Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) team as a new full-time counselor. She will provide free, professional, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching to residents receiving assistance through the Onondaga County’s Department of Social Services – Economic Security (DSS-ES). The new position was made possible by grant
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Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced AUDRIANA ORTEGA has joined the Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) team as a new full-time counselor. She will provide free, professional, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching to residents receiving assistance through the Onondaga County’s Department of Social Services – Economic Security (DSS-ES). The new position was made possible by grant funding from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and will be administered by Home HeadQuarters, the nonprofit partner of the Syracuse FEC. Ortega holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University with a major in business management and a minor in child and family-policy studies. As a bilingual financial educator, she most recently worked as a financial-relationship specialist at ACMG Federal Credit Union, analyzing account-lending prospects. In her previous role as district leader at National Benefit Life Insurance Company, Ortega managed insurance products while informing low-income families about policy-protection options.

JASON DENICOLA has joined Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) as Clark North nurse manager at MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (RNC). In this role, he will provide supervision and oversight of the 40-bed subacute rehabilitation unit. Most recently, Denicola was a weekend-day supervisor at MVHS RNC. He also previously held the positions of clinical nurse
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JASON DENICOLA has joined Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) as Clark North nurse manager at MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (RNC). In this role, he will provide supervision and oversight of the 40-bed subacute rehabilitation unit. Most recently, Denicola was a weekend-day supervisor at MVHS RNC. He also previously held the positions of clinical nurse manager at Charles T. Sitrin Healthcare Center in New Hartford, and associate clinical rehab director at Masonic Care Community of New York in Utica. Denicola earned his associate degree in applied science with a concentration in nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica. He is located at the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing-Care Services on the St. Luke’s Campus.

TYANNA W. BERGERON, a state-licensed nurse practitioner and registered nurse, has joined the Center for Wound Healing at Oswego Health. She will see patients at the center, which offers treatments such hyperbaric-oxygen therapy, negative-pressure therapies, bioengineered tissues, and biosynthetics to reintroduce the body’s innate ability to heal. Bergeron previously was a family practice nurse practitioner
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TYANNA W. BERGERON, a state-licensed nurse practitioner and registered nurse, has joined the Center for Wound Healing at Oswego Health. She will see patients at the center, which offers treatments such hyperbaric-oxygen therapy, negative-pressure therapies, bioengineered tissues, and biosynthetics to reintroduce the body’s innate ability to heal. Bergeron previously was a family practice nurse practitioner for Oswego Health Primecare Fulton. There, she saw patients ages 12 and older and assisted with the management of chronic diseases, mental health disorders, prescribed medications and treatments as well as conducted physical exams and health screenings and when needed, referred patients to medical specialists. Also, Bergeron has extensive experience working for other health-care systems around the country including at the Face and Body Center in Flowood, Mississippi; St. Dominic’s Hospital Emergency Department in Jackson, Mississippi; and Valley Children’s Clinic in Renton, Washington. Bergeron is a licensed New York nurse practitioner and registered nurse. She earned her master’s degree in nursing from Gonzaga University in 2018 through the family nurse practitioner program.
JENNIFER COLEMAN, a human-resources professional, has joined the Oswego Health health-care system. She is a certified human-resources leader with more than nine years of progressive experience. Before accepting this position at Oswego Health, Coleman was the director of employee engagement for EarQ in Syracuse. As a member of the firm’s executive leadership team, she oversaw all aspects of human resources including staff development, organizational development, performance management, and employee engagement.

JAMES J. MODERA has joined the physical-therapy team at Finger Lakes Health’s Rehabilitation Services at Garnsey Outpatient Rehabilitation. He will be treating patients with conditions including orthopaedic and neck/back injuries and will be practicing in the newly expanded sports and orthopaedic gym at Garnsey. Modera created the sports-care programs at local high schools and provided
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JAMES J. MODERA has joined the physical-therapy team at Finger Lakes Health’s Rehabilitation Services at Garnsey Outpatient Rehabilitation. He will be treating patients with conditions including orthopaedic and neck/back injuries and will be practicing in the newly expanded sports and orthopaedic gym at Garnsey. Modera created the sports-care programs at local high schools and provided workplace-injury consulting throughout the region. With more than 33 years experience in private practice, he brings an expertise in orthopedics, sports-injury care, and neck/back care. In addition to these specialties, he has significant experience in ergonomic evaluations, work-site trainings, and providing athletic-injury assessment on the sidelines and in the office. Modera earned his doctor of physical therapy degree at Utica College and his bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University at Buffalo.

DR. MARK A. NELSON has joined Allen Eye Associates in Oneida. He attended Utica College, and earned a degree in biology with minors in both chemistry and gerontology. Nelson then moved on to complete the Accelerated Scholar’s Program at Salus University (previously the Pennsylvania College of Optometry). His training included clinical rotations in general private
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DR. MARK A. NELSON has joined Allen Eye Associates in Oneida. He attended Utica College, and earned a degree in biology with minors in both chemistry and gerontology. Nelson then moved on to complete the Accelerated Scholar’s Program at Salus University (previously the Pennsylvania College of Optometry). His training included clinical rotations in general private practice, specialty contact lenses, and low vision at Will’s Eye Hospital, and surgical co-management of ocular diseases at Einstein Hospital. After graduation, he returned to Central New York and worked for several years in private practice in Utica.

STEPHANIE KACZOR has joined Westfall Law PLLC as an associate attorney, focusing on complex litigation and family-law matters. She holds a juris doctorate from the University at Buffalo School of Law. Kaczor previously served as an associate at the law firm of Roach, Brown, McCarthy & Gruber, P.C. in Buffalo, according to her LinkedIn profile.
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STEPHANIE KACZOR has joined Westfall Law PLLC as an associate attorney, focusing on complex litigation and family-law matters. She holds a juris doctorate from the University at Buffalo School of Law. Kaczor previously served as an associate at the law firm of Roach, Brown, McCarthy & Gruber, P.C. in Buffalo, according to her LinkedIn profile. She represented physicians, hospitals, and medical institutions in medical-malpractice litigation.
ADAM T. DURHAM has joined Westfall Law as an associate attorney, focusing on family and corporate immigration law. He holds a juris doctorate from Boston College Law School. Durham previously served as an associate at Tully Rinckey PLLC, in its Syracuse office, according to his LinkedIn profile. There, Durham assisted in family and corporate immigration issues.

The United Way of Greater Oswego County recently hired KATE DAVIS PITSLEY as its director of resource development. She has had a variety of work experiences, largely in the not-for-profit setting with more than 20 years in fund development. Davis Pitsley most recently served as director of administration and development at Arc of Oswego/Oswego Industries.
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The United Way of Greater Oswego County recently hired KATE DAVIS PITSLEY as its director of resource development. She has had a variety of work experiences, largely in the not-for-profit setting with more than 20 years in fund development. Davis Pitsley most recently served as director of administration and development at Arc of Oswego/Oswego Industries. She also served as business-development director and executive director at the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the ALS Association, respectively. Davis Pitsley is active in Zonta Club of Oswego and is an avid volunteer for a number of local organizations, including MDA, the American Heart Association, and the annual Zonta Witch’s Ball.
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