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> I had just moved to a new city before everything, started a new job. I don't know anyone, it's impossible to really meet new people.

Meeting new people seems impossible, but it doesn't have. It helps to connect with others over a common interest or hobby. Boardgames, hacking for fun, volunteering, writing, photography, art, music, radio making, astronomy, movies, sports, gardening, museums, libraries, animals, cooking,... There's plenty out there to bond over.

Instead of trying to meet new people, try to look into something which is a bit outside of your comfort zone, but has piqued your interest. Look into activities like workshops, classes, courses, initiations,... Every city has plenty of small non-profits with really interesting offerings who do outreach to local communities.

It's up to you to figure out what you want. So, I just gave you a few examples. Well, try this: sit yourself down with a piece of paper and take 10 minutes to jot down every activity which pops up in your mind and is doable. Okay, you do that exercise every day for the next 5 days, refining your list. Meanwhile, you start to do some research about the things you've jotted down. Find out if they are interesting. You don't have to work on that 24/24. But keep things in the back of your mind and scribble down what you think. After 5 days, you should already have an inkling of things that might be interesting to do while getting you out of the door.

As for meeting people: that happens as you start going to those social activities. Sure, it's a lot like your first day of school and you don't know anybody. But that's literally how everyone starts out. At the same time, you're an adult now, and the people you'll meet are adults as well. And the vast majority will understand that you're new around their parts.

Yes, the quarantine has shut down a lot of activities, but that doesn't mean you can't shoot an e-mail to whatever initiative you stumble across, finding out if they would welcome you shortly, right?

Thank you for taking the time to write all this out.

I'm hoping that when covid becomes less of an issue that people are going to be eager to get out and meet people.

I hear you. I too moved to a new city shortly before lockdown, knowing almost no one here. I played a lot of games for a while and then got bored of it. I wrote a lot and then got bored of it. I did side projects and got bored of them. And a lot of other stuff. It's only been 3 months, but it feels like 3 years.

I'm almost all alone, only really physically meeting 1-2 other people. It's the highlight of my weeks and gives me energy for a day or two after that, only to succumb to the boredom again. I think it really shows how social interaction is an essential "nutrient" to our lives, without which we suffer and lose our energy. It's like an essential vitamin for a lot of us.

Strangely I've been productive at work. I didn't use to be good at WFH but that has changed out of necessity. I'm not sure if it'll remain this way after we start going back to our offices. And made some personal breakthroughs by taking the time to look deep inside. And then some more. And more. Doing any sort of working out seems to produce quick gains, I think mostly because I have zero physical stress otherwise. It's not a bad time for this kind of thing.

Walks are good, but I get bored of them too. With nowhere to go in particular, it feels pointless. But it also helps. At the end of the workday, I'm excited to go outside only to stop my excitement when I realize there's nothing really for me to do.

It's a loop for sure. And nothing seems to offset that innate need for human contact, not even all the facetiming in the world. This will surely be a big turning point in society at large. I see no other way.

It's interesting how many posts I can think back and identify with on here. This was me a while ago, but ya know without lock-down.

>The excuse of covid has only made justifications against self improvement easier.

Recognize that and address that problem in the tiniest way possible. For me, when I was at one of the lowest parts of my life, I started flossing every night. It was literally the only new habit I hated to do that I added to my life at the time. It cascaded to working out and a lot more self improvement. I ABHOR structure in my life, but I also very much need it. If you're anything like me, set something small up and keep that structure while you figure out new and awesome things you like to do.

Group activities also worked well for me but aren't for everyone. For me it was DND and Rugby. One I did online, and the other isn't really an option right now.

Good luck, and I hope things get better. I can't imagine COVID hitting when I was in similar place mentally.

> I ABHOR structure in my life, but I also very much need it.

This hits the nail on the head.

Someone on Reddit suggested like... basically doing as much cleaning as you can in five minutes. The lack of need to be perfect at it really helps hide the work, and I've been doing it every six or so hours awake. This isn't my first bout of depression and the slog to get out is real. The biggest difference this time around is I don't feel hopeless. I'm tired, I'm cramped in but I'm confident this will end.

It sounds like your house or apartment isn't a good fit for you, is it an option to move? Somewhere with people who you have lots in common with.

It doesn't always work out but sometimes it does and can be great.

That, and it sounds like the space isn't great for you to be cooped up in

I don't think it would have been a problem (and it wasn't a problem) until I started WFH.

There's a huge difference between a place you can live in while being out of the house for ten hours a day on weekdays and whenever on the weekend and a place you basically are stuck in.

I'm in an expensive city because the job I got is in the center of it. If I knew I could work from home forever I could move further out, or to another state. I think I'd have been much happier in this case.

I am moving into a place that does seem to have roommates more aligned to my own interests. A bit more space too. My current apartment was mostly as a result of not having much time/funds to move and needing to do it quickly and cheaply.