There are a lot of perks to going it alone sometimes, but true isolation is becoming a deadly epidemic, especially for middle-aged men. But the loneliness that often comes hand-in-hand with the trials of modern living don't have to be a death sentence.

When you feel lonely, it's hard to get past the sadness and pain that comes with it. But feeling lonely is actually perfectly healthy. It's your mind's way of telling you it's time to make a change.

Whether you're a writer, painter, or photographer, creativity needs to be nurtured. If you want to avoid an artist's block, schedule yourself some time to go think and explore.

When travelling abroad alone, you typically want to stay connected for safety reasons. There's another reason to make sure you can reach friends and family, though: Solo travel gets lonely.

I like doing things alone -- eating dinner, playing games, seeing movies -- but for some, the idea seems depressing, sad or only for people with no one to be with. That's nonsense. Doing things alone develops self-sufficiency, gives you time for honest reflection and forces you to learn to like yourself a little -- or at least figure out why you don't.

The holidays seem to have a special way of making you feel like crap if you're alone. Maybe you're nursing a recent breakup. Maybe you just started university and can't afford to fly back home. Whatever the scenario, if you're spending the holidays by yourself and it's getting you down, here's how to cope.