hi RoyGbiv! I had many lonely days too. I got through some by doing things that were not too mentally taxing but also enough to focus my attention.
Watching good stand up comedy. Laughter is good.
Putting on the radio where people are talking made me feel less alone, or a comedy cd or a story telling cd. It just made me feel like someone was there.
Also doing this while doing a jigsaw puzzle staved off boredom.