How spending time alone makes our lives better

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It's a good way to relax, deal with stress, and understand yourself better.

We are almost constantly surrounded by people: colleagues, family, friends, casual acquaintances, doctors, teachers. There is little time left to retire and do something enjoyable or interesting. But it's worth fixing it.

Why spend time alone

1. It helps fight stress

This was reported by participants in a small study conducted by G. Walz, J. R. Bleuer. Exploring the Role of Time Alone in Modern Culture / American Counseling Association at Shawnee University (USA). They were asked how they felt about solitude and how much it helps or hinders them in life.

The respondents were unanimous: they noted that loneliness is important. It not only helps relieve stress, but also gives you the opportunity to better understand yourself, solve problems more effectively, and be more productive.

And psychologists remind that a lack of time for yourself can be dangerous.

Bella de Paulo Psychologist, TEDx speaker. Quoted from Psychology Today article.

People who don't spend enough time alone experience more stress and frustration. They feel, on average, more depressed than those who have enough privacy.

We are very different, so it is important to find your balance between communication and silence. He will make us healthier and happier.

2. It makes us more creative

Researchers from the University of Buffalo in the United States surveyed 295 students and found an interesting pattern. If a person is left alone with himself forcibly, without much desire, it is more difficult for him to be creative, to come up with new things, to generate ideas. And vice versa. For those who love loneliness, it helps to be more creative.

Psychologists in principle often say 1.6 Reasons You Should Spend More Time Alone / Psychology Today

2. That creativity and privacy are closely related.

Amy Maureen Psychotherapist. Quoted from a Forbes article.

When we are alone with ourselves, we have the opportunity to get bored, wander through the labyrinths of the mind, and this helps to be born new ideas and approach problem solving in a more creative way.

3. It helps to recuperate

Communication tires S. Leikas, V. -J. Ilmarinen. Happy Now, Tired Later? Extraverted and Conscientious Behavior Are Related to Immediate Mood Gains, but to Later Fatigue / Journal of Personality. Relaxing alone is perhaps the best way to recharge and reboot. And for both extroverts and introverts.

After polling 18 thousand respondents, it turned out that solitude in one form or another helps to restore strength. For example, reading or playing with pets seems more relaxing to people than talking to loved ones.

4. It gives room for introspection

Solitude helps you to know yourself better. How Important Is Alone Time for Mental Health / Verywell Mind.

Kendra Cherry Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist. Quoted from the Verywell Mind article.

Regularly spending time alone with oneself, a person can isolate himself from the influence of society, immerse himself in his thoughts and feelings.

It also allows you to reflect on recent events, take a fresh look at difficult situations and come up with interesting solutions.

5. It helps to become more empathic

Again, this is due to the fact that a person who has time for introspection and a calm detached assessment of the motives of other people understands other people's emotions better than someone who does not have time to step aside and think properly.

There are even studies by T. Hu, X. Zheng, M. Huang. Absence and Presence of Human Interaction: The Relationship between Loneliness and Empathy / Frontiers in Psychology, who say that lonely people are in many ways more empathic than those who prefer to be constantly in society.

How to spend time alone with yourself

Loneliness is so difficult for many that even pleasant things become R. K. Ratner, R. W. Hamilton. Inhibited from Bowling Alone / Journal of Consumer Research is a burden if there is no company.

Yes, at first it can be strange and uncomfortable. But try to treat this not as torture, but as an opportunity to get to know yourself better, gain strength and fresh ideas.

Here's what Things to Do by Yourself / Verywell Mind recommends by psychosocial rehabilitation specialist Kendra Cherry.

1. Stay alone with yourself regularly

Nobody will tell you the exact time, but even 15-30 minutes every day is not bad.

2. Plan your vacation

Think about what gives you pleasure and relaxation, and add such things to your planner.

It can be:

• Going to a cafe, to the cinema or to a play.
• Walk outdoors. They are assisted by C. E. Knapp, Ed.; T. E. Smith, Ed. Exploring the Power of Solo, Silence, and Solitude / Association for Experiential Education to prioritize and organize thoughts.
• Travel. At least to a neighboring city or even a district.
• Visiting of museum.
• Drawing, coloring, needlework.
• Warm salt bath, face mask, body wrap and other amenities.

3. Get rid of distractions

Try not to use social networks and do not scroll through the news if you feel that it does not help you properly rest and relax. In addition, put your phone and all chats, except for the most necessary ones, on silent mode, turn on a cartoon for the children and ask your loved ones not to bother you.