Why spending time alone is so important

Research shows that moments alone can have a positive impact on your daily mood.

Spending time alone can be scary for many people, which is understandable. At the same time, the difference between moments of solitude and solitude is often misunderstood.

As a psychologist, I study loneliness, the time we spend alone, without interacting with other people. I began this research more than a decade ago, and up until that point, the findings on how much time young people spent alone suggested that they often felt down.

On social media, on television, or in the music we listen to, we usually imagine happiness as euphoria, excitement, and excitement. From this perspective, solitude is often confused with loneliness.

In psychology, researchers define loneliness as a feeling of distress we experience when we don’t have, or are unable to obtain, the kind of social connections or relationships we desire. Loneliness is different.

While people’s definitions of loneliness may vary, what’s interesting is that for many, being alone doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s no one else around.

Instead, many people can – and do – experience loneliness in public spaces, sitting in a busy cafe with a cup of tea or reading a book in a park.

And my research suggests that taking time for yourself can have a positive impact on your day-to-day mood.

We’ve all had days where there are problems at work, where things don’t go as planned, or where we take on too much responsibility and feel overwhelmed.

What I’ve found is that learning to take time for yourself, a moment of solitude, can help you deal with these feelings.

What can we gain from loneliness?

In one series of experiments, I brought college students into a room to sit quietly with themselves. In some studies, I removed students’ backpacks and devices and asked them to just sit with their thoughts; on other occasions the students remained in the room with books or mobile phones.

After just 15 minutes, I found that any strong emotions the participants might have been feeling, such as anxiety or euphoria, subsided. I’ve concluded that loneliness has the ability to reduce people’s arousal levels, which means it can be helpful in situations where we’re feeling frustrated, agitated, or angry.

Many people assume that only introverts would enjoy solitude. But while it’s true that introverts may prefer to be alone, they’re not the only people who can reap the benefits of solitude.

In a survey of more than 18,000 adults worldwide, more than half rated solitude as one of the top activities they engage in for rest. So if you’re an extrovert, don’t let that stop you from making time alone to slow down.

Being alone with your thoughts can be difficult

The tricky part about spending time alone is that it can be boring and lonely at times.

Many people find that being alone with their thoughts can be difficult and would rather have something to do. In fact, forcing yourself to sit and do nothing can make your alone time less enjoyable. So you may prefer to do some kind of activity during your solitude.

In my study, I gave participants the option to do nothing or spend their time sorting hundreds of pencils into boxes.

After being asked to be alone for ten minutes, most of the participants chose to separate their pencils. This is the kind of activity I thought most people would find boring.

However, choosing to do the boring task stems from a desire to keep busy when there are no other people to occupy our mental space.

So, if you find yourself checking your phone every time you have a few moments alone, it’s quite common. Don’t be hard on yourself. Many people use their cell phones to deal with stress and boredom.

Some people also prefer to spend time alone doing everyday activities like going to the grocery store or doing the laundry. It’s a valid solitary time.

Practicing recreational activities alone

Interestingly, however, many people avoid leisure activities on their own, such as going to the movies or dining out.

This can happen because we tend to think of it as activities we do with family and friends, so being alone can make us feel judged and embarrassed. Traveling alone is another activity that can be intimidating, especially for women.

But one of the main benefits of going it alone is the opportunity to find peace of mind and have the freedom to choose what to do and how to do it.

While studying solitude, I challenged myself to do some of these recreational activities in my solitude and found the experience quite liberating. Other women have similar experiences, especially when they travel, feeling empowered and free.

To overcome our fear of loneliness, we need to recognize its benefits and see it as a positive choice, not something that happens to us. If traveling alone is a little too much for you right now, carving time out of your busy schedule for small doses of solitude might be just what you need.

* Thuy-vy Nguyen is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Durham University, UK.

This article originally appeared on academic news site The Conversation and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Read the original version here (in English).

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.