Why Spending Time Alone Is Beneficial
Did you know that spending time alone is one of the most effective ways to increase your self-awareness and decrease stress? When we first hear this, it may feel counterintuitive. After all, socializing can be an excellent way to relieve stress, boost happiness, and feel less isolated. But the benefits of being around other people or animals extends far beyond stress relief. Spending time with others offers us a wealth of opportunities for personal growth and development. We make new friends, test our boundaries by interacting with people we don’t know as well as increasing our circle of acquaintances — all of which helps us become a more well-rounded individual who can navigate different social situations confidently. However, at times, overexposure to other people and limited time alone can lead to feelings of exhaustion and a desire for isolation. Social overload is a real thing
Why Being Alone Feels Good
When we spend too much time with others, we can become overwhelmed by their energy and expectations. We can lose sight of our own needs and start to feel anxious about being ourselves around others. Spending time alone can help regulate your energy levels and help you feel more in tune with yourself. If you're feeling overly tired or stressed from your social interactions, spending time alone can help you reset and be more present when you're around others again. Being alone can also be a helpful way to process negative emotions, such as anger or frustration, without having to worry about interrupting someone or being interrupted yourself. You can take time to do what feels good to you, which can help you feel more in control of your emotions and less reliant on others. If you're a highly sensitive person, or if you have other personality traits that make you more aware of your surroundings, socializing can be exhausting. It may be that you're constantly picking up on other people's emotions and having trouble blocking them out. Spending time alone can help you get some relief.
5 Psychological Benefits of Spending Time Alone
Self-awareness - One of the most important benefits your brain will receive is increased self-awareness. This is a key part of mental health and has proven to be effective in treating anxiety, depression, and many other mental health conditions. By spending time alone, we are able to engage in self-reflection and pay attention to our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and desires without the pressure to be social. Connection with your values - Spending time alone can help you connect with your values and what is important to you as a person. This can be done through journaling, meditating, or just sitting quietly. This is important because it allows you to be more in control of your life and to authentically be you. Less stress - Spending time in nature is known to lower cortisol levels and help people feel less stressed. When we are alone, we are able to take advantage of this benefit. We are also able to take the time to do what is best for us — like rest, self-care, or engage in activities that we find enjoyable. Increased creativity - Creativity is about finding new ways of seeing things and overcoming challenges. By spending time alone, you are able to overcome challenges that you otherwise wouldn't have faced — like taking a trip to the grocery store by yourself or writing a poem about a difficult life experience. It is also easier to find new ways of seeing things when you are not constantly surrounded by others. Better sleep - Too much screen time before bed can affect the quality of your sleep — but the same cannot be said for reading a book. Spending time by yourself, particularly reading before bed, can help you fall asleep faster and sleep better.
4 Ways to Enjoy the Benefit of Solitude
- Journaling - Journaling is one of the easiest ways to engage in self-reflection, and it can be done anywhere with minimal effort. If you are journaling, make sure you are being honest with yourself. Don't just write down things you think you should be feeling. Journaling is not a way to force emotions out of yourself; it is a way to allow yourself to explore whatever is going on inside of you. - Walking in nature - Studies have shown that spending time in nature can reduce your stress levels. This can be achieved by taking a trip to the park or just hanging out by a river or lake if you live in an area that has these features. Enjoying activities that you enjoy - Whether it's reading a book, watching your favorite TV shows, or engaging in a craft, make sure that you are spending time doing things that you really enjoy. Make sure that you aren't just doing something because you think you should be doing it or because you feel like you need to be doing something.
3 Strategies to Help You Reconnect With Yourself
- Meditation - Not only does meditation help you become more self-aware and relaxed, it also has many health benefits. Start with five minutes of meditation, and only increase your time if you feel comfortable doing so. - Journaling - Although journaling can be done in many different ways (such as freewriting), it can be helpful to write down a list of everything that is currently going on in your life. By writing down everything that is on your mind, you are able to see what is consuming you and what you may need help with. - Exploring your values and goals - Make time to really think about what is important to you and what your values are as a person. What are your core values? Why are they important? What are your long-term goals? What steps do you need to take to achieve them?
2 Ways Being Alone Can Increase Self-Awareness
- Exploring your inner thoughts - Thoughts can be powerful, but they are often not given the attention they deserve. Make it a habit to pay attention to your thoughts, and really explore what they are about. This can be done through mindfulness or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). - Experiencing your emotions - Everyone experiences emotions, but not everyone is comfortable experiencing them. Make it a goal to fully experience your emotions. Emotions are not bad — they are simply a part of being human.
1 Conclusion
Spending time alone can often feel scary, and it can be tempting to fill your alone time with social activities as a way to battle this fear. This can be counterproductive, as it can lead to social exhaustion and actually increase feelings of loneliness. Instead, use your alone time to engage in self-reflection and explore your thoughts, feelings, and desires.