The Top 8 Benefits of Spending Time Alone

Apr 23, 2021 · 3

Modern life doesn’t slow down, and it’s taking a toll. Constant demands—from work, family, and everything in between—leave many of us feeling stretched thin. Add to that the steady stream of negative headlines and social media noise, and it’s no wonder stress and burnout are becoming the norm. More people are looking for healthy ways to unplug, reset, and take back a sense of calm in their everyday lives.

One solution that many people find helpful is solitude.

Many misunderstand solitude as synonymous with isolation, which suggests an unwanted lack of social connection. Solitude differs in that it means choosing to be alone for positive reasons.

Here are eight benefits arising from being intentionally alone.

8 Benefits of Occasional Time Spent Alone

Creativity Enhancement

Although collaborating with others can result in excellent creative output, the process often dampens innovation as the group succumbs to conformity in the drive to achieve consensus. In contrast, many of us find our most creative moments spring forth from alone time when we can stay true to ourselves and let our imagination soar unimpeded by the opinions of others.

Stress Relief

Often, our stress levels increase when we feel the need to please other people or conform to their demands. Spending time alone allows time to stay relaxed and calm without pressure from others. A good example is solo travel, where you decide where, when, and how you travel without needing to adjust plans to accommodate someone else.

Memory and Focus Improvement

older man alone reading on a pier A common symptom of our stressful, frenetic lives is the struggle to pay attention. With so many things happening simultaneously, we feel scattered and unfocused. Another symptom is reduced short-term memory when we multitask and end up trying to do too many things at once. Our memory can’t keep up, and things slip through the cracks. When we take time to be alone, away from the constant noise and bustle, we have time to concentrate, which studies have shown improves memory.

Productivity Boost

While it's obvious that well-functioning groups can be very productive, it's not the only way to get things done. Sometimes it's simply more efficient for individuals to have uninterrupted solitude to accomplish their goals. A great way to beat procrastination is to schedule time when you can be by yourself to focus exclusively on long-delayed objectives.

Emotional Intelligence Development

older woman sitting alone, yoga Emotional intelligence (EI) allows us to maintain positive relationships with others. But what is EI? According to Marc Brackett, Ph.D., founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a professor in the Yale Child Study Center:

“It is our emotional intelligence (EI) that gives us the ability to read our instinctive feelings and those of others. It also allows us to understand and label emotions as well as express and regulate them. The ability to reach, understand, and respond to emotions in ourselves and other people is a crucial factor in predicting our health, happiness, and professional success.”

Contemplative time alone can be a terrific opportunity to develop EI. This might involve reading or meditation to focus on building self-awareness and empathy.

Enhance Relationships

It may seem contradictory that spending time alone can improve our relationships. Yet, taking time alone is an act of self-care that builds us up spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. When we feel better about ourselves, we’re better prepared to play a positive role in interactions with others, especially with those closest to us.

Explore Your Interests

Many of us consider ourselves too busy to investigate new, potentially satisfying interest areas, typically telling ourselves we’ll defer such explorations in the future. Another reason is not knowing another person who shares our curiosity for a particular subject. Too often, however, these excuses cause us to miss out on life-changing experiences. Rather than put them off, why not opt for a solo excursion? Examples are going alone to a concert, an art gallery, or a sporting event.

Recharge the Batteries

older man sitting alone on bench Finally, intentional solitude can allow us to simply recharge our batteries. It affords us the time to slow down, relax, and enjoy some quiet moments. These occasions don’t necessarily have to be filled with activity. Instead, they can be unstructured from the stress of everyday life. It can be an opportunity to “hang out” with yourself to feel more centered and at peace when re-entering the “real world.”

It’s common to think that taking time for solitude is a selfish, unproductive step. However, “going solo” occasionally is an excellent self-care tactic to manage stress amid our chaotic schedules.

Let us know in the comments below - What is your favorite way to spend time alone?