According to science and research, people who prefer spending time alone over socializing are more likely to be successful. There are many unexpected benefits of spending time alone, so let’s find that out, shall we?
It is essential for each and every one of us to have our own alone time, whether we’re an introvert or an extrovert. Now, spending time with others is just as important, owing to the fact that we are social beings, but don’t let it distract you from the benefits of spending time with yourself.
We need to take our own time out from everyone else and sit with our thoughts or do something productive in solitude for the sake of our emotional and mental well-being.
In this day and age where being active on social media and even addicted to it is considered a must for everyone, we are bombarded with notifications that may be messages and calls from our loved ones or even from strangers. Nothing wrong with that.
But if it takes up too much of our precious time and if it cuts down the time we get to spend with ourselves, that’s when it becomes a problem. Also, the withdrawal from social interactions has its ways of making us feel lonely.
Now, being alone and feeling lonely are two completely different things. There are people that feel lonely even in a room full of people, whereas, there are also people that don’t feel lonely for hours on end when spending time alone. In fact, spending more time in solitude daily might actually reduce your feelings of loneliness.
Like every other skill, solitary skills need effort and take practice till you grow to become comfortable with being by yourself. But avoiding the feeling of loneliness isn’t the only reason you should be spending time alone, read on to find out the benefits of spending time alone and how it can help you to be more successful.
Related: Why Socializing For Introverts Is Exhausting, According To Science
7 Science-Backed Reasons Why Spending Time Alone Makes You More Successful
1. You Get To Know Yourself Better.
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom” – Aristotle
When you are spending time alone, you are not influenced by the opinions and decisions of others. How you spend your time alone is totally up to you since you don’t have to consider the feelings of others.
The decisions that you make and the actions you take when you’re alone will let you know and understand more about yourself, as opposed to being uncertain or 50/50 on decisions when you’re around other people.
As much as we may hate to admit it, at the end of the day, it’s every man for himself. Spending time alone can help us to accept this reality and reap its benefits. When you are not defined by others, you have a solid knowledge of your identity. Also, you learn how to feel comfortable and good in your own skin.
The more you know yourself, the better you become at handling situations where it is essential to have solid insights about your authentic self.
2. You Feel Less Anxious.
The hustle and bustle of the modern world have us spinning in circles, congesting our minds with thoughts that often cause us much anxiety. From keeping up with our time schedules to thinking about what our next step in life is, our minds race with thoughts on a daily basis which can in turn cause much stress and strain.
When you spend time with yourself, you give yourself that space to think your thoughts through. Spring cleaning our minds can help us in various areas of our lives in many positive ways. Taking time out daily to get rid of negative and unnecessary thoughts is a must in order to tackle and overcome the stress and anxiety that comes along with such thoughts and the habit of multitasking.
3. You Have Better Relationships.
When you spend time alone, you are granted more time to analyze and appreciate your relationships from a distance. With an open mind and more head space, you get to connect the dots and choose relationships that bring more value into your life.
You realize your deepest desires in solitude without them being tarnished or tampered with by the opinion of others.
Spending time away from even your closest friends and family will help you appreciate their presence when they’re around as well. When you’re around people who make you feel socially isolated you may tend to develop thoughts that compare yourself to others around you.
The feeling of loneliness reduces your empathy and creates an unhealthy environment, even if it’s only in your head. Spending time alone keeps this mindset in check and allows you to develop more empathy and compassion according to studies.
4. You Make Better Memories And You Develop Gratitude.
Our mind’s ability to make memorable and lasting memories is enhanced when we spend more time alone, according to Harvard Business Review.
The right amount of solitude refreshes our minds with better perspectives and sets us in the right mood. Also, if we spend too much time with others, we tend to take some of the more memorable events and happenings for granted which becomes nothing more than a vague memory that isn’t worth remembering.
So, spending time alone can help you appreciate even every conversation that you have with your loved ones because those are memories worth remembering.
As mentioned, solitude can give us a clear perspective on the daily blessings we receive. When you’re spending too much time with others, you don’t give yourself enough time to just kick back and think about how grateful you are to have them in your life. Not even just people but places as well.
Once you understand how much value and happiness they bring into your life, you become more grateful and even more eager to meet them once again. You can never go wrong with an attitude of gratitude.
5. You Become More Creative And Productive.
Spending time alone allows you to tap into your creative flow state. This is the reason why artists, authors, and creative producers, in general, choose to be left alone in a secluded studio or a place far away from everybody else to create their art.
When the rest of the world is shut out, you will find it easier to express your authentic self in its purest form in your art. Studies confirm that being alone to work on your art brings out the best of your creativity.
Not only do you become more creative, but your productivity also reaches new heights as well. Whether it be studying or preparing a presentation, you are more likely to produce a more satisfying outcome when you perform the task in solitude. You become more concentrated and focused on the task at hand without any external disturbances. Studies show that you are able to perform better when you work in privacy.
6. You Become Mentally Stronger.
Enjoying solitude, if you don’t already, can be very hard to get used to and will take some time and effort, but it’s worth it. If the points mentioned above haven’t convinced you enough then how about the benefit of becoming stronger mentally?
Yes, studies have shown that people who spend time alone are happier and are less likely to have depression. Not only that, they have lower stress levels and better life satisfaction.
Sounds like an offer you can’t refuse, doesn’t it? But wait, it gets better. Solitude gives you the opportunity and time to make better decisions in life based on your deepest desires. This means that you find your own voice instead of following the crowd. Better decision making in turn helps you to tackle the everyday problems in your life.
Spending time alone gives you time to analyze and actualize the problems at hand and those that lie ahead. You overcome your problems instead of being overwhelmed by them.
7. You Have More Time And Head Space To Plan Your Life.
You only live once. It would be a waste to spend the precious time you have on this earth worrying and stressing over everything. Spending time alone allows you to plan ahead of time on how you’re going to live your life.
Now, of course, your plans are going to include other people such as your family, romantic partner, friends, colleagues, or business partners, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect planning out your goals to live your best life. You are your greatest priority.
Spending time alone to think about how you’re going to live your life is something you must do once in a while. Take time to reflect on the past, make the most of the present, and project yourself towards a future that you look forward to. Make sure you have a solid idea of your goals, dreams, and aspirations.
Go through your personal values and morals and make changes if you have to as you go along. Life’s a whole journey and it wouldn’t hurt to spend some time alone in your journey to know where you’re headed.
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