People are innately social beings, and research has demonstrated the importance of social interactions for both emotional and physical health. However, alone time also has a crucial impact on mental wellness.
Spending time alone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re lonely. Spending time alone can help discover more about who you are, enhance overall mental well-being, and engage in things you enjoy.
A psychologist recently explained, “ Humans are social beings, hardwired to be connected to others. At the same time, it's important to learn how to tolerate and even appreciate alone time for extended periods.”
Becoming comfortable in your own company can help you have the time and freedom to explore your passions. It can be a chance to learn new things, explore interests, gain information, and even experiment with different ways of expressing yourself.
In fact, studies show that being alone can alter the brain in ways that stimulate creativity.
In a 2020 study that was published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers discovered that feeling socially isolated, often known as loneliness, caused the brain circuits that control imagination to become more active. When social stimulation is lacking, the brain activates its creative networks to assist fill that gap.
Living alone is often viewed negatively. However, researchers discovered that those who live alone may actually have more social energy and a fuller social life than those who cohabitate.
Whether it's voluntary or necessary, below are mentioned 10 ways to be happier alone:
Develop a relationship with yourself
Being alone will provide you with the opportunity of developing a relationship with yourself . However, doing this isn't always simple.
People may find it challenging to spend time alone for a variety of reasons. However, you might want to take advantage of the discomfort to uncover more things about yourself. Analyse what issues you experience when you are alone.
You can accomplish this, for instance, by reflecting on or writing about your values, preferences, and present emotions.
Volunteer
In a significant 2020 study carried out in the UK, individuals responded to questionnaires regarding their general mental health and volunteering behaviours every two years from 1996 to 2014. In comparison to those who volunteered infrequently or never, those who volunteered at least once a month reported having improved mental health.
This can be accomplished by even the comfort of home. For instance, you can try to contribute to a food bank or offer to tutor pupils online.
Learn new things
Take the initiative to spend time learning new material or hone a skill on your own. This can involve engaging in activities that call for executive functioning skills, like focusing or being attentive such as reading or creating and inventing something of your own.
Consider doing something different than usual; now is a perfect time to experiment or enrol in a video course. The intent of doing so can be anything. One can also attempt to learn how to bake and practise the same in their spare time.
Exercise
Being active can greatly contribute to happiness. Partaking in a daily, mindful walk, or engaging in some form of physical activity could help alleviate anxiety. One can put on their headphones and simply enjoy music and themselves doing any activity.
In a significant 2018 study, researchers discovered that those who exercised frequently had 43.2 percent fewer days of poor mental health in the previous month than those who did not.
Spend time in nature
A study discovered that persons who spent at least two hours in nature over the course of a week were significantly more likely to report feeling happier and healthier than those who did not go outside at all.
Whether the time spent outside was in small increments or big chunks did not affect the results, and benefits peaked at 200 to 300 minutes a week outdoors. You can take a leisurely stroll, read in a park, or simply sit outside.
Practice gratitude
It's far too simple to get sucked into dwelling on what you lack. One can practise gratitude in their alone time. This can be done by simply listing things you are thankful for physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
A psychiatrist from California said "Furthermore, creating gratitude lists and reading these out loud in front of the mirror could help target multiple sensory centres in the brain to maximise the benefits of this activity."
Take a break from social media
Social media can make people feel more isolated even though it may appear like a chance to interact with others.
A significant study of college students between the ages of 18 and 30 discovered a link between social media use and feelings of loneliness. Users reported an average rise in feelings of isolation of 13 percent for every 10 percent increase in unpleasant social media experiences.
Go on self-dates
Even if doing what you enjoy may seem obvious, you rarely get the chance to do exactly what you want. The majority of people have hardly ever had a prolonged length of time to focus solely on their preferences. During your alone time, make room for you to ask yourself, "What do I really want to be doing?"
Take yourself out to watch a movie or to a refreshing museum exhibit. Or, if you want to stay in, you might even want to prepare your preferred dinner at home.
Meditate
In addition to enhancing mindfulness, a 2010 review discovered that meditation can enhance the brain's grey matter. Emotional control and perspective-taking are functions of this area of the brain. Although the thought of meditating might be scary, anyone can actually do it. You can try meditating on your own, with the aid of apps, or with videos from YouTube.
Foster or adopt a pet
Though a pet can't speak back, having one through fostering or adoption still counts as a companion. Your relationship with an animal at home can lead to happiness, humour, and unforeseen challenges that will keep you on your toes. We are motivated to get out of bed by animals.
If you're struggling to find the motivation to keep moving, having a pet that needs to go for a walk is a win-win situation.
