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Are you among those people who hate being left alone and are always looking for company? Or are you one who can’t wait to get their me time whenever possible? Being alone and being lonely are 2 different things. Those who are loners will never feel lonely and will always enjoy their own company the most. Add to that the list of benefits they get for spending quality time with their own self.
At Bright Side, we examined a few advantages that loners get as they enjoy more alone time. They are not necessarily introverts, but they are more fulfilled.
1. Give wings to your creativity
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We have often heard of art retreats. The reason why many poets and artists look for solitude is to ignite their creative self. The kinds of ideas that occur to us when we are alone are the most creative. When we are alone we listen to ourselves, find ways to implement our own ideas, and are our own critic as well. Since there are no distractions we often end up expressing our artistic side more easily. Keith Sawyer, a psychologist at Washington University in St. Louis, was quoted in The Washington Post, “Decades of research have consistently shown that brainstorming groups think of far fewer ideas than the same number of people who work alone and later pool their ideas.”
2. Let stress vanish and let your brain reboot
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We often think that those who prefer to stay alone are heading toward depression or have anxiety. Yes, it is important to be active socially, but studies have clearly shown that people who spend time alone are happier and show less signs of stress. They have a higher satisfaction with life and they also manage stress better than other people. When you’re with everyone, your mind is full of thoughts from both yourself and others. Some of these thoughts also happen to affect your conscience and this leads to stress or anxiety. To give your brain a break and some rest, it is important to spend some time alone. So, the next time you are asked why you want to be alone, you have enough reasons to support this decision.
3. Improve your outlook toward your relationships
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Spending time with yourself makes you aware of what you actually want. It gives you clarity on your desires and wishes. It calms you down and you become more empathetic toward your relationship with others, even the stressed ones. Staying alone gives you space enough to assess the people around you. It helps you to choose the kind of people you actually want to be with.
4. Improve your concentration and productivity
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When you’re alone, there are no distractions and no interruptions. This gives your brain a better chance for the free flow of ideas. You concentrate better, you focus better, and you are able to do more work in less time. Have you ever wondered why even students prefer to study alone and not in a group? Because according to a study, they do better when they study alone. We are generally busy filling up our days instead of finding time for our own self. We never give it a thought that some alone time can work wonders for our productivity.
5. Listen to your inner self
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Do you think it’s been too long since you listened to yourself? The preferences you have, the choices, everything is in some way or another influenced by the people and the circumstances around you. In between this chaos and noise, you tend to forget that consciousness has a voice too which needs to talk to you sometimes. By being alone, you do yourself the favor of getting to know yourself better. It also gives you a better understanding of the kind of person you really are.
6. Tackle problems more efficiently
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When you are alone, you are in a position to make better judgments. You see things from a neutral perspective and that’s how you are able to solve even the most difficult problems in your life. When you are alone, you go through thorough thinking and make fair decisions. So, it is important to give yourself some alone time so you don’t get overwhelmed by life’s daily problems.
7. Become self-reliant
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Let the reality sink in that we came to this world alone and will be leaving it alone too. When alone, you tend to work things out on your own. In between the chaos of life, spending some time alone benefits you by showing you the purpose of all the efforts you are making and showing you how you can become independent. Another important thing that you get rid of is comparisons, which always tend to take you down. In fact, you feel happier and more settled when alone. So, why not?
8. Have fun being alone and be yourself
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You can do whatever you want to. “When you’re turned into a cookie, but still can’t stop eating them”. You can eat dessert first, you can play music and read, or you can simply do nothing and still feel happy. When you’re alone, it’s up to you to utilize that ’me time’ in whichever way you want. As quoted in the study conducted by business professors Rebecca Ratner from the University of Maryland and Rebecca Hamilton from Georgetown University, “[The research] provides empirical support for a key premise of our investigation: consumers who forego hedonic activities alone are missing out on opportunities for rewarding experiences.” The only thing you have to ignore and stop worrying about is why you like spending time alone.
After all, it’s fun at times spending time with just yourself. There’s no better way to exercise your freedom of choice. Even desserts before the main course are possible! Have more reasons to stay alone? Please share with us in the comments below.
Preview photo credit 5anuta0182/Twitter