Taking time for oneself might have positive effects and lower stress levels. While solitude is commonly associated with loneliness, research indicates that it alleviates the stress of contemporary living and can promote a sense of freedom for individuals.
In a recent research experiment, a group of 178 individuals was requested to maintain a three-week diary, recording the number of hours they spent daily in solitude, without engaging in face-to-face interactions with others or communicating digitally via platforms like social media or email.
The study found that individuals who spent more time in solitude during a particular day tended to report lower levels of stress.
Volunteers in the study were presented with three specific questions related to their feelings of pressure to conform, their sense of freedom to express themselves, and their perceived level of control over their daily experiences. Interestingly, their responses to these questions were notably more positive on days when they spent increased periods of time alone.
While solitude can offer benefits, individuals, who were involved in the experiment, tended to feel more lonely on days when they spent an increased amount of time alone than their usual routine.
However, this pattern did not apply to individuals who typically dedicated a significant portion of their time to solitary activities.
The researchers’ conclusion suggests that the negative perception of solitude primarily arises when someone is alone against their preference.
This implies that numerous individuals can spend extended periods alone without experiencing adverse effects on their overall well-being, as long as it aligns with their personal inclination for solitude.
Professor Netta Weinstein, who spearheaded the study at the University of Reading, highlighted, “Solitude can be profoundly calming as you have autonomy and self-direction. There’s no external demand for tasks or the expectation of engaging conversations that carry pressure to entertain or be affable.”
“While social interactions are undeniably fulfilling, they can also exert a toll. Therefore, incorporating a certain degree of solitude into our lives might aid in balancing the time dedicated to socializing and enhance overall well-being,” she concluded.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, aimed to uncover a potential ‘tipping point’—a specific duration of solitary hours per day that might negatively impact well-being. Surprisingly, researchers found no such threshold.
Participants were queried daily regarding their level of agreement with the statement ‘Today I feel stressed.’ Notably, their stress levels tended to decrease as their time spent alone increased.
However, despite reduced stress, individuals reported higher levels of loneliness and perceived their day as less satisfying when they spent extended periods alone. Nevertheless, the pivotal factor lay in whether individuals actively chose solitude, which researchers determined based on their inclination towards and appreciation of being alone.
Interestingly, when people voluntarily opted for solitude, the quantity of time spent alone no longer influenced their enjoyment of the day, and feelings of loneliness significantly diminished. Moreover, individuals who devoted the most time to solitude didn’t exhibit the same increased loneliness and decreased satisfaction observed on average in the study.
The researchers emphasize, “This finding contrasts with the widespread belief that individuals who frequently seek solitude are inherently ‘lonely.'”
In conclusion, the negative impact of being alone on well-being seemed temporary and specifically related to situations where individuals spent an unusual and excessive amount of time in solitude compared to their usual habits.