Contrary to what some think, in certain situations Loneliness can be positive in people’s lives It is in our moments of solitude where we can give ourselves the time necessary to internalize life situations that affect us in any way.
Of course, we must keep in mind that too much is counterproductive, and that the ideal is for us to be able to manage our lives between the right and necessary moments of solitude, as well as be able to relate appropriately with our peers.
In this article we are going to investigate the advantages of solitude for our lives, always keeping in mind that it is a behavior that we must control for our mental well-being.
What benefits can solitude bring us?
In the following list we can find clearly and precisely the advantages of solitude in the different aspects of daily life.
1. Regulates our energy
Constantly being in social situations can be quite exhausting for our mind and our body, especially if we have a tendency towards introversion.
Moments of solitude are useful for us to give our body a necessary rest, do a mental “reset” and focus on what interests us without having our attention focus hijacked by the demands of the here and now (given that social interactions require that we Let us be focused on them at all times and pay attention to even their most trivial aspects.)
2. It helps us reflect
Moments of solitude give us the opportunity to connect with our thoughts in a more intimate way That is, if we take advantage of our privacy to do an exercise in personal recognition, we will be able to understand why some situations make us feel certain emotions.
Consequently, we will achieve better coping styles for our daily lives, taking into account that when we recognize our emotions through the reflection process we act more assertively in our daily lives.
3. Strengthens empathy
As contradictory as it may seem, having moments of loneliness makes us more empathetic people. When we spend time alone we connect better with our feelings and learn to value them more
This assessment of our own person is usually extrapolated to others, and allows us to put ourselves in the other’s shoes for a moment, to understand that sometimes they also need moments of tranquility in their lives.
Likewise, if we have gone through a moment of confrontation or a clash of interests with someone else, stopping arguing and walking away for a few minutes is a useful strategy to avoid getting carried away by frustration and anger in an unconstructive way.
4. Personal enjoyment
Loneliness is not synonymous with boredom; on the contrary, we can enjoy doing it. activities that we like and that our social group does not necessarily have to like it.
For example, if you like to watch movies from a genre that is not your friends’ favorite, you can take a weekend off for yourself and enjoy a marathon of these movies.
5. Improve personal performance
When we seek to increase our productivity and efficiency, loneliness can be a great ally. People who spend most of their time around other people usually have little time to do personal tasks.
6. Avoid emotional attachments
When we learn to enjoy our moments alone, without the anxiety that comes with having the social approval of others, we are decreasing the chances of becoming emotionally attached to someone else so that dependency is created.
During moments of loneliness we can find adequate self-esteem, which represents a protective factor against any type of extreme emotional attachment.
7. It makes us more autonomous people
When being alone does not represent any problem for us, we can become more decisive on our own. This translates into a good level of personal independence
Subjects who have no problems with being alone also have no problems with carrying out their daily tasks; They may even discover new methods of personal strategic planning to carry them out in a more structured and orderly way.
8. It helps us establish better social ties
Contradictory as it may seem, solitude is effective at the time of establish quality social relationships with our peers
Subjects who do not depend on a social group to feel fulfilled are more selective when choosing who they associate with. Therefore, maintaining individuality and respecting people’s space and privacy makes group dynamics healthier and more functional.
Loneliness is a double-edged sword
It is important to keep in mind that despite all the benefits that loneliness can represent for people, it can also be counterproductive in some essential aspects of the subjects’ lives.
Human beings are a gregarious species And therefore requires interaction with other subjects of the same species to achieve adequate maturation in the various areas of their life.
Individuals who isolate themselves a lot from the social world generally have a very limited probability of success and are less able to count on a social network of help and support. Regardless of the talent or capabilities they may have, they fail to transcend their projects.
If we can understand that loneliness is a good advisor, but that we should not abuse it then we will be ready to take advantage of it in the best possible way.
When we have understood the above, we can become better people and manage to cultivate the friendships and social relationships that we need in our lives, according to our aspirations and interests.