Spending some time alone is good for your mental health, latest research has demonstrated.
Scientists from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine have found that more than half of the adults surveyed believe that an adequate amount of alone time can enhance their mental health.
During the study, a total of 1,004 individuals from America filled in the new national survey, with the results showing that 46% of the respondents do not get enough alone time in the holiday season.
First author Dr Sophie Lazarus said: “In a world that glorifies staying busy, taking a brief break alone can be rewarding both mentally and physically.
- Watching sports an ‘effective remedy’ to improve wellbeing
- Walk more to improve health and boost wellbeing
- Attending live sports events reduces loneliness and boosts wellbeing
“A few minutes to yourself can reduce the stress of the season and help your mental health. By taking a brief pause alone, our nervous system can settle, our mind can settle, our body can settle. And I think that can be important. We know that chronic stress is not good for us.”
She added: “It’s important to make yourself a priority, and this can be accomplished by adding something simple to your routine that doesn’t require a large chunk of time or effort.
“Try putting your phone in a totally different room when you decide you’re going to spend alone time, knowing how hard it is to resist picking it up, the pulls on our attention and on our priorities.”
She continued: “Or take two or three minutes in the car before you go pick your kids up or before you go back into the house after work to just be alone. One size doesn’t fit everyone. Being flexible and finding balance is best.
- Taking large strides when walking burns the most calories
- Feeling alone: lonely people shown to process the world in their own way
- Toddlers get half their calories from ultra-processed foods
“I think it’s important to remember that just because you’re prioritising yourself at this moment doesn’t mean that you’re selfish and doesn’t mean that you always make the choice to prioritise yourself over others.”
She concluded: “Some people might experience alone time from going to a movie by themselves or going to a park where there’s a lot of people or going to a coffee shop. It can also be this absence of having to perform or interact socially in a more direct way.”
