5 Benefits Of Solitude For Mental Health

Solitude, or spending time alone with yourself, is not only for introverts or artists who need quiet moments for recuperation or creative inspiration. All of us need “alone time” regardless of personality type or nature of work because our minds need to slow down, rest, and replenish.

According to a study published in EJSP, solitude is the time spent alone either without others physically present or without social interaction; and is often interchanged with loneliness and isolation. There is a lot of stigma going on about solitude, and I remember one memory from childhood where my cousins looked at me as if I were a weirdo or crazy because instead of playing with them, I sat in one corner and read a book. And up to this day I still get those familiar looks whenever people learn that I love to walk in the park or read a book in a cafe — alone.

Being alone doesn’t mean being lonely. Being alone is a physiological state that opens our inner life to recalibration and profound self-discovery, while loneliness is an emotional state caused by missing out on seeing the beauty of solitude. Solitude becomes meaningful when it is intentional. To be intentional means to pull yourself out from the crowd to hear more from the inside. It is being aware that you need time to stay away from the buzz to maintain balance and sanity.

Here are 5 benefits of solitude for your mental health:

1. It slows down your mind and releases anxiety

Life is never effortless. We constantly think and deal with the day-to-day demands of life, and while the world constantly offers new things and convinces us we won’t survive if we don’t keep up. If you don’t give your mind time to release these pressures, you may end up running in circles and missing out on the true meaning and worth of life. Spending time alone with yourself is your “break” from everything that’s going on, so you can slow down and breathe.

To slow down the going in and out of thoughts in your head, stay away from distractions and energy wasters, such as mindless skimming through social media (considered a social interaction in a digital sense), and replace them with calming ones, like reading an inspiring book. This simple change in habit will help your mind to get used to giving it some downtime and to remove the guilt of resting or doing nothing.

Walk at least 30 minutes in nature and surrender to doing nothing. Take it as an opportunity not to think of the things that keep you restless and inhale the scent of greens and the skies, and just feel that you’re alive. Let yourself loose and take off the “in-charge hat” and let go of the weight that comes with it.

Sometimes, we get consumed with what needs to be done instead of being in the moment. When your attention dwells on what is not in front of you yet, you become unsatisfied, ungrateful, and anxious. It kills peace, security and balance and may result in depression and internal chaos. But with intentional solitude, you are telling your nervous system that it is okay to slow down and that you don’t have to put everything on your shoulders all the time.

2. It brings your guards down to fully enjoy yourself

When was the last time you really enjoyed yourself? One thing about being with people or in a group is that we forget to genuinely entertain ourselves anymore.

It is our nature to think of others’ needs first before ours and make them comfortable with us, even if it means restricting ourselves to behave the way we do when nobody is looking. Even when you are with a friend or a spouse, you wear a thin layer of mask to project the persona they know about you to avoid conflict or rejection. But behind the walls, there is a secret version of yourself that only you can see and understand.

You can only have a full experience of yourself when all guards are down and masks are taken off. Solitude can give you that space where you can be yourself and exist in a way pleasing and enjoyable for you. You don’t need to be conscious about what others think about you, simply because you don’t care.

When I was in the corporate world, I used to go out of the office during lunch break and eat alone in a far cafeteria where nobody knew me. I’d throw big smiles in the air when my favorite food was on the menu and fidget like a child as I placed my order. I didn’t care if strangers would think I was crazy as long as I enjoyed myself because I was free to be me.

Solitude isn’t only about silence but also about having fun. We need to have fun and enjoy ourselves for our mental health to thrive. It tells us we deserve to celebrate ourselves for who we are without the need to play roles that others expect from us.

3. You can think better and reflect more deeply

Intentional reflection on what’s really going on in your life brings clarity, depth, and enthusiasm for personal growth and exploration. It is a time to pay attention to the small but important details that are often set aside because we’re more enticed by the bigger picture. Solitude reminds us that small details are as important as big ones.

It is also a sacred time where we can ask ourselves the hard questions and gather the courage to seek answers. If truth is important to us, questions we’ve been brushing off for so long must be confronted. The mind and soul always crave truth and purpose, and diving deep into reflection leads us closer to that. Give your inner life a favor through alone time. Take a daily walk or write in your journal as if you’re talking to a friend. It may seem scary at first, but solitude is an essential diet for mental health.

Days are fast and always full. Partly because we are too focused on surviving, and partly a choice. You are the master of your time. Every single thing you do with your time is your choice. You choose to cook food because you choose to live for another day. Similarly, you choose to frequently check your phone because you choose distraction over concentration. Setting aside time to pause from things that keep you occupied and just allow yourself to be still is also a choice that you can make for your overall well-being.

Choose to feed your inner life even in small chunks of time. You need ‘me time’ and take a look beyond the surface to learn more about yourself and the path you’re on.

4. It amplifies spiritual awareness

For mental health to thrive, we must heal inward and be the person we are called to be. Spirituality isn’t about religion or submitting to a certain dogma, but a life that heals and nurtures the soul. It is a lifelong journey of remembering our authentic nature anchored to God that needs a kind of silence that calms our outer and inner life.

Solitude is more than the absence of noise. It rather slowly digs inward, where every inch deeper reaches and activates the soul. When you stay away from noise and spend more time alone with yourself, you can hear and feel your intuition better. A discerned life leads to better decisions and the life you’ve always wanted.

It took me a while to connect the dots in my life, but I wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t spent a lot of time in solitude. I learned that I am never truly alone when I am by myself. I am with my spiritual self — the inner voice that whispers my true desire and purpose. Clarity and revelations occur when nobody sees you other than yourself. Because the soul awakens when the ego is at rest.

5. It feeds creativity and boosts productivity

Whether a person is cerebral or artistic, that person is creative. We are all creative because we work and create something that is non-existent in the past. If you are a technical person, your mind needs to think to carry out the expected result. If you’re a writer or a painter, there’s no doubt that you also need creativity. And to have better access to it, you need to step out of the actual work of creating and give your creative nature a space to open up for ideas and inspiration.

When you put yourself into a relaxing state and without distraction, your brain sets to an alpha-wave state, where imagination and concentration heighten. Walking alone in nature is my go-to solitude style when I am exhausted with writing. The greens and fresh air reset my brain so I can open myself up to receiving new ideas. I also like to watch a movie in the theater to replenish my inspiration to write good stories. When I am inspired I am more creative and productive at work.

How about you? What do you do for yourself to boost your creativity?

We all need to be alone regularly to become more creative and productive. Work is an important area of life and isn’t limited to giving yourself to the craft. Solo recreational activities are also a part of it to avoid fatigue and burnout. 

Other Ways To Spend Time With Yourself

How we want to spend time with ourselves varies from person to person. As long as it helps your mental health to maintain its balance and calm, go for it without hesitation. Here are some suggestions on how you can spend intentional solitude.

• Spend time with nature
• Go to peaceful and high-frequency places like churches and museums
• Yoga
• Meditate
• Journaling (gratitude or reflective journaling)
• Attend seminars and self-discovery classes
• Go shopping and treat yourself
• Jog, run, or swim
• Travel solo
• Stay at home when everyone else is out

The list can go endless and all of them can help reset your mind. Go out and try the things you’ve been wanting to do solo. There is no reason to be scared or ashamed of being alone. You wouldn’t know how important it is until you embrace it and experience its benefits for your mental health.

Remember that solitude is a time to love and nurture yourself. You deserve to be free from responsibilities even just for a while. Do not forget to be there for yourself as you have been for others.

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