Contrary to what some people think, in certain situations loneliness can be positive in people’s lives . It is in our moments of solitude that we can give ourselves the time needed to internalize the situations of life that affect us in any way.

However, we must bear in mind that too much is counterproductive, and that the ideal is to be able to manage our life between the right and necessary moments of solitude, as well as being able to relate properly to our fellow men.

In this article we are going to look at the advantages of solitude for our lives, always bearing in mind that it is a behaviour that we must control for our mental well-being.

What benefits can loneliness bring us?

In the following list we will be able to find in a clear and precise way 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 body.

The moments of solitude are useful to give our organism a necessary rest.

2. It helps us to reflect

The 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 process of reflection we act more assertively in our daily lives.

3. Reinforces empathy

As contradictory as it may seem, having moments of solitude makes us more empathetic people. When we spend time alone we connect better with our feelings and learn to value them more .

This evaluation of our own person is usually extrapolated to others, and allows us to put ourselves in the other’s place for a moment, to understand that sometimes they also need moments of tranquility in their life.

4. Personal enjoyment

Solitude is not synonymous with boredom, on the contrary, in it we can enjoy doing activities that are of our liking and that our social group does not necessarily have to like.

For example, if you like to watch movies of a genre that is not your friends’ favorite, you can take a weekend off for yourself and enjoy a marathon of these movies.

5. Improves personal performance

When we seek to increase our productivity and efficiency, loneliness can be a great ally. People who spend most of their time surrounded by other people usually have little time to do their personal tasks.

6. Avoid emotional attachments

When we learn to enjoy our moments alone, without the anxiety that comes from having the social approval of others, we are decreasing the chances of becoming emotionally attached to someone else in a way that creates dependency.

During moments of loneliness we can find the appropriate self-evaluation, which represents a protective factor against any type of extreme emotional attachment.

7. It makes us more autonomous

When being alone is not a problem for us, we can become more decisive on our own. This translates into a good level of personal independence .

Subjects who do not have problems with being alone do not have problems with carrying out their daily tasks either; they may even discover new methods of personal strategic planning to carry them out in a more structured and orderly manner.

8. It helps us to establish better social ties

As contradictory as it may seem, solitude is effective at the moment of establishing quality social relationships with our fellow men .

Subjects who do not depend on a social group for their fulfillment are more selective in their choice of partners.

Loneliness is a double-edged sword

It is important to bear in mind that despite all the benefits that solitude can represent for people, it can also be counterproductive in some essential aspects of the subjects’ lives.

The human being is a gregarious species , and therefore requires interaction with other subjects of his own species to achieve adequate maturation in the various areas of his life.

Individuals who are very isolated from the social world usually have a fairly limited success gap. Regardless of the talent or capabilities they may have, they do not manage to transcend in their projects.

If we can understand that solitude is a good counsellor, but that we should not abuse it , then we will be ready to take advantage of it in the best possible way.

When we understand this, we can become better people and cultivate the friendships and social relationships we need in our lives, according to our aspirations and interests.

Bibliographic references:

  • Brokaw, L. (2012). The Power of Introverts, the Power of Quiet. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA: Sloan Review.
  • Harris, M. (2018). Solitude. Towards a meaningful life in a frenetic world. Paidós.