Why You Need to Spend Time Alone (Whether You Are an Introvert or Not)

Published by
Christina Lawson, B.A.

Sometimes people need to spend time alone in order to recharge – these people are often named introverts.

Others can’t stand spending time alone and need the presence of other people in order to determine their self-worth and feel comforted. Either way, it’s completely fine but taking time out every so often to truly spend time alone can benefit everybody, no matter where you lie on the introvert/extrovert spectrum.

Connecting with other people is a huge part of our existence and whether some of us like to admit it or not, we wouldn’t be very stable human beings if we didn’t have some regular human interaction.

Similarly, time spent truly alone, away from other people can be extremely refreshing and can help you discover things about yourself that you may not have realized before.

Choosing to spend a few days (or weeks) to be alone and distance yourself from those who usually surround you will give you time to reflect on the things that make you happy, and the things that don’t. It will allow you to reorganize your priorities without other people stepping in and swaying your thoughts.

Spending time alone will make you appreciate yourself and actually enjoy just being with yourself: there’s no shame in it.

The more often you take time out to just be alone, the more you’ll learn to find comfort in yourself, rather than outside influences.

This doesn’t mean you’re changing who you are or that your party going self will suddenly love curling up with a book on a Saturday night. But it will make you appreciate yourself more and the loneliness you may have previously felt at being alone will soon be replaced with feelings of comfort.

In the end, it’s a balancing act.

No matter how much you may like or dislike being around other people, it may become necessary every now and then to take a step back and do the activities you enjoy, alone. Reading a book, watching a film or even taking a walk are all activities that will keep you entertained if you’re not the type to sit and ponder life for hours on end.

So my advice to you would be to just do it. Spend some time alone, see what you find out about yourself and remember that your relationship with yourself is the most important one you’ll ever have so cherish it.

View Comments

  • I have to take up this challenge for sure. Hard to do with a little one and a full-time job but enough with the excuses.

  • The points you're making are sorely needed. The expression "driven to distraction" comes to mind. People aren't empty inside, they've just been taught to look elsewhere, that is, outside of themselves.
    Thanks for the post,
    Philip

  • Lovely discussion. I ideed gt d words to depict ppl fr my introvert nature. Thanks .its like I m always like dis.own busy person n ppl think bad rude n neglected. Good thoughts. Tank fr supporting ppl like me. Gt sm more gud discussion min provoking soul satisfying ideas.

Published by
Christina Lawson, B.A.