Let’s be honest, we have all experienced the horrible feeling of social anxiety that is fomo. 

 It’s painful, and honestly the masses makes it seem like being alone makes you weird. 

Often times even mainstream experts harp on the virtues of social connectivity; it’s linked to better immunity, improved stress resilience, and even longer life. 

Being alone, on the other hand, is all too often equated with loneliness. 

Research even suggests that social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of heart disease, obesity, anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, high blood pressure, and even early death. 

But Research also shows that there are real benefits to learning how to spend time by yourself. 

Some things are just better off being done by yourself without the distractions, opinions, or influences of other people.

Here are some positives of being alone:

Increase Empathy

Spending time with a certain circle of friends or your co-workers, you develop a “we vs. them” mentality.

Time alone helps you develop more compassion for people who may not fit into your ‘inner circle.’

Increase Productivity 

Many offices have started creating open floor plans so everyone can communicate more easily, studies show being surrounded by people kills productivity. People perform better when they have a little privacy.

Sparks Creativity

There’s a reason a lot of artists want to go to a cabin in the woods or a private studio to work.

Being alone with your thoughts gives your brain a chance to wander, which can help you become more creative.

Build Your Mental Strength

We’re social creatures and it’s important for us to have strong connections with other people.

But, solitude may be just as important.

The ability to tolerate alone time has been linked to increased happiness, better life satisfaction, and improved stress management.

People who enjoy alone time experience less depression.

Plan, Plan, Plan

Spending time alone can give you a chance to ensure there’s a purpose to all of your hustling and bustling.

Quiet space provides an opportunity think about your goals, your progress, and changes you want to make in your life.