Being a Loner can be good
- Emerging research suggests there are upsides to being reclusive, all by ourselves, minding our own business – for both our work lives and our emotional well-being.
- Prolonged solitude or extreme social isolation is proven to be harmful, but a good amount of alone time has its advantages.
MORE IDEAS FROM THE ARTICLE
- Since ancient times, people know the connection between isolation and mental focus. Cultures with traditions of old religions believe that solitude is important for enlightenment.
- A loner's brain goes in a state of active mental rest, due to the stillness of being alone. When we are with people, the brain can’t help but pay attention. That can be termed as a distraction.
- Daydreaming in the absence of such distractions activates the brain’s default-mode network. This network helps to consolidate memory and understand others’ emotions. Letting a mind wander helps with focus in the long term and strengthens your sense of both yourself and others.
- Periods of solitude actually help when it comes time to socialize, with the occasional absence of focus helping concentration in the long run.
- Being a loner boosts the creative space.
- Creativity has two key elements: originality and usefulness.
- Personality traits commonly associated with creativity are openness (or receptiveness), self-efficacy (confidence), and autonomy (independence).
“There’s a real danger with people who are never alone.”
- It’s hard to be introspective, self-aware, and fully relaxed unless you have occasional solitude.
- Introverts tend to have fewer but stronger friendships – which has been linked to greater happiness.
Social withdrawal is categorized into three types:
- Shyness caused by fear or anxiety
- Avoidance, caused by a dislike of socializing
- Unsociability, caused by a preference for being alone.
There is a difference between useful solitude and extreme isolation. If someone stops caring about people and cuts off all contact, this could point to pathological neglect of social relations, becoming dysfunctional - this is dangerous.
Being a creative loner while having interactions, is about striking the right balance, and any form of extreme behaviour is unhealthy.
RELATED IDEAS
Throughout our life, we all have a common purpose: to be happy. Happiness is the ultimate level that has to be reached in order to perceive our journey on Earth as having been a successful one. However, finding happiness can prove extremely challenging, as individuals tend to set too high standards and, therefore, end up feeling quite miserable for not having reached their goals.
Humans are social creatures, interdependent on one another. Socializing is at its core, a mental workout, and an essential part of brain development.
Being alone, one can start to lose the sense of who one is, as our identity requires a reflection from others to become real. Self-isolation, with zero interaction with other people, makes a person disappear gradually.
When we try to memorize new information, we assume that the more work we put in, the better we will do.
But, our memory for new information is the most fragile just after it has first been encoded. It is more susceptible to interference from further information.
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