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Why being a loner may be good for your health
Improved creativity
- 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).
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Key Ideas
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.
Improved creativity
- 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).
Types of Social Withdrawal
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.
Inward Focus
- 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.
The Loner: Useful Solitude
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.
Loner: The Conclusion
- 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.
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