Introduction
People frequently assume that being single equates to being alone. That is not always the scenario. Regardless of the romantic state, one can be content even while alone.
Thus, while there is nothing wrong with wanting to meet a romantic partner, it is still possible to be happy staying single.
Enjoying time alone can occasionally seem impossible for people who prefer being around others. Some individuals love alone time. Being alone is a normal aspect of being human; whether by choice or circumstance, we will all experience being alone at some point in our lives.
Since our connection with ourselves is the only one we can count on having for the rest of our life, it is important to take care of it so we can appreciate it as much as our relationships with friends and significant others.
Being alone vs being lonely
Being alone is not the same as being lonely. Loneliness is feeling alone and being unable to interact with people.
Loneliness is being extremely uncomfortable and can harm one’s health.
Persistent loneliness can,
- Bring about early death
- Raise the blood pressure
- Increase the risk for dementia and cognitive decline.
Improving the relationship with oneself can help individuals who always feel lonely while alone.
On the other hand, alone time is time you set aside to be alone. This is a great moment to reflect on life and work on improving the relationship with oneself.
Although meeting new, interesting people is a lot of fun, self-care also needs alone time. One should be able to appreciate time alone with themselves.
Sometimes we use other people or our jobs to take our minds off the difficulties of being alone.
Spending time alone yourself can be done in many different ways. Sometimes it’s as easy as settling in to watch a show on the couch, or it could be as simple as taking up a fun new hobby.
Being happy alone—The psychology
Everyone needs some time alone every now and then. We can only completely hear our thoughts and feelings, evaluate the day’s experiences, assess our current requirements, and care for them when we are alone.
Self-awareness and self-tending are essential to our daily functioning since being unaware of our own needs and feelings frequently compromise our health and well-being.
It’s similar to how individuals in toxic relationships would repeatedly put aside their own needs to appease a partner who is naturally unsuitable for them, even though they have been tired and stressed out at work for months before understanding they are experiencing burnout. Because of this, therapists assert that even the healthiest couples require time spent apart from one another.
Certain people may be more inclined to appreciate being alone. Extroversion tendencies and other personality traits may contribute to a person’s ability to feel pleased when alone. In other words, extroverted individuals might find it more difficult to spend time alone than introverted individuals. This is one of the so-called Big Five personality traits.
Everyone can benefit from learning to love being alone. When we depend on other people for our happiness, we surrender the control of our sense of fulfilment to something temporary and external since all relationships inevitably come and go.
The thought that our happiness depends on something outside us is called emotional reliance. It is when our thoughts and sense of value depend on external circumstances, such as what other people think of us.
Emotional independence is the other side of the coin. Those who are emotionally independent are able to build a sense of contentment and peace regardless of what may be going on in their life and relationships.
Tips to get started
Set goals
Whether you’re single, in a relationship, or in any other situation, setting objectives for yourself and working gradually towards accomplishing them helps you focus on yourself. These objectives could be educational, financial, personal or career-related.
Stay away from social media
Stay off from social media and give up comparing yourself to others for a while.
Most of the time, we divert our attention from the present through social media. We surf around Instagram idly for hours.
Our mental health can be severely harmed by social media. People who use three or more social media platforms are more likely to experience depression and anxiety than those who use only one or two.
Social media prevents us from taking a moment to reflect. We waste time keeping our minds active. This is frequently a strategy to avoid dealing with any unwanted feelings or ideas.
One can improve the relationship with themselves by turning off the phone or leaving it at home.
Develop a relationship with yourself
Being alone with self can strengthen the bond with oneself. But it is not always easy.
Spending time alone might be challenging. Use the discomfort as a teaching tool about who you are. Think about what you experience while you’re by yourself.
You can reflect on or write about your values, preferences, and present feelings.
Go on solo dates
A solo date night or a solo adventure can be an enjoyable experience. Whether with friends or a love partner, we frequently imagine going on dates as something we do together. A date can also be with a dating partner.
It’s great to put yourself first, spend time with yourself, and enhance your well-being by going to the movies or cooking dinner.
You may even make it something you do during the day and go to a coffee shop. You may also catch up on an old pastime, keep a journal, or just observe people.
This can also apply if you decide to travel alone. The experience of travelling alone is amazing. If you want to be happy, you have to be in control of your own life.
Exercise
Happiness can be greatly increased by exercising. Taking a regular, focused walk, or doing any kind of physical activity, could reduce anxiety.
Researchers suggest that those who exercised frequently had 43.2% fewer days of poor mental health in the month than those who had a sedentary lifestyle.
Spend time in nature.
Being outside can be beneficial for our mental health. Going on a walk once a week or allocating specific time each week helps take advantage of all nature offers.
Go outside, whether it is for a picnic, a walk around the block, a swim in a lake, or just to stand with your bare feet on the ground to ground yourself.
Journal
A space to process your ideas and feelings can be created by journaling. Journaling helps begin each day with a gratitude list.
Being aware of and expressing thanks for all that we have helps us not to focus on what we may be missing.
Acknowledge the grateful things.
Being grateful can increase feelings of joy and hope. It is easy to take things for granted as we go about doing our daily routine.
Spend some time thinking about the things you have to be thankful for. Create a mental or written list of the things in your life that you are grateful for.
Change routine
When we don’t have many activities going on, it is usual for loneliness to peak in the morning and at night. So, concentrate on creating a reliable morning and evening routine that makes it easier for you to get through these periods of your day with less effort.
Dressing up can also make you feel better and help you get in a good frame of mind for the day.
Prioritise self-care
There will not always be a person to push you to drink more water, ask if you had your dinner, or be your gym companion. Everyone should put self-care first. It’s especially important for those who choose to live alone to set the bar for how they want to feel and be treated.
Everyone’s version of this can involve going out to dinner, dressing nice, or scheduling a massage. But the investments that improve your well-being are modest but genuinely effective.
We all have certain preconceived notions of what self-care includes, but it may sometimes be as easy as remembering to take a shower, eat or make your bed.
When dealing with depression or other mental health challenges, these activities might seem like great accomplishments. Thus, being able to achieve them is a feat to be proud of. And, who better to take care of you than yourself?
Take care of your health.
Our mood, specifically our emotional and mental health, is closely linked to our physical health.
People experiencing loneliness may occasionally turn to bad behaviours that only make matters worse, such as overeating unhealthy foods, skipping sleep that makes you irritable and lethargic, or engaging in excessively inactive activities.
We naturally feel happier and more balanced when we reframe our solo time to see it as the ideal opportunity to practise excellent self-care, such as filling our stomachs with delicious, nourishing food.
Build your support system
Spend some time fostering positive connections. Spend time with loved ones and people who will improve your life and encourage you to be the best version of yourself. Being alone doesn’t always have to be self-time. Having a support system to go to will give a positive feeling.
Conclusion
While maintaining relationships with our friends, family, and other support systems is important, it’s equally essential to learn how to be content on our own.
It may be important to embark on a journey of self-love and self-care to repair your relationship with yourself. You can get one step closer to finding true pleasure and fulfilment in life by learning how to be happy on your own.
To feel at ease being alone requires time and patience. Thus, take your time and experiment with these techniques until you find the ideal ratio of alone time to social interaction. You can experience true solitude and calm with some effort.
FAQs
Is it normal to be happy alone?
How can I start being happy alone?
2. Remove yourself from social media for a while
3. Go on solo dates
4. Do some exercise
5. Spend some time outside
6. Take advantage of your alone time
