What comes to mind when someone asks if you’ve taken some time off for yourself lately?

Maybe something like “I’m too busy for that!” or “Wouldn’t that be nice?” (asked with a laugh).

Perhaps a reminder of the benefits to mental and physical health and to emotional wellbeing would shift your perception of time alone from a luxury to more of a necessity.

Alone time helps you recharge. Regardless of our personality type, research shows that it takes the brain a greater amount of energy to socialize than it does to be in solitude. In order to balance being “on” a significant amount of time, intentionally having some time alone helps us to slow down and clear our minds. Increased creativity, focus, and productivity are also proven to result from alone time.

Taking time for yourself gives you freedom to reflect about your life and what’s important. Are what you do and who you spend time with aligned with your truest beliefs and goals? Time to contemplate can facilitate a reset in priorities and the time to plan how to make the changes that support it.

Spending time alone helps self-regulation, which is the ability to be aware of and effectively manage both positive and negative emotional states. “Me time” helps reduce depression and anxiety and provides opportunity for you to reconnect with yourself. This deeper knowing of yourself supports your ability to recognize when you have a need and to confidently care for yourself.

The bottom line?

Regular alone time is an effective way to reduce your stress and increase your life satisfaction. So, schedule yourself some solitude today!

Kristine Proctor is a licensed clinical social worker providing counseling, both in person and via telehealth, to individual adults in Florida, Michigan, Maine, and around the globe. To contact Kristine click here.