New research finds solitude is better for your health when it’s less intense and more connected to the world around you.
In today’s busy world, finding some ‘me time’ can help restore your health and happiness but a new study finds some activities you do alone are more healing than others.
Researchers surveyed about 900 adults and found alone time that’s more social in nature like reading in a café or going to a movie by yourself is more likely to restore energy and maintain a feeling of connection to others than more intense forms of solitude like hiking by yourself deep in a forest or writing in a secluded cabin.
In other words, solitude can play an important role in building kinship. which has been linked to many health benefits including a lower risk of serious disease, better mental health and a longer lifespan. And surprisingly, the study findings were true for both extroverts and introverts.
One author says, “In a world where social interaction is almost always just a click away, we need to understand how to balance social interaction with different types of solitude.”
Source: Oregon State University
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