Category: solitude

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“The Downside of Solitude”

Psychology Today offers a useful article titled “The Downside of Solitude.” The premise is not to disparage solitude but to provide a helpful caution to those who are attracted to solitude and who spend much time alone to not neglect social relations, however few, in order to cultivate a balance that is mutually rewarding – to oneself and to others. The distinction between solitude and loenliness sets the parameters: “We feel lonely when we don’t get the personal interactions we need, and it’s quite painful. In contrast, solitude is experienced as pleasurable—a kind of alone time that we seek out rather than try to avoid.”

URL: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/202108/the-downside-solitude

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“The Meaning of Solitude”

The Ottawa Citizen (Canada) describes the work of psychologist and Carleton University professor Robert Coplan on the topics of solitude and loneliness. The article,”The Meaning of Solitude,” focuses on the benefits of soloitude. Coplan offers five points about solitude:

1. Beneficial solitude means different things to different people. The key is that it must be something you enjoy that motivates you, said Coplan. “No one can tell you what’s right for you.”

2. Try to find “micro” moments of solitude in a day. Spend 10 minutes on the back porch or go for a walk around the block. Coplan suggests keeping a diary for a week to track time spent alone and the moods these moments produce.

3. Don’t be afraid to let other people know that you need solitude. “It doesn’t reflect on your relationships. It’s a normative need,” he said.

4. You don’t need to be physically alone to enjoy solitude. Some people enjoy solitude in a place where other people are present, such as a park or another public place. Solitude may simply be freedom from other people’s expectations.

5. Solitude may include access to technology, said Coplan. Some people find it necessary to leave their devices at home. Others consider technology necessary to enjoy solitude because they can listen to music or scroll through news websites. However, he advises against looking at other people’s manicured social media posts. Comparing your own reality to other people’s supposedly perfect lives tends to provoke anxiety.

URL: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/the-meaning-of-solitude-carleton-researcher-probes-the-flip-side-of-loneliness

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Solitude and isolation

An article in the BBC Future series asks “How solitude and isolation can affect your social skills.” The article focuses on the work of psychologist Ty Tashiro, author of Awkward: The Science of Why We’re Socially Awkward and Why That’s Awesome. He indicates that while the standard socialization methods for children are inevitable, such as schooling, social awkwardness is not thereby eliminated — and that’s a good thing. He emphasizes the endearing value of people who are socially awkward in citing their thoughtfuolness, their consideration and sensitivity toward others, but also their abilitiy to benefit from “psotive solitude.” Refers to the positive solitude expressed by Neila Ansell, who lived in solitude five years in a Welsh forest; review of Ansell’s book.

URL: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201022-how-solitude-and-isolation-can-change-how-you-think