In our current day, the art of being alone has died. People are always in need of something to do, to the point where even a few seconds feels awkward.
People rarely experience quiet moments in their lives because of constant distractions, such as phones and social media like TikTok and Instagram, which dominate people’s leisure time.
When students are not on social media, they are receiving notifications from messages from other people. Though this is displayed as a beneficial social connection, not everybody can handle constant and inescapable communication.
Freshman Hanna Laufer said, “Constantly, it feels like my phone and the Internet are eating up chunks of my life that I cannot get back. It’s a shame how dominant phones are in our daily lives.”
Alone time is often perceived by people as “negative” or “depressing,” however, alone time encourages self-reflection, independent thinking and tranquility. These psychological benefits are scientifically proven.
According to a study conducted by Thuy-vy T. Nguyen, an associate professor at Durham University, participants who spent anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes in solitude saw a drop in high-arousal emotions such as anger and anxiety, and a rise in low-arousal emotions such as calmness and relaxation.
A common misconception that people have is that being alone is equivalent to being lonely. That is far from the truth.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) the definition of alone is being one’s own, by oneself. According to Oxford Languages, the definition of loneliness is sadness because one has no friends or company.
The two do not go hand in hand. A person can be alone but not lonely and a person can be lonely but not alone.
Sophomore Remy Friedberg said, “There are a lot of things that I would not have learned how to do if it weren’t for being forced to do them myself. I think being alone is emotionally valuable too. Being around people can be really exhausting after long periods of time, so time by myself reading helps me reset and reenergize myself.”
Being alone teaches people, especially teens, how to build independence and confidence.
Teens are approaching adulthood and will eventually have to support themselves. Doing some things alone is the best practice for that, being placed into real-life scenarios where you have to find your own way around.
Some may argue that constant connections keep people social and informed, but balance and moderation are key. Constant connections are overstimulating and constant isolation is depressing, so a middle ground can be found.
Occasional breaks from social interaction and technology are ideal to improve focus, well-being and mental health.
Unfortunately, most people rarely have opportunities to reflect due to hectic schedules and constant social pressure. However, people need quiet time for independent thought and stress management.
Everybody should embrace moments without distraction because being alone is a skill we all need to learn to escape from a busy world.
