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Leander Agcaoili

Leave me alone?

Nowadays many people quickly assimilate isolated people as lonely people. These people thought they didn't know how to socialize, how to communicate effectively with others, or how to start a conversation. But how true these dominant thoughts are. Little of these people don't realize that being a lonely person can also have advantages as well. Moreover, most research indicates that too much social isolation has a significant effect on both physical and mental health, and that is a reality. However little they didn't know there were a number of benefits to spend time on your own, as long as you balance it by maintaining good and supportive social links. The following are the advantages of being alone (Cherry, K. Gans, S. 2020):

Improve memory concentration and retention... Let's say for example, when you're working in a certain group, you might make less effort to memorize information because you simply assume that others in the group will fill the gaps, a phenomenon known as social loafing. Working on stuff alone will help you concentrate your attention, which can improve your memory and retention.

It makes you prioritize interests... It gives you time to reflect on your interests. Being alone is a very necessary aspect of self-development. It gives you the chance to get to know yourself. If you're surrounded by others you might set aside your own ideas and passions to fulfill the wants and needs of friends and family. Taking time on your own gives you a vital opportunity to make imaginative decisions and concentrate your attention without thinking about what other people think.

It Boosts Creativity...Collaborative brainstorming is often seen as one of the best ways to create new ideas, but research has shown that people are often better at solving tough problems when they operate on their own. Where community activities are mostly aimed at gaining consensus and fitting in with the crowd, solo work promotes creativity without added social pressure.

It Improves Your Relationships... Relationships are always the best when each person takes time to take care of himself. Even when it comes to friendships, the old adage can be true—a little absence will make the heart grow fonder.

A research published in the British Journal of Psychology found that highly intelligent people are actually less happy the more time they spend socializing with friends.

Having friendships and a good social support system is vital to your mental health and well-being, but taking a break and going solo once in a while may help you to appreciate those connections even more.

It Makes You More Productive... Group work is often praised for improving collaboration and innovation, but it can also be distracting. Even trying to focus on more than one thing at a time has shown a dramatic reduction in overall productivity. So even if you don't have the luxury of taking on solo tasks, you can minimize turnover by merely focusing on one job at a time.

It Makes You More Empathetic... Research shows that a certain amount of time alone will potentially make you have greater empathy for people around you. Of course time alone isn't always easy especially when technology has changed how people spend time on their own. Even if you're on your own you can never take a break from interacting with others. After all, it's just an email, a tweet, or a DM away.

NOTE: Just be careful not to let periods of solitude transform into social isolation—research has shown that loneliness is often related to a decrease in empathy.

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