The benefits of being alone whether you are introvert or extrovert

There is a joke which does the rounds regularly on social media that goes a bit like this: I saw a guy at Starbucks today, no phone, no tablet, no laptop, just sitting there, drinking coffee. Like a psychopath.

It’s a joke with a not too subtle element of social commentary about it. It seems that the notion of simply enjoying your own company has become such an alien concept in today’s digitally saturated worlds that those who do decide to simply ‘drink coffee’ are now seen as somehow counter-culture.

And yet spending time alone has huge benefits for our overall well-being.

For a start, being alone means that you are not under pressure to conform to a group or compromise your choices. Being alone means connecting with yourself and also the world around you because you see everything on your own terms.

For people who are naturally introverted, being alone can relieve a lot of pressure as they don’t feel anxious about engaging with others. At the same time it can also be a great way of building confidence and self-esteem. You don’t have to rely on the approval of others and you will need to be confident in making decisions for yourself. This can also make you more resilient and lessen fear about decision-making.

If you have a more extroverted and impulsive personality, being alone may be a good way to curb those impulsive tendencies. Spending time alone teaches us to evaluate and weigh things up, meaning we are less likely to rush into things.

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