BRAINDECODER
JENNIFER BILLOCK
For some, the idea of spending time alone with their own thoughts is nightmare inducing. They would go to lengths to avoid it. And it's been proven—scientists have looked and found that many people would rather give themselves electric shocks than spend a few minutes sitting in a room by themselves with nothing to do but think.
But here's the thing. As humans, we need that time alone. It's good for our bodies and good for our brains.
I don't mean sitting there staring at a wall thinking about how everyone else is having more fun than you. I'm following the definition of psychologists worldwide, which is being away from other people, by yourself, with no one to talk to. You know, the good definition. It's that time you spend alone after work, decompressing and recharging. The time alone in the car driving home from the airport and a particularly stressful flight. The times in your house when everyone else is gone and you can crank the music up. You need it, your brain craves it.
But what does the brain do in a quiet place with nothing to do? We now know it doesn't shut off. Once you get over your impatience for getting back to the party, the brain starts a whole different pattern of activity among certain brain regions, collectively known as the default mode network.
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| fMRI scan showing areas of the brain in the default mode network.JOHN GRANER |
Many studies have examined the activity of the default mode network to understand it better, in health, as well as in disorders such as depression. Scientists have found that this network is active whenever a person is resting, daydreaming, thinking about themselves or the memories of the past, or planning for the future. In other words, even though we are not busy with any particular task but resting, our brains are constantly talking to themselves, keeping lines of communication open between areas that work together. It may be that the brain activity during this resting state is preparing us to be ready for anything so we can react in the correct manner when we leave alone time and head out into the world.
Other studies have found that letting our thoughts meander may help boost creativity, allowing for creative problem solving—even if we're alone doing a small activity to pass the time. Which, by the way, we accomplish better alone, as well. We subconsciously multitask when together with other people, but not in a way you'd think—we constantly are guessing what the other person is up to, what solution they're arriving at for a specific problem, what their thoughts and feelings are. When we're alone, our brains can relax and focus.
So, yes, alone time can be great—but when it turns into loneliness, that's a problem. Being by yourself can be completely liberating and a wonderful way to get to know you, so relish that time. Another reason to combat the loneliness and do what you can to enjoy being alone? According to a review study published last year, loneliness is linked to about 25 percent higher risk of early mortality. And that's across the board, no matter if you're male, female, European, American—loneliness kills without mercy.
Many people don't enjoy alone time because it makes them feel lonely—so, here are some tips on how to get time to yourself without feeling completely isolated.
Enjoy a private activity. Work those brain cells; read a book, write in a journal, paint, teach yourself a new skill. You'll feel stimulated and accomplished rather than bored and alone.
Break a sweat. Exercise, go hiking, just get up and dance. It increases endorphins, those little happy machines that make us feel more motivated and generally pleased with life.
Find a furry companion. Pets are the world's loneliness busters. You can talk to them, play with them, even sit and eat dinner with them if you want. You're never truly alone when a pet is around.
Get creative. Set up an entire day to do the things you loved doing when you were a kid or the things that make you feel a burst of creative expression now. You'll be able to occupy your time without thinking about being alone, and at the end of the day, you'll have a finished project you can be proud of—like the world's best macaroni picture.
Find your Zen. Meditation has been proven to increase awareness, ease anxiety, and create balance. Try it for 15 minutes and see how you feel.
Purge lingering negativity. Alone time is the perfect time to go through your life and home and get rid of everything that has a negative presence. Throw away those photos of your ex. Pack up the junk food to gift it to someone else. Use your time alone to make a good difference in your day-to-day.
Let it all hang out. Get naked. No one will know.
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