Learning how to enjoy your own company is conducive to a happier life.
Experts share how to practice self-care and start spending time alone.
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What does enjoying your own company mean?
Put simply, enjoying your own company means experiencing positive feelings from spending time by yourself.
a professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Social Connection and Health Lab at Brigham Young University
Youre at ease and not dominated by boredom or a pressing need to be around others.
You are not longing for the company of others, and youre not lonely or bored.
Instead, being with yourself feels fulfilling.
How can I start enjoying my own company?
For example, you might hire a babysitter if caregiving responsibilities make it difficult to find time for yourself.
Instead, prioritize activities that enrich you and allow you to relax.
Trya few different ways to relieve stresslike taking a walk or having a mini spa day at home.
Is it normal to not enjoy your own company?
However, from a mental health perspective, taking time to practice self-care is often critical to overall well-being.
a professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Social Connection and Health Lab at Brigham Young University
Reflect on your childhood and whether there were activities that allowed you to have fun on your own.
We can all benefit from giving ourselves permission to simply reflect on what we enjoy, says Dr. Ali.
While you may associateloneliness with alone time, they arent one and the same.
The former is more of a frame of mind, says Dr. Ali.
…Someone who spends their day filled from sunrise to sunset with people can still experience loneliness.
it’s possible for you to be in the presence of others and still feel disconnected.
On the flip side, its possible to spend time alone withoutfeeling lonely.
That doesnt mean we cant ever be alone and indeed some time alone may be restorative.
What happens when you enjoy your own company?
When youreexperiencing positive solituderather than social isolation, you stand to gain a range of benefits.
In the absence of boredom or loneliness, alone time can be enjoyable and beneficial.
For some, counseling can be a helpful resource to highlight and remove these blocks, says Dr. Ali.
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Balance between solitude and socializing: everyday solitude time both benefits and harms well-being.
Sci Rep. 2023 Dec 5;13(1):21160. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-44507-7.
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