Time with your thoughts sans social distractions can also be restorative, build your confidence and make it easier for you to maintain boundaries, Ms. Roberts said. In addition, it can boost productivity, engagement with others and creativity, and a study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science found that brainstorming was enhanced when participants alternated between brainstorming alone and with a group.

In a twist on the golden rule: treat yourself as you would treat others. Dont flake. Be open to exploring new interests. Make space in your life and put in the time, even if its just spending 30 minutes a week reading at a cafe.

If youre just getting started, take small steps, Dr. Grice suggests. Time spent alone is a great opportunity to explore new interests, but it doesnt mean you have to totally push yourself outside of your comfort zone. And if the thought of spending time alone is especially stressful or triggering, that could be an important sign that you may need professional support, Dr. Grice adds.

But if youre at a loss as to how to jump in, plan out something that you know that you will enjoy doing, maybe something that helps you feel more productive, or helps you be more relaxed, Dr. Nguyen said.

If youre having an especially hard time listening to the thoughts inside your head, journaling can be a great way of working through and evaluating those emotions, Ms. Roberts said. And though its tempting, try not to be on your phone, because its too big of a distraction. Instead, Dr. Coplan suggests reading, making crafts, going to a movie, grabbing a meal, visiting a park, trying to learn a new skill or any one of the infinite options available besides making your alone time about other people and obsessively checking social media.

Ultimately, each person will have a different ideal balance between how much time they spend alone and with others, but nobody is going to be optimally served by doing only one or the other, he said.

Above all, the most important step in being able to reap the benefits of time alone is simple, Dr. Nguyen said: Take the opportunity to say, This is the time where I can give something to myself, and just endorse that, in this moment, you are your first choice.

Link:
Why You Should Find Time to Be Alone With Yourself - The New York Times