What’s so great about solitude?

It's been estimated that teachers, in any one day, have between 1200 and 1800 social interactions and have to make roughly 1500 decisions. No wonder then that, occasionally, when a holiday arrives, I actively seek out some alone time!

Solitude often gets a bad rap as it's easy to see it as synonymous with loneliness and, whilst this can certainly be true, it's definitely not a given.

Positive solitude is differentiated by the fact that it is actively sought by the person in question at the time at which it occurs. It is the voluntariness of the experience which serves to distinguish it as a positive experience of aloneness.

Hammitt (1982) argues that individuals seek 'recreational solitude', not simply to get away from people, but to optimise freedom of choice when it comes to their thoughts and actions. Solitude is a state characterised by 'disengagement from the immediate demands of other people—a state of reduced social inhibition and increased freedom to select one's mental or physical activities'. 

Positive solitude also frequently occurs in awe-inspiring places, typically those found in nature, and it is true that people rarely find themselves 'accidentally' in nature. As such, individuals are significantly less likely to experience loneliness in such circumstances, owing to the intentionality of solo immersion in areas of natural beauty.

Solitude provides the optimal conditions for self-reflection and people often use periods of aloneness for contemplation of internal and external concerns (Long, 2000). By removing our typical daily social influences we, in turn, alter our mental and environmental structures and our default thought patterns are disrupted. This allows our thinking to become more fluid, creative and transitional, providing us with the opportunity to consider our concerns through a range of novel, yet self-generated, perspectives.

Solitude is, by definition, non-social which means, from an evolutionary perspective, it makes little sense. Social interaction has adaptive value and it is, therefore argued that we are hard-wired to be with others. The wellbeing benefits of relationships and social behaviour are also certainly corroborated by recent research in the field of positive psychology. There is, however, a less referenced flip side which may suggest that aloneness confers some evolutionary advantages too. Yes, groups provide protection and safety in numbers, but they also make concealment challenging, which may lead to easier predation. Yes, group living allows for pooled resources, but it also leads to their more rapid depletion. Yes, group structures bring comfort, but they can also predicate discomfort as members compete for status.

So what does this mean for solitude? Is spending time in (positive) solitude just as important as spending time with others? Perhaps the old adage remains true: everything in moderation. 

Whilst arguing the case for 'positive solitude' and enjoying some time immersed in the awe-inspiring beauty of Australia's big skies and vistas, with the freedom of thinking, being and doing this brings, I can feel the pull of connection returning and know that it might just be time to raise a glass and share some quality time with friends again!

Ideas from: Long, C. R., & Averill, J. R. (2003). Solitude: An exploration of benefits of being alone. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 33(1), 21-44.