Solitude - How Time Alone Can Strengthen Your Mental Resilience

Health Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson just want some time to themselves... but not everyone feels that way, for others moments alone can be deeply uncomfortable. Research shows that solitude could be incredibly important for our mental health, so whether we’re craving it or avoiding we should probably learn how to do it right, 

In this episode of Change Your Mind from New Scientist, Helen and Cat explore the surprising science of solitude. Including how it differs from loneliness, and why time alone can sometimes even improve our connections with other people. They’re joined by Professor Netta Weinstein, a psychologist at the University of Reading and co-author of Solitude: The Power and Science of Being Alone, to ask how much time alone is actually good for your brain? And how do you make the most of your alone time to restore your mood, creativity and patience? 

Produced by Emily Bird

We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Find out more about Solitude at New Scientist:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134840-400-how-mastering-the-art-of-being-alone-can-boost-your-mental-health/⁠ 

Make space for solitude over the holidays: ⁠https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26835751-800-why-it-is-important-to-make-space-for-solitude-over-the-festive-season/⁠

Learn more about our sponsor Alzheimer’s Society: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.newscientist.com/alzheimers-society/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sources

Mindset: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11705512/

Digital strain https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26935790-200-the-internet-feels-super-lonely-right-now-heres-why/