Although considered the most joyful period annually, the holiday season calls for a well-deserved break.
Psychologist Robert Coplan urged individuals to embrace personal time, stating, “It’s perfectly fine to request some alone time,” during a conversation with The Sunday Magazine host Piya Chattopadhyay.
Amidst festive gatherings and social events, the final weeks of the year can be overwhelming. Coplan, a psychology professor at Carleton University, emphasized the importance of moments of solitude to “recharge and regroup.”
While many link solitude with loneliness, Coplan, the author of The Joy of Solitude: How to Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World, highlighted the distinction between the two.
“Often, solitude is viewed negatively, but if we change our perspective and see it as a reward—a chance to engage in activities we love…adopting a positive mindset enhances our experiences,” he explained.
Furthermore, a study by University of Michigan researchers, analyzing U.S. news stories from 2020 to 2022, revealed that negative depictions of solitude can contribute to the misconception that it is harmful. Such negative beliefs were found to heighten feelings of loneliness among participants.
Coplan acknowledged the adverse effects of loneliness on mental and physical well-being, especially in cases where individuals desire a different social life than what they have.
He likened loneliness to a negative state, contrasting it with solitude, which can offer positive experiences.
‘Shifting Away from Scarcity Mentality’
Individuals often prioritize others over themselves, but psychiatrist Marcia Sirota from Toronto argued for focusing on activities that fulfill personal needs.
“Without allocating time for self-reflection and understanding our emotions and desires, pursuing enriching experiences becomes impossible,” she emphasized.
Coplan added that lacking alone time could lead to negative emotions.
Researchers coined the term “aloneliness” to describe individuals craving more solitude or feeling dissatisfied with their solitary lifestyle.
“They experience heightened stress, negative emotions, and sometimes even symptoms of depression,” Coplan noted.