Need Some 'Alone Time'? It's Vital to Mental Health for Many

Key Takeaways

• Nearly half of Americans don’t get the alone time they need during the holidays

• About 56% say alone time is very important to mental health

• Simple changes to routine can build in some natural alone time

TUESDAY, Dec. 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The hectic holidays play havoc on people’s nerves, not the least because they aren’t able to have any time to themselves.

Nearly half (46%) of Americans say they don’t get the alone time they need during the holidays, according to a new national survey by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

What’s more, 56% of the people surveyed said it’s very important to their mental health to have adequate alone time.

Taking a brief break alone can be mentally and physically rewarding, particularly in today’s on-the-go society, said Sophie Lazarus, a clinical psychologist with Ohio State.

“By taking a brief pause alone, our nervous system can settle, our mind can settle, our body can settle. And I think that can be important. We know that chronic stress is not good for us,” Lazarus said in a Ohio State news release.

Folks who want to get a little self time can accomplish this by adding simple changes to their routine, Lazarus said.

“Try putting your phone in a totally different room when you decide you're going to spend alone time, knowing how hard it is to resist picking it up, the pulls on our attention and on our priorities,” Lazarus said. “Or take two or three minutes in the car before you go pick your kids up or before you go back into the house after work to just be alone.”

Above all, remember that it’s okay to take a little alone time, Lazarus said.

“I think it's important to remember that just because you're prioritizing yourself at this moment doesn't mean that you're selfish and doesn't mean that you always make the choice to prioritize yourself over others,” Lazarus said.

And keep in mind that you can be alone with other folks around, too.

“Some people might experience alone time from going to a movie by themselves or going to a park where there's a lot of people, or going to a coffee shop,” Lazarus said. “It can also be this absence of having to perform or interact socially in a more direct way.”

The survey involved 1,004 people and was conducted Oct. 4-7.

More information

The Jed Foundation has more on the benefits of alone time.

SOURCE: Ohio State University, news release, Dec. 3, 2024

What This Means For You

It’s okay to carve out some alone time for yourself during the holidays.