Socializing is a good way to connect with others. It helps you step out of your comfort zone and utilizes your communication skills. But sometimes we tend to hit the end of our capacity, and our social battery slowly winds down. Isolation, on the other hand, can also be good because it gives you that space to rejuvenate yourself. The Jed Foundation shares that it helps you pinpoint what areas you need to work on. I tend to do this a lot. By leaving my do not disturb (DND) notifications settings on because it gives me that space to focus on 1) gradually trying to work on my self-improvement, and 2) gives me that space to prepare for life events etc.
The Jed Foundation also shares that one of the greatest benefits of spending time alone is that it can help you develop a better understanding of who you are. This is one of the reasons why I isolate myself. It gives me the chance to discover things I never knew I had. For example, by spending time alone, I find that I like to clean. Often, I find myself cleaning, rearranging my room, or buying some new air fresheners because it helps me focus whenever I’m working. Kendra Curry states that “Taking time on your own gives you the opportunity to make creative choices and focus your attention without worrying about what other people are thinking. An old boss said to me, “Always make your passion your pastime.” Whatever it is you enjoy doing, have that be your distractor. I utilize the time I spend alone dedicating time to hone my skills.
Isolation can sometimes be good because it gives you the space to recreate yourself. I read this book called the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. For those who aren’t familiar, it’s a book that can help shape people by applying the laws integrated. One specific law I admire is Law 25: Re-Create Yourself. We all have a past self we want to change from. Isolating yourself can be a way to reflect or even flip the switch. An example of this is my own life is the way I think and view things. I used to be someone who would have a comparison mindset, but once I realized how wrong that was, I personally wanted to recreate it by learning to be content.
The benefit of isolating yourself can sometimes be good, but too much of it can be dangerous. As I mentioned in the beginning of this article, we need to socialize in order to connect with people. You can’t do that by continuously putting up borders. Too much isolating can often lead you to depression and increase your anti-socialism. The Georgia Addiction Treatment Center shares that self-Isolation can be a sign of deeper emotional struggles, and while it might seem like a good coping mechanism in the short term, it often exacerbates feelings of loneliness and anxiety in the long run. In the end, isolation can be helpful if used in the right way. It gives us the chance to focus on ourselves, reflect, and grow without distractions. Personally, it helps me discover new things I enjoy and allows me to work on improving myself. But it’s important to remember that too much can be harmful. We still need to connect with others and isolating ourselves too much can lead to feeling lonely or anxious. So, while isolation can be good for personal growth, it’s important to find balance and not forget the value of socializing too.
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