By Stephen Beech via SWNS
More than half of all adults say “alone time” is vital to their mental health.
Some believe Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but for others the hectic holiday season may be the most stressful.
Almost half (46%) say they don’t get the alone time they need during the festive season, according to a new survey.
And the poll of 1,000 American adults, commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine, showed 56% believe that it’s very important for their mental well-being to have adequate alone time.
Finding pockets of time to spend alone during the hectic holidays can help reduce stress, say scientists.
Dr. Sophie Lazarus, a clinical psychologist at Ohio State, says in a world that glorifies staying busy, taking a brief break alone can be “rewarding” both mentally and physically.
She explained that a few minutes to yourself can reduce the stress of the season and help your mental health.
Dr. Lazarus said: “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.”
She says it’s important for people to make themselves a priority, and that can be accomplished by adding something simple to the daily routine that doesn’t require a large chunk of time or effort.
Dr. Lazarus, who focuses on mindfulness-based interventions, mood and anxiety disorders, has a few suggestions to help stressed out people “stay present” during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
She 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.
“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.”
Dr. Lazarus says to take what works best for you into consideration when making changes to your routine.
She said: “One size doesn’t fit everyone.
“Being flexible and finding a balance is best.”
Dr. Lazarus reminds patients it’s fine to take “alone time.”
She 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.”
Dr. Lazarus says alone time doesn’t have to be solo, either.
She added: “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.
“It can also be this absence of having to perform or interact socially in a more direct way.”
