Tom Hardy, English actor, on enjoying solitude, “Being alone for a while is dangerous. It’s addicting”

You may have heard that there is a loneliness crisis in the United States. Experiencing chronic loneliness has a comparable health risk of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

However, scientists note that choosing to be alone, or solitude, can have positive effects on mental health and is not the same as feeling lonely. So, it makes the quote below, attributed to the English actor Tom Hardy, shine in a slightly different light than the words used would first suggest.

“Being alone for a while is dangerous. It’s addicting. Once you see how peaceful it is, you don’t want to deal with people anymore.”

The pros and cons of alone time

In a world where we are ever more connected to the wider world around us, more and more people are doing things slower and solo. It is a trend that has been growing especially among Millennials and Gen-Z-ers.

The ancient Chinese Philosopher Lao Tzu said, “ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe.”

Those ancient words from the Tao Te Ching is back up by science. Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that “solitude can be a source of personal growth, creativity and emotional recharge when approached with the right mindset.”

However, there is a limit to how much time one should spend alone. A study by University of Arizona researchers discovered that those who spend more than three-quarters of their time alone found it difficult to avoid feelings of loneliness.

Many have also found that disconnecting from the world for extended periods in order to have alone time results in a feeling that it is harder to be around people, as well as connect and show compassion with even family and friends.

This shunning of social connections can then turn from voluntary solitude into a sensation of true loneliness. As one blogger explained about their own experience, “there’s definitely a balance to it.”

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