08/27/2025
Do you sometimes feel like spending time alone, with no distractions, just enjoying your own company? Although spending time alone sometimes is connected to being socially isolated or experiencing loneliness (Long et al., 2003; Iecovich et al., 2011), there is another type of solitude: positive solitude. This means we actively choose to spend our time on a fulfilling or fun experience or activity, just by ourselves. Other people can still be present in the surroundings; but the gist of the activity is to focus on your own activity. This kind of solitude, focused on positive experiences, can also increase our quality of life (Mor et al., 2020).
In former research (Mor et al., 2020), adults were asked about their views on positive solitude and what it meant to them. They reported that positive solitude surrounds choice, meaningfulness, and pleasure. This type of solitude is about making the conscious choice to experience it, deciding for how long, where, and when. The experiences are characterized by their enjoyability and pleasantness. Lastly, positive solitude is all about meaning. And this may look different to everyone. To some, this might be a type of quality time, a pleasant experience to add to their week; for some, this might be their time to rest and recharge (Mor et al., 2020).
Positive solitude is different from being socially isolated or feeling lonely, and it is also more than just spending time alone. It includes making a deliberate choice to experience it, entails a pleasant and enjoyable activity, and carries a sense of meaning. The post above provides more detailed components of positive solitude.
What is your favourite way to experience positive solitude? Let us know in the comments!
