Summary: 46% of Americans don’t get enough alone time during the holiday season, even though 56% say it’s crucial for their mental health. Taking brief moments alone can help the nervous system settle, reducing stress and improving well-being during this busy time.
Experts suggest simple strategies, like leaving your phone in another room or pausing in your car for a few minutes, to recharge. Prioritizing alone time, even in small doses, can make the holidays more enjoyable without sacrificing social connections.
Key Facts:
- 46% of Americans report lacking alone time during the holidays.
- 56% say alone time is essential for their mental health.
- Brief breaks alone help reduce stress and support mental and physical health.
Source: Ohio State University
Some say the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. But for others, the hectic holiday season may be the most stressful.
A new national survey of 1,000 Americans commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine shows that 46% of Americans say they don’t get the alone time they need during the holidays.
In addition, 56% of survey respondents say that it’s very important to their mental health to have adequate alone time.
Sophie Lazarus, PhD, a clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ohio State, says in a world that glorifies staying busy, taking a brief break alone can be rewarding both mentally and physically.
A few minutes to yourself can reduce the stress of the season and help your mental health, she 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,” said Lazarus.
It’s important to make yourself a priority, and this can be accomplished by adding something simple to your routine that doesn’t require a large chunk of time or effort, Lazarus said.
Lazarus, who focuses on mindfulness-based interventions, mood and anxiety disorders, has a few suggestions to help stressed out people stay present throughout the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
“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.”
Lazarus says to take what works best for you into consideration when making these changes to your routine.
“One size doesn’t fit everyone. Being flexible and finding a balance is best,” Lazarus said.
Lazarus reminds patients it’s okay to take alone time.
“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.
Alone time doesn’t have to be solo, either.
“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.”
For more information about stress and related issues go to stress.org
About this psychology research news
Author: Ben Roselieb
Source: Ohio State University
Contact: Ben Roselieb – Ohio State University
Image: The image is credited to Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev
