Axios Finish Line

March 27, 2024
Welcome back! Smart Brevity™ count: 289 words ... 1 min. Copy edited by Amy Stern.
1 big thing: Soaking up solitude
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Loneliness is a widespread problem in the U.S. But being lonely and being alone aren't the same — and there are real health benefits to spending time by yourself.
Why it matters: It's not easy to spend quality time alone. We're distracted by devices, troubled by anxious thoughts or just plain bored.
- In one study, people actually preferred to give themselves electric shocks rather than spend 6 to 15 minutes alone in a room.
🖼️ The big picture: Solitude can be a critical part of a healthy, happy life.
- It can boost mood by helping us to reflect and recharge.
- People who didn't spend much time alone felt more lonely, a recent study found. Those who spent less than 25% of their time alone reported high levels of loneliness — as did those who spent 75% of their time solo.
🔎 How to have healthy alone time, via Verywell Mind:
- Make it voluntary. The best periods of solitude come when we plan for them and look forward to them, instead of just finding ourselves alone when plans fall through.
- Plan something fun. Ideas include taking yourself out to dinner, working at a new skill or volunteering.
- Eliminate noise. As Finish Line readers have told us, screen-free me-time is the most effective way to give our overstimulated brains a break.
The bottom line: Don't be afraid of solitude. It can relieve stress, boost confidence and teach us something new about ourselves.
🌸 Welcoming spring

Here's an early spring sunset, taken from the Istrian hills in Croatia, looking toward the Adriatic Sea and Italy, by reader Allen Docal in Fairfax, Va.
- Send your best pics of spring to [email protected]!
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