No matter your age or your emphasis on social connection, the impact of alone time in our routines is important to prioritize. Experts out a 2016 study on insulation even suggests that for older individuals who spend most of their time alone, creating a ‘balance’ to ensure we reap the rejuvenating benefits of solitary time is transformative.
Although it’s difficult for many extroverts to set priorities, there are several reasons why some people prefer to be all alone and away from drama in a hermit phase – not only for their mental health, but also for creativity and cultivate curiosity in their daily lives. Of course, if empathy coach Fraya Mortensen argues that it’s important to use this time for yourself in a useful way, and ensure that your return to social connection is healthy rather than isolating.
Here are 9 reasons why some people prefer to be in a ‘hermit phase’ all alone and away from drama:
1.They are more productive.
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According to a 2021 study on adolescent solitary activitiesThe way we spend our alone time influences the benefits and sometimes the consequences we experience. They create three main types of activities that a hermit phase might include: passive media, engaged activities, and thinking. When we use an activity like passive media to pass the time without investment, there is often a negative effect such as loneliness. In contrast, a more intentional “thinking activity,” such as journaling, is more productive.
Many people find that they are more productive when they enter a “hermit phase” with this type of committed intention, whether it is completing a project or investing time in a creative endeavor that distractions and outside influences can alter . While social connections can recharge some peopleothers prefer deliberate isolation under the unspoken assumption that they will one day return.
2.They build their self-confidence and self-esteem.
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A Nursing Clinics of North America Research shows that healing your inner child is incredibly profound yet challenging. The wounds from dysfunctional childhoods and toxic relationships stay with us whether we are aware of them or not, and can often perpetuate a sense of unworthiness as our needs continually remain unaddressed and unresolved.
Many people prioritize this inner child work by being in a hermit phase, away from the external pressures and toxic societal norms that perpetuate a cycle of self-esteem issues in adults. By taking the time to reassess their internal needs and unpack childhood traumas that left them feeling unseen by the people in their lives, they can return to social connection from a healthier, more confident, and self-assured foundation.
3.They feel more creative.
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While a study from the Journals of Gerontology recognizes that the correlation between time alone and loneliness is highly influential, especially for older individuals. They argue that the presence of creativity can support people’s mental health, even in a hermit phase. When people feel more creative while alone, they tend to feel less lonely.
Individuals who deliberately enter a hermit phase or spend time alone to create something or complete a creative project are tapping into an extremely beneficial cycle of creativity. The art of creating and expressing creativity improves their emotional health while protecting them from the effects of loneliness and spending time alone.
4.They can reconnect with their spiritual side.
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If you’re stuck in old thought patterns or influenced by toxic beliefs, the ability to truly restructure them to better fit your life is no easy task. If you’ve already acknowledged that you’ve grown out of them, that’s an important first step in unlearning them. according to life coach María Tomás-Keeganbut the next step is essential: making space to figure out what you really want.
This intentional act of learning is one of the reasons why people prefer to be in a hermit phase all alone and away from drama. helps them center themselves and commit to focusing on their desires, beliefs, and goals.
By intentionally using a hermit phase to learn what you want and need, whether through journaling, inner child work, therapy, or another practice, you can return to the world with a more fundamental belief system that promotes healthy connection guides.
5.They can create boundaries that work for them.
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Outside of the pressure and influence of social connection and external validation, people who prefer the “hermit phase,” away from drama, tend to use this time to set better boundaries, at the very least says empathy coach Fraya Morensen. Not only do they feel re-energized by learning about themselves and expressing their emotions, whether on a daily or even monthly basis, but they also feel more able to reassess their wants and needs.
When they leave this hermit stage and return to typical social interactions, they can set and defend those boundaries from a more confident perspective – protecting the health and longevity of their relationships. So while this alone time may not focus on social connection right now, it will be helpful in the long run.
6.They can take time to process their emotions.
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A study from the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology states that there is no way around the practice of processing and healing your emotions; experts agree that ‘the only way out is through’. Of course, the reality of actually processing complex emotions looks different for everyone. Yet this practice is one of the reasons why some people prefer to be in a hermit phase, all alone and away from drama.
They can embark on a journey toward self-evaluation of their needs and desires, a more confident perspective, and healing by intentionally entering a hermit phase where they feel equally self-aware and supported. Once they become more comfortable with their thoughts, the boundaries they want to protect, and the relationships they need to address, they can return to social connections in a healthy way.
7.They become more self-aware.
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Many people who have experienced a hermit phase, whether intentionally or not, find themselves in a quiet place where only their own thoughts, desires, and goals are present, isolating them from the outside world. People who choose to lean into that self-awareness and are truly open to learning about themselves open the door to more fulfilling relationships once they reenter the world of social connection.
Without the external pressure or opinions of others, many also feel the urge to do so restructure their inner circle– finally self-aware enough to realize that their connections aren’t serving them in the same healthy ways they used to. For many people, this kind of time for themselves without distractions really helps them tune into their true needs, wants, and desires.
8.They get rid of toxic vices and focus on healthier habits.
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While the motivation of others can be instrumental in breaking bad habits and relying on unhealthy vices, fundamental transformation happens when we can truly rely on our confidence and self-control. It’s up to us to create our routines, and our bad habits will only fall apart if we intentionally change them.
Especially for people with… a toxic inner circle or supportive relationshipsIt can be healthy to enter a hermit phase to change their routine or achieve a new lifestyle goal. When they feel confident enough to maintain a routine that suits their mental, physical and emotional health, reintroducing social connection can make an impact in all the right ways.
9.They feel more inspired and motivated.
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We are all human – the true nature of connection and the benefits of forming good relationships will always nourish our soul and emotional health. For many, however, the feeling that they are inspired enough to seek out those connections only comes after rejuvenation through a hermit phase.
By investing time and energy in our own lives, needs and healing journeys, we return to social connection from a more informed perspective – able to connect with others without ‘wearing a mask’ or pretending.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a news and entertainment writer at YourTango, focusing on health and wellness, social policy and human interest stories.
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