As humans, we are social creatures — we truly need each other. And yet there are times when we, even as social beings, can benefit from some isolation.
By isolation, I definitely don’t mean the permanent kind. But I do mean finding a little space to clear our head and focus our thoughts. It might be for reflecting, or doing our work, or taking time to simply be.
But even being physically alone may not be enough to reap the benefits that a little isolation can bring. With technology, we can be physically alone, and still be very much connected. And sometimes these always-on connections can easily turn into distractions. Which means even if there isn’t anyone around, from time to time we may need to intentionally turn off the smartphone, or remove the earbuds, or disconnect from the internet. Not permanently, of course, but as a means to provide some space to focus our attention on things that are even more important.
While it may not be good for us to be alone all the time, small doses of isolation do have their place, even in social creatures like us.