Loneliness is a common experience among successful individuals due to their unique mindsets and ambitious goals. Relating to others with different aspirations can be challenging, leading to isolation and difficulty forming genuine connections.
The path to success is paved in solitude.
This is one of the main reasons why many people don't achieve their goals: they're too afraid of what others think about them, so they never try anything new or different from their daily routine.
For instance, a study from 2016 found that loneliness may be genetic — it is a “modestly heritable trait,” the researchers explained. Further, living with chronic health conditions, and mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, can also make people feel lonely.
Being alone can lead to more success, create deeper connections with people, and result in a healthier, happier lifestyle. Here are ten reasons why being alone can make us more successful. You're less likely to make impulsive decisions.
Successful people push themselves to step outside their comfort zone. They are comfortable taking risks and even view their failures with a positive frame of mind. They want to explore opportunities to grow and advance their careers.
One of the greatest benefits of spending time alone is how it helps you develop a better understanding of who you are. The more you know and understand yourself the more likely you are to do things that you love, learn things that interest you and spend time with people who make you feel good.
Loneliness and disabled people
Younger Brits report higher levels of loneliness (April 2023) Our analysis of the latest ONS statistics reveal that those aged between 16-29 are over two times as likely to report feeling lonely often or always than those over 70, with those aged between 30-49 close behind.
Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss. Loneliness is the feeling of being alone, regardless of the amount of social contact.
Most notably, researchers found that loneliness rates peak among people in their 20s, and reach their lowest point among those in their 60s. Many people also experience a spike in lonely feelings around their mid-40s.
Some research suggests that loneliness can increase stress. It's also associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems. For example, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and sleep problems.
Why is it Lonely at the top? Almost every leader, at some point in their career, has made a similar observation to Einstein. The higher you climb on a corporate ladder, the more sparse the trusted relationships. Sometimes loneliness is the result of responsibility weighing on your shoulders.
Together this suggests that loneliness increases approach motivations but only in the presence of other markers of adaptive responding, like high resting PNS activity.
The truth is that many single people often feel lonely, even if they aren't lonely all the time. Single loneliness is actually common and a chance for growth.
Published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a study found that people's expectations from interpersonal relationships undergo considerable changes as they age — resulting in them often feeling lonelier as they grow older, even if they're not alone.
"Lacking encouragement from family or friends, those who are lonely may slide into unhealthy habits," Valtorta says. "In addition, loneliness has been found to raise levels of stress, impede sleep and, in turn, harm the body. Loneliness can also augment depression or anxiety."
If you've experienced ongoing feelings of loneliness, it can have negative effects on your physical health. It could lead to weight gain, sleep deprivation, poor heart health, and a weakened immune system. Loneliness can also put your body under more stress than normal.
Those who find themselves unexpectedly isolated due to the illness of a loved one, separation from friends or family, loss of mobility, worsening vision or hearing problems, disability, or lack of mobility or access to transportation, are at particular risk of loneliness and social isolation.
Loneliness affects people in different ways, and for this reason there are four distinct types of loneliness identified by psychologists: emotional, social, situational and chronic.
Both sets of studies show the same thing: People who are not afraid to be single and people who like spending time alone are less likely to experience loneliness. They are psychologically strong in other ways, too. For example, they are less likely to be neurotic and more likely to be open to new experiences.
Isolation is a result of anxiety and depression in that some individuals use it as a self-induced coping mechanism to deal with excessive worry and avoid human interaction.
“Being alone helps you become more comfortable in your own skin,” Morins tells Forbes. “When you're by yourself, you can make choices without outside influences. And that will help you develop more insight into who you are as a person.” Holding this degree of self-awareness and resilience is key to a happier life.
Living alone can be very peaceful because there are no disagreements. When you live alone you don't have to compromise to fit in with someone else. No-one else's choices or biases come into play. You don't need to fit into anyone else's timetable.
Being Alone Allows Our Brains to Recharge
Sherrie Bourg Carter explains, “Constantly being 'on' doesn't give your brain a chance to rest and replenish itself. Being by yourself with no distractions gives you the chance to clear your mind, focus, and think more clearly.
"One of the best things to do for loneliness is to begin to build a better social network. Community organizations, religious groups, and social groups around shared interest provide wonderful ways to connect with others."