Alone & Happy: Five Science-Backed Ways to Remember

Dimitri Raftopoulos January 29, 2016

Can you be alone yet happy? Sure you can. Being single doesn’t mean living life terribly. A lot of singles out there are able to live their life to the fullest. And if they can, so can you! Decades of studies in the field of positive psychology proves that happiness is a choice. You may not be able to change the situation you’re in now, but you can definitely take over your emotions and choose to be gay.

Below are simple yet powerful strategies to boost feelings of happiness that many happy singles out there swear by. These are backed by science too! So you should really consider trying them out.

Realise that ‘alone-ness’ is a neutral experience. It is not a negative feeling that we should avoid. Yes, it can be a negative experience if you think that way. But being alone can be a positive experience too. You just have to acknowledge the fact it exists. Embrace it. It doesn’t mean that you are unlikeable or you’ll forever be alone. It’s just at this point in your life, relationship isn’t the centre of your focus - and that is totally fine.

Relive your passion. Not being engaged in a relationship gives you a chance to reconnect to the great things you have not experienced for so long. Sometimes, we get too focused on our relationships that we forget to give time for ourselves - for our personal endeavours. We forget about our hobbies and interests and the things we are so much passionate about. We even forget about our dreams. As soon as you relive your passion, you will realise that happiness is just around the corner.

Get closer to yourself. One of the keys to happiness is being able to establish a deep relationship with yourself. But how do you do it? First is to make an effort to get to know yourself better. Ask yourself - What do I really want in life? What do I need more of? What are the things that could really make me happy?

Fill your day with positive experiences. When you are alone, you might find yourself feeling bored and needy of social connection. One way to sustain happiness amidst the alone-ness you experience is to fill your day with small yet positive experiences. Go to your favourite coffee shop every morning or make some homemade pancakes or waffles for breakfast. Go to the gym. Start a new project at home. And reward yourself with a steaming hot bath in the evening. By creating your own self-help routines, you will feel so much better again.

Keep your lines opens. Being alone doesn’t mean being lonely. You are a social being. It is natural for you to feel the need to connect with people, meet new friends, date, and establish new relationships. You don’t want to rush things. But you don’t want to close the line and just let yourself be alone for good. Having strong positive social relationships start with allowing yourself to meet and socialise with others.