Why it's okay to be alone
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Being alone is a taboo. It's seen as something scary, something you'd rather avoid. Of course, social contact is important to humans - after all, we think of ourselves as social beings, but it's not at all wrong to withdraw from time to time. In fact, it even has advantages.
Alone versus lonely
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First of all, it is important to consider the difference between being alone and being lonely. Being alone is about whether you are actually surrounded by people, while loneliness is more of a feeling. Sadness, emptiness and fear can accompany this feeling. It can happen anywhere, even when you are in company. When you are alone, this is a conscious choice. You take space for yourself and that's totally okay.
The advantage of being alone
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A lot of people regularly need time to catch their breath. Some even find it more comfortable to withdraw and avoid certain social situations. Being alone can have a very positive effect, namely that you get to know yourself better and thus create the opportunity to develop more self-love. By taking some distance, you make room for yourself to see certain things in a different light.
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11 minMain dishpeanut oil, tofu stir-fry cubes finely seasoned, stir fry sauce sweet and sour, thick noodles, carrot julienne, beetroot julienne, yellow bell pepper, watercress,rainbow salad with tofu -
45 minMain dishRed cabbage, mild olive oil, quinoa plus, forest outing, lemon, sesame oil, soy sauce less salt, Bio Today tahini white in pot, tap water,grilled red cabbage with quinoa salad -
30 minDessertBrie, Roquefort, port salut, gruyere, Camembert, walnut, garlic, thyme, honey, grape, baguette, Red onion, red grape, raisins, Red wine, Red wine vinegar, Brown sugar,generous cheese plate with onion marmalade -
30 minDessertFull Milk, whipped cream, macaroon, custard powder, vanilla sugar, sugar, protein, amaretto, almond liqueur, basic recipe cooking pears,macaroon pastry with casserole
Introvert and extrovert
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Being alone does not mean that you are lonely, nor do you have to be alone to feel lonely. So it is wrong to think that loneliness does not occur among extroverts. It is true that introverts soon feel that they don't belong somewhere than extroverts, because they are more likely to isolate themselves. In addition, too much silence can also lead to a feeling of loneliness and that is a big pitfall for people who like to be alone.
Young people are lonely too
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Loneliness is also often associated with the elderly. People who live in a nursing home and receive an hour visit at most once every two weeks are lonely, is the idea. But in this age of technology, loneliness is also increasingly common among young people. Social media seems to keep more contact by phone. A British survey shows that nearly ninety percent of the young people surveyed sometimes feel lonely. This is a lot less among the over-55s, namely seventy percent.
Being lonely is unhealthy
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Being really lonely can be bad for your health. For example, various studies have shown that many lonely people start eating unhealthy food. It works the other way around: poor health can lead to loneliness in its place. Many unhealthy people are less able to maintain social contacts, because they are less mobile or can tolerate few stimuli. In fact, lonely people are 26 percent more likely to die sooner, according to a study by Brigham Young University.
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5 minDrink without alcoholbananas, cool fresh apple-pear raspberry juice, Soy drink vanilla,soy fruit shake -
20 minMain dishsauerkraut, sticking potato, liquid baking product, half-to-half minced, Spice meatballs, pineapple, olive oil, liquid baking product,gratin sauerkraut dish with minced meat -
40 minMain dishlemongrass, fresh ginger, Red peppers, onions, tomato cubes, fresh cod fillet, coriander, oil, ground turmeric (koenjit), coconut milk, salt,fish in creamy coconut sauce -
15 minSide dishsweet potato, soft goat cheese, egg, spring / forest onion,stuffed sweet potato with egg
Help with loneliness
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So being alone is not bad at all. It can even have a huge positive effect on your self-image. However, it is important to ensure that this does not lead to loneliness. Do you find yourself starting to feel more than alone? Then take the initiative. Maybe there is a friend that you have not spoken to in a long time, or you can invite the neighbors over for a cup of coffee. Get professional help if your health starts to suffer, but rather make sure you don't let it get that far. Sources Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10 (2), 227-237. A