“Being alone can have great value. It can allow issues to surface that people spend energy holding at bay, and offer an opportunity to clarify thoughts, hopes, dreams and desires.”

These words are found in an article, “Spending time alone in nature is good for your mental and emotional health” published in The Conversation and republished in Ecologist.

The article is written by Brad Daniel, professor of outdoor education at Montreat College, Andrew Bobilya, associate professor and program director of Parks and Recreation Management, Western Carolina University, and Ken Kalisch, associate professor of outdoor education at Montreat College.

The authors write, “While some equate solitude with loneliness, there is a big difference between being lonely and being alone. The latter is essential for mental health and effective leadership.”

Based on almost 20 years of research, they have found, “Scholars in fields including wilderness therapy and environmental psychology have shown that time outdoors benefits our lives in many ways. It has a therapeutic effect, relieves stress and restores attention. Alone time in nature can have a calming effect on the mind because it occurs in beautiful, natural and inspirational settings. Nature also provides challenges that spur individuals to creative problem-solving and increased self-confidence.”

The article concludes, “In order to live and lead effectively, it is important to be intentional about taking the time for solitary reflection. Otherwise, gaps in schedules will always fill up, and even people with the best intentions may never fully realize the life-giving value of being alone.”