Americans have a complicated relationship with alone time. Though we often feel a constant connection because of social media, the fact is, we’re more on our own than ever: More than 50 percent of American adults are single, and some 27 million people live alone. In 1950, just 22 percent of American adults were single, and 4 million lived alone. Combine that with people getting married later in life, and we’re all just having more QT with ourselves.
Alone time, of course, is different than loneliness, which carries some health risks, including increased risk of heart disease and depression. But carving out some “me time,” on the other hand, is a pretty awesome idea. Here’s why: