Spending time alone has long carried an unfair kind of stigma, as if choosing your own company is a sign that something must be missing. Say you’re staying in and suddenly you’re a ‘loner’ or skip a group chat message and you’re ‘antisocial’. Yet as a new season arrives, with its fresh goals, new routines and back-to-back schedules everywhere, we’re not buying into the narrative anymore — and it seems we’re not the only ones.
“In recent years, I’m seeing more and more people becoming open to the value of spending time alone,” says Dr Candice Neil, a UK-based psychologist and founder of Ontic Psychology. “I think that this pushback comes from the recognition of how stressful the nature of the constant stimulation of the modern world can be, and as we constantly look to redefine what wellness means to us, we’re beginning to see that solitude can be a pleasant, relaxing and rejuvenating experience.”
The Power Of Solitude
Even though solitude sometimes gets a bad rap, carving out space to be by yourself can actually be one of the most grounding, refreshing and restorative ways to spend your time. ‘Me time’ not only acts as a mental reset button, it helps regulate and process emotions, builds confidence and maintains focus. Time spent alone also has a positive effect on the body, as stepping back from the demand to always be ‘switched on’ — the scrolling, conversations, notifications, the need to be perpetually available — allows the nervous system to soften.
“When we allow for moments of solitude, the mind shifts from ‘doing’ to ‘being’, and we see the heart rate slow, cortisol reduce and the parasympathetic system restore balance,” explains Natalie Hoare, founder of Dubai-based coaching service Breathes Wellness, and a mind-body neuroplasticity and emotional resilience specialist. “Solitude, in this sense, isn’t isolation, it’s restoration.” Research backs this up, with a 2023 study by the University of Reading finding that spending more hours alone was linked with greater feelings of reduced stress, as long as it was alone time spent by choice.
Naturally, all of this has a welcome knock-on effect to our emotional state, too. “Reductions in stress and anxiety accompanied by improvements in sleep and diurnal rhythms help with emotional regulation,” adds Dr Candice. “Self-awareness and confidence can also be improved as alone-time allows someone time to explore their thoughts, emotions, motivations, responses and actions. This can help someone understand themselves better and to consider how best to live a more authentic life that aligns with their values.”
Strengthening Relationships Through Space
Perhaps ironically, another positive aspect of alone time is its ability to help improve existing relationships. Yet when this might require designating extra childcare to your husband, or letting a friend down at the last minute, it’s little surprise that women can often feel guilty or selfish for doing so. But it’s important to refill on our own tanks. On a plane, you’re told to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others — and for good reason. If you’re running on empty, or feel physically, mentally or emotionally depleted, then you’re no good to anyone, let alone yourself.
“Solitude is a forgotten form of self-care for women in particular,” explains Natalie. “We generally spend so much of our energy attuning to others that we often lose touch with our own needs, but quiet moments help us to re-establish our awareness of what’s happening within. When we pause, we can notice the early signs of emotional fatigue or stress before they escalate, which in turn allows us to respond with intention rather than react from overwhelm. And when we’re steadier within ourselves, we’re far better equipped to show up thoughtfully for the people we care about.”
It’s a principle that extends far beyond home life, too — particularly for women in business who are navigating high-pressure roles with constant demands. “Most ambitious women are wired to move fast. It’s part of their energetic blueprint,” says Jody Shield, former corporate leader turned entrepreneur, and founder of multiple ventures including Magnificent Money and Visionary Entrepreneuress, which work to redefine wealth consciousness and business evolution for the next generation of female leaders. “We feel most alive when we’re creating, building, achieving. But when that energy is constantly fuelled by fast-paced environments and social pressure, it tips into overdrive.”
As such, Jody believes that intentional solitude has become one of the most advanced leadership tools available to women, allowing them to pause, recalibrate and lead from clarity rather than exhaustion. “Space is where clarity lives. Without it, the mind becomes crowded with noise and other people’s energy. When women give themselves alone time, they stop reacting and start receiving.” For the high-achieving women she mentors, those quiet moments are often where the biggest insights emerge. “Our best ideas don’t come from effort — they come from stillness,” she adds. “Every woman who prioritises solitude finds her decisions become faster, cleaner and more aligned. The future of success isn’t about doing more; it’s about creating more space.”
Solitude Vs Loneliness
All of this said, there is one caveat, and that’s not confusing solitude with loneliness, the latter of which is proven to have negative health consequences like heart disease, depression and even type 2 diabetes. Solitude can help someone’s wellbeing, while loneliness can diminish it, with the distinction coming down to mindset and intention. “‘Me time’ or ‘alone time’ is not the same as loneliness,” explains Sreevidhya Srinivas, clinical psychologist at Dubai’s Medcare Camali Clinic. “Loneliness reflects a sense of disconnection which is not often a choice or is unwanted, while solitude is more of a deliberate choice to pause, rest, reflect and reconnect with oneself.”
How To Spend Alone Time
So, how do you tap into the benefits of being alone, intentionally? It’s important to start small, as if you are naturally social, or define yourself as a people-pleaser, solitude can feel uncomfortable to begin with. “While any plan is better than no plan, building incrementally is a sensible way to start,” explains Dr Candice. Avoid the likes of lying in bed and ordering Uber Eats and instead direct your alone time toward creative pursuits and hobbies that naturally thrive without an audience.
“For some people, it’s about physical activities like walks in nature or running alone, while for others it could be creative pursuits like painting or writing,” explains Dr Candice. “For others, active journalling may help them be reflective, or quiet contemplation may allow them to think deeply or problem solve. Whichever approach you choose, it is essential to actively allocate the time and physical space needed to help you find alone time.”
For those looking to go deeper, structured solo experiences can also be transformative. Think wellness getaways, creative residencies or even weekend retreats designed for reflection rather than socialising. Often spending a few days away from the noise of everyday life helps reset your nervous system and reconnect you with your own rhythm, returning with renewed energy, clarity and focus. The key is to approach solitude as a practice, not a punishment — whether it’s a quiet morning with coffee and no phone, or a few days spent completely off-grid, these moments of intentional aloneness allow you to hear yourself more clearly.
The next time you equate being alone with being lonely or start to feel guilty or judged for spending a few hours on your own, remind yourself that solitude isn’t indulgence — it’s maintenance.
4 Ways To Spend Me-Time
From soundproof pods to sunlit libraries, here are some of our favourite ways to savour sweet solitude in style.
Get lost in a good book
The Middle East is brimming with libraries perfect for tucking yourself away and getting lost in a story. Our first port of call would be Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, a serene pocket of stillness with more than 6,000 titles on offer and plenty of reading corners to while away an afternoon. Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, Al Jaddaf, Dubai.
Try floatation therapy
What better way to block out the rest of the world than literally enclosing yourself in a soundproof pod for an hour? One 60-minute session is spent floating in the saltwater, earplugs in and eyes closed, where you will sink into a blissful state of relaxation. Benefits include reduction in stress and anxiety, with others believing regular floating can enhance mood, problem-solving abilities and creativity. Simple Float, The Village Mall, Jumeirah, Dubai. Book now
Carve out some ‘zen time’
Meditation and retrospection are both key pillars of restorative time spent alone, and Dubai’s new Sohum Wellness Sanctuary is a beautiful place to practice. It features a calendar of healing sessions including Soma breathwork, sound therapy and candlelight yoga, while guests can also schedule private Ayurveda consultations which focus on balancing the body’s energies through natural therapies, herbal oils and massage techniques. Your nervous system will be reset in no time. Sohum Wellness Sanctuary, Al Quoz, Dubai. Book now
Book a solo retreat
Be it a two-night escape to inspire better sleep or a weeklong longevity break, take your me-time a step further with a luxury solo retreat. There are plenty of beautiful options in the region, but you’ll find us heading to Six Senses Zighy Bay which will be welcoming renowned wellness therapist Roger Moore in March and April 2026. He’s known for working with celebrities and industry leaders with unique treatments that blend Western and Eastern techniques. Six Senses Zighy Bay, Dibba-Musandam, Oman. Book now
Originally published in the March 2026 issue of MOJEH. Subscribe here
