Solitude Lab

Solitude Lab Solitude Lab conducts research and shares resource on how time spent alone influences emotions, thoughts, and internal experiences.

No two experiences of singlehood are exactly alike.Some people choose singlehood because it fits the life they want. Oth...
18/08/2026

No two experiences of singlehood are exactly alike.

Some people choose singlehood because it fits the life they want.

Others arrive there through circumstances, personality, or life experiences.

These different paths can shape how time alone is experienced.

Research suggests that what matters most isn't relationship status itself, but whether solitude feels chosen.

When people feel they have agency over their time alone, solitude is more likely to bring calm, independence, and a sense of control.

Swipe to explore the many paths to singlehood and why they matter.

14/08/2026

We often want to be alone when we're stressed or overwhelmed.

But what if we still want solitude when we're already alone?

Our research suggests there may be more to this pattern than simply needing a break from social interaction.

In this video, we explore why we sometimes seek solitude when we're not feeling our best, and when that desire for time alone may mean something more.

Being single and being alone are often treated as if they mean the same thing, but research suggests they are different....
13/08/2026

Being single and being alone are often treated as if they mean the same thing, but research suggests they are different.

There is no evidence that single people are more likely to seek solitude simply because they are single.

In fact, living arrangements are a stronger predictor of time spent alone than relationship status.

Many single people have close friendships, strong family ties, and active social lives, while some people in relationships spend much of their time apart.

Being single doesn't automatically mean being isolated.

What matters more is the quality of our social connections and whether time alone feels like a choice.

Social rejection can change how we respond to the people around us. But does it make us want to avoid everyone?Research ...
11/08/2026

Social rejection can change how we respond to the people around us.

But does it make us want to avoid everyone?

Research suggests the answer is more nuanced.

Our response to rejection is shaped by more than the experience itself, and solitude can serve different purposes depending on the situation.

This carousel explores why people often seek solitude after rejection, what role our emotions play, and how time alone can become a temporary way to process difficult experiences.

07/08/2026

Solitary confinement is punishment. A quiet Sunday alone is bliss.

Same aloneness. Completely different experience.

The difference is whether you have control over the time.

Research shows chosen solitude calms us down. Forced isolation does the opposite.

Even reframing "lonely" as "solitude I get to have" changes how relaxed you feel.

After being hurt, many of us want to be alone. Research suggests this may be a natural response, especially after social...
06/08/2026

After being hurt, many of us want to be alone.

Research suggests this may be a natural response, especially after social rejection.

Interestingly, people don't necessarily avoid everyone after being rejected.

Studies have found they are often more likely to avoid the source of the hurt, while remaining open to connecting with new, welcoming people.

Other research also shows that feelings like anxiety, sadness, or social overwhelm can increase our desire for solitude.

Time alone may provide something we need in those moments: a quieter space with less judgment, more privacy, and greater control while we process difficult emotions.

Sometimes, seeking solitude isn't about pushing people away. It can be a temporary way to recover before reconnecting.

Is being alone always a negative experience?Studies have found that chosen solitude can promote calm and a greater sense...
04/08/2026

Is being alone always a negative experience?

Studies have found that chosen solitude can promote calm and a greater sense of autonomy, while forced isolation is much more likely to cause distress.

In other words, it's not simply being alone that matters. It's whether you have the freedom to choose it.

Swipe to explore why choice plays such an important role in how we experience solitude.

31/07/2026

It does not have to be a big deal like it used to be.

Solitude used to mean one of two things: a chosen spiritual space or a punishment.

Even the privileged rarely experienced real solitude. There were always servants, guests, or no room that was ever truly empty.

Nowadays, you can just... be alone in your own space, and you don't owe anyone a reason.

The difference between being alone and being forced to be alone is more than it may seem.Research suggests that choice p...
30/07/2026

The difference between being alone and being forced to be alone is more than it may seem.

Research suggests that choice plays an important role in how solitude is experienced.

When people choose to spend time alone, they often report feeling calmer and more in control. When that same experience is imposed, it is much more likely to lead to distress.

This reminds us that solitude isn't defined only by the absence of other people.

The sense of autonomy we have over our time alone matters too.

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