A few years ago, we asked our Upworthy audience to share things they enjoy that other people don’t understand. Overwhelmingly, the most common answer was some variation of: “I like to be alone.”

In a time when loneliness has been called an “epidemic,” it may come as a surprise that so many people actually crave solitude. As someone who relishes alone time, I can say with certainty there’s a big difference between being alone and being lonely. And science backs that up.

People shouldn't be embarassed to eat alone, to sit alone, to be alone. That doesn't mean you're lonely, sometimes being alone is good.— 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚 ♡ (@swacinta) July 23, 2023

People shouldn't be embarassed to eat alone, to sit alone, to be alone. That doesn't mean you're lonely, sometimes being alone is good.— 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚 ♡ (@swacinta) July 23, 2023

But what makes some people seek out solitude? Over the past decade, researchers have discovered some specific traits in people who find alone time fulfilling.

Surprisingly, loving your alone time doesn’t mean you’re an introvert

One of the biggest assumptions people make about those who enjoy being alone is that they’re introverts. That’s a pretty logical assumption, since introversion generally means needing quiet and solitude to replenish your energy.

However, researchers haven’t found introversion to be strongly correlated with seeking or enjoying solitude. Two studies of university students explored motivations for wanting solitude and preference for being alone over being around others.........

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