On this July 2024 episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, psychologist Netta Weinstein talks about the difference between loneliness and solitude, and how to create psychologically beneficial alone time.

While loneliness can be a serious problem, it is often incorrectly conflated with solitude, which is a neutral or even positive state. This leads to a societal stigmatization of spending time alone.

Taking time alone can rejuvenate us and has been shown to offer psychological benefits, but it's at odds with a society that tells us to work hard and play hard.

In this July 2024 episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, host Shankar Vedantam speaks with psychologist Netta Weinstein about the often-misrepresented topic of solitude, how to seek it, and what to do when you find it.