How to Live With Yourself
Let's make the most of our quarantine nightmare
For many people around the world, it’s been a tough couple of weeks, and it’s set to get worse in the coming days. Governments around the world are battling a global pandemic with city shutdowns and recommendations to avoid other people. This is an important step in curbing hospital admissions and deaths, but it can mean loneliness and depression for people who struggle with isolation at home. It’s time to learn how to be our own best friend.
Isolation is good for creativity
We’ve all been taught that communication is good for productivity and teamwork, and that’s certainly true. However, too much communication hinders some types of performance. In a 2018 experiment, puzzle-solvers were split into teams, and each team was given with one of three rules: 1) you can always see what your teammates are doing, 2) you can sometimes see what your teammates are doing, or 3) you can never see what your teammates are doing. Teams following rule 2, who could use both communication and isolation, solved their problems most effectively. This is because they had the best of both worlds: a) intermittent communication, which allowed them to learn from the mistakes of their teammates and improve their general decision-making over time, b) intermittent isolation to make the most of their own unique ingenuity without compromising.
In other words, there’s some truth to the phrase “a camel is a horse designed by a committee”. It’s a little unfair to camels, but the point is that excessive compromise often dilutes an inventor’s artistic vision, and produces an uglier outcome than the original idea. Many of the world’s greatest creative works—musical compositions, paintings, and inventions—were created by single individuals, not by teams of cooperators. Technology has opened up faster channels of communication and immediate access to the thoughts of others on social networks. This comes with countless advantages for business and social life, but it has also blinded us to a major benefit of spending time alone. Without collaborators to negotiate and dilute our uniquely creative ideas, we can see our original visions through to the end.
How to keep yourself company
Humans are deeply social creatures, so long-term social isolation is unnatural and painful. Introverts probably find it easier than extroverts, but everybody needs some way of coping with the stress associated with being cooped up at home. Here are some ideas that you might find helpful:
Mindfulness! I’ve described the benefits of meditation in past newsletters so I won’t do it again here. But it’s important to know that mindfulness teaches you to focus your mind on present-moment experiences, and this helps you to avoid getting lost in anxious thoughts that don’t reflect reality. My favorite meditation app is called Waking Up, and it’s great for beginners. You can try it free for a month at this link.
This is a great time to catch up on Netflix shows and movies, but the passivity of binge-watching may eventually make you feel trapped. When that time comes, you can always switch to activities that demand more active imagination like reading. And remember that this period of isolation may be your biggest opportunity to engage with a new creative project without other people’s constant input.
Physical exercise is as important as ever. Some local guidelines for physical distancing still allow for a walk outside if you’re keeping away from other people, but you can also practice at-home exercises like yoga. Don’t let quarantine stop you from keeping physically active in any way you can.
Stay in touch with friends and family. You might not be able to physically meet people, but that shouldn’t stop you having a beer with a friend over a video or phone call. Don’t ignore your social cravings because you can always find a way to satisfy them. Online communication is a much lower dose of social stimulation than meeting in person, but it’s better than nothing.
What could you accomplish with your newfound solitude?
Imagination and creativity may be boosted by quarantine, but the question of what you do with those skills is entirely up to you. With enough time and perseverance, you might even be able to accomplish this guy’s grand feat:
That final quote
Final words today are attributed to the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832):
“One can be instructed in society; one is inspired only in solitude”
I wish you and your families the greatest health and happiness throughout the current health crisis. Don’t hesitate to email me if you need someone to talk to.
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