A new study suggests that spending time alone in nature may help reduce feelings of loneliness, even though the idea of being alone to feel less lonely seems contradictory.
Researchers in Norway surveyed 2,544 residents living near the country’s largest lake. The findings, published in the journal Health and Place, showed that time spent on or along the lake was linked to lower loneliness. Social contact was not the main reason. Instead, the strongest factors were feeling connected to nature and having an emotional attachment to that specific place. People who did these activities alone reported an even stronger effect.
Participants reported how often they walked along the shore, swam, paddled, or fished, and how often they did these activities alone. The study measured loneliness in three ways. In every measure, a sense of kinship with animals, plants, and the living world showed the strongest link to reduced loneliness. Attachment to the lake was also linked to lower loneliness, especially the kind of loneliness that comes from feeling disconnected from a larger community.
Not all activities worked the same way. Walking by the shore, enjoying time near the water, and walking on ice were most tied to feeling connected to nature. Exercising along the shore had the weakest link. The researchers suggested that activities involving sensory noticing and appreciation of the surroundings deepen the bond with nature, while exercise-focused activity does not.
The study points to two types of connection at work. Internal connection comes from solitude, which gives mental space to focus outward on the environment instead of inward on conversation or distraction. That can support reflection, mental clarity, and emotional regulation. External connection comes from feeling bonded to a place, which creates a sense of belonging that does not depend on other people being present. The effect was stronger when people did lake activities alone because the social part was removed, leaving more room for a feeling of oneness with nature.
The researchers distinguish between solitude and isolation. Solitude is chosen and feels restorative. Isolation is unwanted and painful. The study does not suggest that isolating yourself in nature is a reliable path to well-being. It means that intentional solo time outdoors, when a person pays attention to surroundings, may help ease feelings of disconnection. The study is observational and cannot prove cause and effect. It is possible that lonelier people seek out nature to compensate for unmet social needs.
Loneliness is considered a major public health concern. This research points to a simple tool: intentional time outdoors alone. The goal is not to isolate more but to be more intentional about how and where a person spends time alone. Stepping outside alone can be restorative.
Source: The study was published in Health and Place and is available at ScienceDirect.
