If you get a buzz from cancelling plans from time to time, that's all well and good. However, if you routinely isolate yourself from others, you're on the fast track to unhappiness — if you're not already there. And, unfortunately, unhappiness only leads to more isolation. "Isolating yourself from social contact is a pretty common response to feeling unhappy, but there's a large body of research that says it's the worst thing you can do," wrote Emotional Intelligence 2.0 author Travis Bradberry in Forbes. "This is a huge mistake, as socializing, even when you don't enjoy it, is great for your mood."
Mariana Plata, a clinical psychologist, advises taking steps to preserve your alone time while still adding in some person-to-person contact. Schedule times to socialize each month, join a local book club or other common interest meet-up, catch up with a close friend, or volunteer, the expert suggested in an article for Psychology Today.
