Do you prefer being alone? or with people?

whirlpool

I was shy in primary school and secondary school. I had friends, but I was even shy with them at times and I definitely wasn't cool.

27 now, and I'm not shy anymore but I do seem to need my own company quite a lot. I live on my own and after a day surrounded by people in work, if I was to live with anyone now I think it'd give me a headache. (I've lived with plenty of people in the past.)

Outside of my job (in which I'm surrounded by hundreds of people every day and which requires a lot of talking and interacting) there are times it makes my head hurt to think of having to even talk to people / be sociable.

I just love my own company too much.

I think it might be because, growing up and being shy, I just learned to be on my own quite a lot, and now that's just how my brain operates as normal, and I don't enjoy spending my free time around too many people.

How much alone time do you need? Do you need to be around groups of people a lot?

Maximus Alexander

When I'm surrounded by people a lot I need alone time. When I'm alone a lot I need people.

Weird.

thomur

Much prefer living on my own. Helps to have friends though

Sunnyisland

I love being around good interesting company but importantly I also need my own time for myself, so yes to both questions.

PhlegmyMoses

Both.

Thespoofer

Alone. I'm surprised by the amount of people whom can't seem to function without having somebody/audience with them.
Alot of these people look on others who prefer their own company as weird, I couldn't care less though.

Banjo String

My job puts me on the road quite a lot. Alone.

It's a lonely life at times. Sometimes it suits, sometimes it doesn't.

pharmaton

depends on the company really.

Love2love

I like to go for a walk alone most days, just to clear my head even on trivial things but apart from that I prefer to be in the company of others. Maybe I just so use to it. I have 6 brothers so growing up there was always people around.

b_mac

If it was up to me, I would live in a castle on top of a mountain, on my own away from the general public. If I wanted to see someone I would then summon them to me and banish them once again as soon as I grew weary of them.

If I've had a day where I've had to deal with a lot of people, I really need some quiet alone time. Too much alone time makes me anxious though.

As Pharmaton says, it's also a lot to do with the company. At times I have felt very alone, while surrounded by people.

A good mix is best for balance, as in most things.

TeddyTedson

Sometimes I've been in a crowd of people yet never been so alone. Funny old world.

1shot16

Alone time is a must... I go through moods of socializing and not... everyone does it say

Whatsernamex33

I like my own company sometimes. I prefer going shopping by myself, I love browsing around clothes shops. I get extremely impatient waiting for someone to decide whether they want a certain shoe or whatever.

Eating lunch or drinking coffee, I prefer my own company too. Just so I can browse on the internet, or read a book, instead of people filling me with ridiculous things I seriously don't want to hear while I'm trying to eat. :P

sh__93

This is actually quite well documented. Some people are introverted (like to keep to themselve and get enjoyment from their own company) and some are extroverted (get enjoyment from social interaction). I'd be more on the introverted side but would still be up for going out and having the craic most of the time. If i go too long on my own though I think I'd go mad. Id guess its about 50:50 introverts:extroverts but its obviously a sliding scale. Most people lie somewhere in the middle.

Legs.Eleven

I like to be alone or in good company. I'm rarely alone though as I live with my boyfriend and my job requires me to talk to people for 5 hours a day. I go for walks and cycles alone or read a book in a cafe for my own space and I really value it.

Miss Lockhart

Alone definitely. I enjoy "shallow" interactions with people though. My work is very people centred, I'm very chatty and not at all shy. But I want to spend my personal time alone and I find deeper interactions, with family or friends, draining.

anncoates

Both

I live with my wife and kids and I have a lot of friends so while I love that interaction, I also value my - admittedly infrequent - time alone.

Raminahobbin

Alone. I definitely enjoy solitude. I find it pretty stressful being around people all the time, it's draining- but there are a handful of people I don't feel that with.

On nights out, I can be having a ball with everyone and appear extroverted, but SOMETIMES I need to take time out in the bathroom just to have a few minutes peace and quiet and gather myself again.

Galwayguy35

I live alone and I like it that way, I'm a fairly quiet person so it suits to be on my own.

chargerman

Live alone and that suits me. I wouldn't like to go back sharing. But helps to have friends to count on

Agent Coulson

I can feel alone in a room full of people as much as being in the house by myself all depends on how I am feeling at that moment in time.

chappy79x

like everything in life its all about finding the right balance that suits you and the way you want to live your life . As they say , to much of anything can be bad for ya . The only thing about spending to much time on your own is that you could become very inverted , which could lead to feeling lonely and on to feeling depressed . A t the end of the day it is truely only a question you can answer, listen and follow your gut feeling , it won t stear ya too far wrong

The Big Smoke

Fairly introverted, go out on occasion but I do enjoy the company of a girl once in a while. Most of the time I'm on my own though.

Vincent Vega

Alone.
Or with another person if we have something actually worth talking about, and I find their conversations somewhat interesting.
Not big on keeping people around just for the sake of not being alone.

I also like to travel alone. I find i end up meeting more interesting people that way.
On more occasions than not when I've went away with others there has been a conflict of me being too 'explore, and see what I come across and where it takes me' spontaneous approach -vs- their 'plan out specific routes, tick off the boxes' practical approach.

The Backwards Man

Neither.

Ruu

Very much an introvert. I run and exercise a lot but not in any club. I dont like the social thing that comes with exercise or need it. My energy is drained by going out into large groups, would be exhausted when finishing up an evening.

Wattle

Sometimes I'd like more company but I'm totally fine with solitude. Have always been that way since I was a kid. If somebody told me that I'd have to spend the rest of my life alone on a desert island I don't think it would bother me much.

theholyghost

I would consider myself a loner but I find I want to spend more and more time with others. I can't imagine being able to handle a marriage though!

marshbaboon

I usually prefer being around people.

But only because I'm so lonely I wish I was dead.

Maximus Alexander

marshbaboon wrote: »

I usually prefer being around people.

But only because I'm so lonely I wish I was dead.

This is one of the first posts I read today and now I feel really sad.

cashback

I need lots of alone time. I'm definitely an introvert but seem to have managed to fool quite a few people.

I'm currently reading this book which I would say is essential reading for the introverts among us.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quiet-power-introverts-world-talking/dp/0670916765

The author Susan Cain also did a TED talk about the subject lately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQH2U-kmBdY

bnt

When I'm around most people I can't relax - I have to watch what I say and can't really express myself, since I have some opinions that can be hard work for others to follow. I'm not talking about anti-social ideas, bigotry or the like, I mean more philosophical ideas that need a bit of historical context before they become clear.

So I find social occasions a strain, all that small-talk, figuring out what people want to hear so I can tell them, etc. But it's still worth making the effort to socialise, just as long as it doesn't take too long and I can get out before I get too tired, cranky and opinionated!

force eleven

ISTJ

take everything

cashback wrote: »

I need lots of alone time. I'm definitely an introvert but seem to have managed to fool quite a few people.

I'm currently reading this book which I would say is essential reading for the introverts among us.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quiet-power-introverts-world-talking/dp/0670916765

The author Susan Cain also did a TED talk about the subject lately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQH2U-kmBdY

Read that recently.
Interesting woman.

marshbaboon

marshbaboon wrote: »

I usually prefer being around people.

But only because I'm so lonely I wish I was dead.

Find someone you trust, today, and tell them exactly that.

Don't keep that feeling to yourself and it's the first step to getting rid of it. There is a way out of it, even if you can't see it now. Feel better marshbaboon.

krudler

Have a small circle of close friends, plenty of acquaintances from work and other jobs and life in general but most of the time I prefer my own company. My favourite days off are midweek, when everyone is at work or college, and just doing things I enjoy by myself for the day. Love travelling alone too.

bronte

Totally introverted and really value alone time when I have it.
Spending time around certain personality types can drain the life out of me, but thankfully that doesn't happen too frequently.

marshbaboon

Candie wrote: »

Find someone you trust, today, and tell them exactly that.

Don't keep that feeling to yourself and it's the first step to getting rid of it. There is a way out of it, even if you can't see it now. Feel better marshbaboon.

I don't trust anyone. Also I meant to say bread. Damn autocorrect.