Three weeks ago, I wrote an article about my first semester of college, a reflection on embracing all the changes in my life that have occurred since I arrived on campus as a college freshman. But besides the whole leaving-home-and-living-alone thing, one of the many drastic differences I’ve noticed about college life is the entire social aspect of it. Part of it is definitely a proximity thing (I mean, when your friends live just down the hall of your dorm or in the building next to you, it’s kind of hard not to have daily movie nights), but another part of it probably has something to do with the higher degree of independence and freedom we get with how we spend our time.

Whatever the reason, it’s not really surprising that college life definitely has a more socially rich environment than we’re used to, what with all the various student life opportunities, spending most of your time on a college campus and the whole living-with-your-friends situation. It’s definitely one of the best things about college—but in some ways, it can be the worst.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the college social scene. In fact, it’s one of my favorite changes that’s happened in my life lately, and as someone who’s always identified as an introvert, the rich social lifestyle of college has definitely allowed me to become a lot more socially engaged—if not more extroverted, even—and has ultimately helped me see the value in social interactions with a variety of different people. But with all the time I’ve been spending meeting new people and bonding with new friends lately, I’ve discovered that I’ve often forgotten the importance of just spending time alone sometimes—and the various benefits that we all can receive from it.

Of course, in a world becoming increasingly fast-paced (and a bit socially invasive, to say the least), it’s a lot harder to come by some quality "me time" — and I mean without any social or technological distractions at all. In a society where “being connected” is a pervasive norm, sometimes there’s even a certain stigma against doing certain things alone, what with the fear of being labeled "antisocial" or a “loner.” But why is being by yourself considered such a bad thing in the first place?

An emerging body of research is actually suggesting that spending time alone can be good for us—that certain tasks are best carried out without anyone else around, and that regularly taking time to ourselves is essential for enhanced creative thinking as well as the ability to focus and concentrate.

In fact, solitude has long been linked with creativity, spirituality and intellectual might throughout human history, and when we really consider the effects of spending time alone, we can see that it allows for an opportunity for inner reflection, self-discovery, and new perspectives. Indeed, in this socially-driven world that’s increasingly emphasizing the importance of extraversion skills and interacting with others, the recharging effects of spending time alone—not to mention the creativity-fueling as well as the healing impacts of it—seem just as crucial.

So it’s time to end that stigma against being alone, and realize that there is so much value in just taking a little time out of your day to just be by yourself. When we consider the benefits of alone time, it’s crucial to realize that being “alone” is not the same thing as being “lonely.”

While it's still incredibly important to spend quality time with your friends and family (humans are very much social beings, after all), I also think that we often need time to step back from this fast-paced world of ultra-connectedness—even if it's just for a moment—to really consider the power of solitude. Constant interaction can be a little mentally draining, after all, and it's often incredibly nice (not to mention very healthy and beneficial for your well-being) to just take a break from the world—and invest time, even just for a little while, in a little quality "me time."