24 Hrs of Solitude - a scientific perspective

[Wallenstein]

Interesting article from a book I read recently.

A 24-hour period of absolute solitude

Our brains are constantly subjected to the demands of multi-tasking and a seemingly endless cacophony of information from diverse sources. [...]

My dangerous idea is that what's needed to attain optimal brain performance — with or without prior brain exercise — is a 24-hour period of absolute solitude. By absolute solitude I mean no verbal interactions of any kind (written or spoken, live or recorded) with another human being. I would venture that a significantly higher proportion of people reading these words have tried skydiving than experienced one day of absolute solitude.
What to do to fill the waking hours? That's a question that each person would need to answer for him/herself. Unless you've spent time in a monastery or in solitary confinement it's unlikely that you've had to deal with this issue. The only activity not proscribed is thinking. Imagine if everyone in this country had the opportunity to do nothing but engage in uninterrupted thought for one full day a year!
[cont]

Leo Chalupa:
http://www.edge.org/q2006/q06_12.html
(scroll down 2/3 of the page)

I know that a solitary bimble in the hills - even if it's just for an afternoon - can help refresh my brain and makes me feel like a new person.

I guess many cultures have encouraged people to take time in silence and solitude, but it's definately been lost these days!

 

[BigShot]

Thanks for posting that Quote.
Might have to give it a go.

 

[robin wood]

I led a conservation volunteer holiday in the US in the 80s with a friend, a 6 week experience for 16 year olds camping and working on the Appalacian Trail. 3 weeks in we offered them the opportunity to do a "solo". We helped each of them find an isolated spot where they set up camp and stayed alone for 24 hours. It was clearly a very very powerful experience for them, I was surprised.

Longest I have done was 5 days based in a cave on top of Yonah Mountain in Georgia. I did have a bunch of good books and was very happy up there but I do remember how strange it felt when I first spoke to somebody afterward.

 

[John Fenna]

I used to hit the hills solo for multiple days, I still do on the rare occassion - and have found it very benificial!
When my mother died I hit the hills for a 3 day period and came down with my mind sorted out after this event.
A good solo is an effective way of getting your head unbent!

 

[Shewie]

Yep there`s nothing better than heading off on your own for a few days p & q to sort your head out.

I quite often get a 24hr silence from the wife if I`ve done something wrong, I call it the broken telly treatment, picture but no sound

 

[wicca]

Just another evening of 30 such sunsets for me, crossing the Atlantic alone. Just the sound of the sea, the wind and the creak of her rig running down the Trade Wind to Martinique. I am addicted to the isolation and solitude to be honest with you. I love the woods, the wildlife and everything natural ashore but I've been home in UK now for 17 months and I am desperate for the silence and long horizons of the open ocean again. Company and modern life is fine, but only in very small doses, at least for me anyway.
Roll on June..

 

[moab]

After spending the week paddling and camping in Utah we (me and SWMBO) were due to be picked up by boat, we had enjoyed a fantastic time and glimpsed only a couple of other people the entire week. At the pick up point we met another couple who had also enjoyed the relative solitude (but not complete isolation from other humans) and we chatted for half an hour before the boat turned up, feeling nice and relaxed. As the boat came round the corner we could hear this deafining conversation peaking above the power of the jet boat. As the boat came to a stop it was filled with about 25 people chattering at high speed in loud voices. They welcomed us aboard and were very friendly, although the pace and pitch of the conversation did not stop for the following two hours!!
Towards the end of the boat ride back to "civilisation" the group told us that they had been on a silent retreat for the week - I'm sure it did them a lot of good but I was less than relaxed when I got back ( i think they filled the boat ride back with a normal weeks chatter).
After that experience I'm not convinced about extended solitude

 

[BigShot]

Wicca - consider this post a formal declaration of turning green with envy!

It's been a dream of mine to go sailing on my own for quite a long time now.
I'm probably going to start off with a Corribee* and after getting used to her in the waters around the British Isles, sail to Iceland. I'm not entirely sure why, but I have a very strong urge to make that crossing.

After that, the Atlantic, the Med (I also want to sail to Israel) and eventually the big one around the other side.

I have to ask... have you seen the green flash?

I'll be going on a couple of RYA yacht courses this year.



* Unless there's something more suitable for a roughly similar price, I'm not (unfortunately) made of money. I don't expect to circumnavigate in something so small, but at least it'll be a start and should be suitable for the Iceland crossing.


Anyway - it's not a sailing thread so best we take it to PM or another thread!

 

[Tengu]

Being on your owns no big deal; I have done it for up to a week at a time.

To be honest, I didnt notice anything at all, other people dont exactly register on my brain so I dont miss them.

But I did notice the silence due to the lack of cars when I went over the downs in the snow a few weeks ago.

 

[Husky]

Wicca - consider this post a formal declaration of turning green with envy!

I absolutely second that and would love to hear your story!

 

[sandbender]

I managed twenty one days in Greece a few years ago and was having in depth conversations with myself by day nine.

 

[wicca]

Husky, I always get an uncomfortable feeling when I listen to people saying " I did this, then I did that...then I went..then I decided....I..I..I gets boring after a while, but I have no option, I sail alone always, and so people would quickly drop off to sleep on this, a Bushcraft forum.
I have some photos of my last voyage, I'll dig them out sometime and post them with a big warning notice so they are easy to avoid..How's that??

 

[Husky]

Sounds great!
(I have a couple of feet of my bookshelf filled with sailingstories!)

 

[Wild Thing]

I love nothing better than to grab my bag and bug out for a day or two.

My wife's not the problem as over the years she has learned to give me space, but my kids haven't caught on yet and drive me mad with the constant tele or computer or the inevitable arguments.

After a day or two away though, I can take the pace of family life again for a while.

Don't get me wrong, I love my family, but I have always been the knid of guy that needs to be on his own from time to time.

Phill

 

[Shewie]

I love nothing better than to grab my bag and bug out for a day or two.

My wife's not the problem as over the years she has learned to give me space, but my kids haven't caught on yet and drive me mad with the constant tele or computer or the inevitable arguments.

After a day or two away though, I can take the pace of family life again for a while.

Don't get me wrong, I love my family, but I have always been the knid of guy that needs to be on his own from time to time.

Phill

That`s how things have turned out for me too, minus the kids.

SWMBO`s kind of got used to me wanting to get away from things for a few days now and then. I got all the strange questions at the beginning but then she got used to it eventually. Everybody needs some me time now and then, it`s good for the soul.

 

[BOD]

Oh God wicca, why did you post that photo?

I sold my boat when we moved to this land locked hell.

My boat used to be my refuge. Alone in a boat in a good anchorage is heaven.

Now I am reminded that most days I am a prisoner in a city.

Only have done 3 days of solitude unless you couunt pelicans and gulls.

 

[wicca]

Poor Bod! A city, and away from the sea is a double punishment..

 

[Deleted dude 7861]

I get too much solitude mainly because I'm billy-no-mates and been single for 5 years . I guess I think nothing of 2 weeks solitude up in the hills when I go to the Highlands/Skye. I can regularly go a week without talking to anyone except ppl from work 24 hour solitude is easy I just stay in bed on a saturday

 

[drewdunnrespect]

now sailing thats what i call heaven and well thats on dingys but plan on learning onj yatchs as soon as money is available

 

[jojo]

Wicca, is that a steel boat you've got in that pic? And did you build her yourself? And what's going to happen in June? I know, I am nosey...