A new study suggests that spending time alone in nature may help reduce feelings of loneliness, even though it sounds counterintuitive. The research, published in Health and Place, found that time spent on or along a lake was linked to lower loneliness. Social interaction was not the main reason. Instead, feeling connected to nature and emotionally attached to a specific place were the factors most strongly tied to reduced loneliness. Doing those activities alone appeared to strengthen the effect even more.
What the research found
Researchers in Norway surveyed 2,544 residents living along the country’s largest lake. Participants reported how often they walked along the shore, swam, paddled, and fished, and how often they did those activities alone. The study measured loneliness in three ways. Connectedness to nature, described as a sense of kinship with animals, plants, and the living world, showed the strongest link to lower loneliness across all measures. Attachment to the lake as a specific place was also linked to reduced loneliness, especially the type related to feeling disconnected from a broader community.
Not every activity had the same effect. Walking along the shore, enjoying life by the water, and walking on the ice showed the strongest ties to feeling connected to nature. Exercising along the shore had the weakest association. Researchers suggest this may be because attention is directed differently. Activities that involve sensory noticing and aesthetic appreciation appear to deepen the bond with nature, while exercise-focused activity tends not to.
Why nature helps us feel more connected
The researchers point to two types of connection. Internal connection: solitude gives people mental space to turn attention outward toward the environment rather than inward toward conversation or distraction. This can support reflection, mental clarity, and emotional regulation. External connection: feeling emotionally bonded to a place, whether a lake, a trail, or a park bench, creates a sense of belonging that does not depend on other people being present. This helps explain why the effect was stronger when people did lake activities alone. Without the social component, there is more room for a felt sense of oneness with nature to emerge.
Solitude vs. isolation
Solitude is chosen and restorative. Isolation is unwanted and feels painful. The researchers note that too much or too little time alone can be harmful. The finding does not mean isolating oneself in nature is a reliable path to well-being. It means that intentional solo time outdoors, when paying attention to surroundings, may help ease feelings of disconnection. The study is observational and cannot prove cause and effect. Lonelier people may actively seek out nature to compensate for unmet social needs.
How to put this into practice
Start small. A 20-minute walk in a green space or by water can be enough to shift attention outward. Go alone on purpose. Treat solo time as an intentional practice, not just a fallback. Pay attention. Activities involving sensory noticing, such as looking at water, listening to birds, or feeling the air, deepen connection more than exercise-focused activity. Leave the podcast at home occasionally. Find a place that resonates. Place attachment was a key factor. Returning to the same trail, park, or shoreline can build an emotional bond over time. Be honest about what you need. If feeling isolated and craving human connection, solo nature time is not a substitute. But if feeling overstimulated or disconnected from oneself, it might help.
The takeaway
Loneliness is recognized as a major public health concern, but solutions are not always accessible. This research points to a simple tool: intentional solo time outdoors. The goal is not to isolate more, but to be more intentional about how and where one spends time alone. For anyone balancing a busy schedule, stepping outside, even by oneself, is not avoidance. It may be one of the most restorative things a person can do.
