Even the most outgoing person in the world needs some time to themselves every once in awhile. Whether you’re the ultimate extrovert, mostly introverted, or something in between - a little alone time here and there can make you a happier person. While surrounding yourself with people who lift you up is great and certainly essential, there are also many benefits to enjoying some time with yourself. So set aside some solo time, take a weekend trip, or treat yourself to a delicious lunch - no plus one necessary. Here’s why:

Balancing friends, a job, family members, and daily obligations is a challenge and takes a lot of energy. No one can be “on” at all times. Give yourself your full attention every once in awhile to recharge. Do that thing you love and wish you had all the time in the world for. By the end, you’ll feel like a brand spanking new person, and all that extra energy will also be a benefit to the people around you.

Sometimes life can get a little hectic and with a busy schedule it’s even more important to set some time aside for yourself to enable you to think about what’s going on with you, your relationships, upcoming events, or even processing something that happened the week before. Having a little break here and there will help even the most social people to figure out where they’re at in life and give you that much-needed time to reflect and grow as a person.

Time to make yourself a priority and embrace your independence. Consider following this wise advice from Destiny’s Child (in moderation, of course); Do what you want, live how you wanna live, buy your own diamonds (or cubic zirconia), and pay your own bills. This doesn't mean disregarding other people, but doing things on your will teach you that you don't have to depend on others all the time. You start relying on yourself and trusting in your ability to get by on your own - and that’s worth more than a few diamonds. Discovering your own abilities will give you a strong sense of independence. 

Once you've made that step into independence, you will find that sometimes, you need to make decisions without getting input from others. Although it’s scary to make a move without consulting everyone you know and that random person on the street, it also makes stronger as you learn to trust your own instincts. Developing your own opinions only clarifies who you are, what you want, and how to listen to your gut.

Think too many cooks in the kitchen. The same is true for when you’re trying to focus on a task and you’re distracted by what’s going on around you or who you’re with. With no one but yourself to keep you company, you’re able to develop your own ideas and implement them exactly how you want. Getting to know your own strenghts will also make you a better team player, since you know exactly what you can bring to the table.

A little time away from those we love can be a good thing. Some solitude could be just what’s needed to make you appreciate the positive impact of the people in your life and return to them happier, more energized, and certainly more attentive. Basically everyone comes out a winner.

This article originally appeared on Goodnet and is republished here with permission.