7 things that will happen when you disappear for a month to focus on yourself, according to psychology

I’ve always been curious: What would happen if I just vanished for a month to focus on myself?

About 3 years ago, I was a busy bee. As the founder of Hack Spirit and a psychology enthusiast, I was always hustling, barely noticing life passing me by.

My mind was cluttered, my stress levels were through the roof.

So, I took a bold step. I disappeared for a month to focus on myself. And boy, the things that happened.

In this article, I’ll share with you 7 things that will happen when you disappear for a month to focus on yourself, according to psychology.

I hope it inspires you to take that plunge and tune in with yourself.

1) Enhanced self-awareness

When I first disappeared for a month, the initial feeling was, to be honest, a bit disconcerting.

I was used to being constantly connected, always in the middle of the hustle and bustle.

But as the days passed, something interesting happened: I started to become more aware of myself.

Psychology explains this as a natural outcome of solitude. When you remove external stimuli and distractions, you’re left with just your own thoughts and feelings.

You become more attuned to your inner self.

I began to notice patterns in my thoughts and emotions that I had never seen before. I realized that certain things triggered stress or anxiety in me, while others brought me peace and happiness.

This heightened self-awareness was like turning on a light in a previously dark room. I started to understand myself better, which led to greater self-acceptance.

If you choose to take this journey, don’t be surprised if you discover things about yourself that you weren’t aware of before.

Embrace this newfound knowledge – it’s the first step towards genuine self-improvement.

2) Improved focus and productivity

Here’s something I didn’t expect when I took a month off: I became more productive.

I remember one day I decided to clean up an old shed in the backyard. It was a mess – tools scattered everywhere, dust coating every surface.

Normally, I’d procrastinate on a task like this. But with no distractions or pressing engagements, I plunged into the task.

And to my surprise, I found myself engrossed in it. Hours went by unnoticed as I sorted, cleaned, and organized.

By the end of the day, not only was the shed spotless, but I also felt a sense of achievement and satisfaction that was profoundly fulfilling.

This experience taught me that when you remove distractions and really focus on a task, you can achieve a state of ‘flow’ where work becomes enjoyable and productivity skyrockets.

It’s a lesson I’ve carried with me ever since.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by tasks or struggling with productivity, taking some time off to focus on yourself might just be the solution you’re looking for.

3) Enhanced quality of relationships

One of the most surprising outcomes of my month-long retreat was the positive effect it had on my relationships.

I’ll admit I was worried at first. I thought, “Wouldn’t being away for a month strain my relationships? Wouldn’t my friends and family feel ignored?”

But what I found was the opposite.

I had a friend, John, with whom I’d been having some disagreements.

We were always busy, so we never really took the time to talk things out. Our relationship was strained and I felt a growing distance between us.

During my solitude, I had time to reflect on our friendship. I began to see things from John’s perspective and realized where I’d gone wrong.

When I returned, I reached out to John and we had a long, heartfelt conversation.

We cleared up our misunderstandings and our friendship became stronger than ever.

That’s because taking time for self-reflection can improve our relationships.

It allows us to step back, gain perspective, and develop empathy – all key ingredients for healthy relationships.

4) Increased creativity

I’ve always considered myself a creative person, but during my month-long retreat, my creativity seemed to skyrocket.

Suddenly, I was coming up with new ideas for Hack Spirit, doodling in my notebook, even writing poetry – something I hadn’t done since high school!

Curious, I did some research and found that my experience wasn’t unique.

In fact, a study from the University of Kansas found that spending time alone in nature (like I did) can boost creativity by up to 50%.

The researchers believe this is because disconnecting from modern technology and daily distractions allows the mind to relax and think more flexibly.

My personal experience during my retreat certainly aligns with these findings.

With my mind free from the usual noise, I was able to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to problems that had been bothering me.

5) Greater appreciation for life

During my month off, I spent a lot of time in nature. I watched sunrises and sunsets, listened to the birds, and felt the wind on my skin.

In those moments, I felt a profound sense of appreciation for life that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

It might sound cliché, but stepping away from my everyday routine made me realize how much I took for granted.

The simple things that I usually overlooked suddenly seemed incredibly valuable.

I remember one evening, as I watched the sunset paint the sky with shades of red and orange, I was overcome with gratitude. Gratitude for life, for nature, for everything.

This greater appreciation for life didn’t fade away when I returned to my normal routine.

Instead, it made me more aware of the beauty around me and made my everyday experiences richer.

So if you’re feeling jaded or disconnected from life, taking some time off might just help you rediscover the wonder and beauty of existence. It certainly did for me.

6) Increased resilience

When I decided to disappear for a month, I knew it wouldn’t be easy.

But what I didn’t anticipate was how this journey would boost my resilience.

There were tough days during my solitude. Days when I felt lonely or bored, or when the silence seemed too much.

But I learned to sit with these feelings, to accept them without letting them overwhelm me.

I found that accepting my emotions without judgment made me stronger. I was more resilient and better equipped to handle life’s ups and downs.

One example was when I returned to work. The first few days were chaotic and overwhelming. But instead of panicking, I remembered my time in solitude.

I took a few deep breaths, accepted the chaos without judgment, and found that I could handle it much better.

So if you decide to take some time off for yourself, be prepared for some challenging moments.

But it would help to think of these moments as an opportunity to build resilience. They’re a chance to become stronger and more adaptable, just like they were for me.

7) Rediscovered joy in social interactions

Now, this might sound counterintuitive. After all, I was talking about the benefits of solitude, right?

But here’s a surprising effect of my month-long retreat: I started enjoying social interactions more.

During my time alone, I had no social obligations. No small talk, no meetings, no parties.

At first, it felt liberating. But after a while, I started to miss human interaction.

And when I finally returned to society, I found that I enjoyed socializing more than before.

Conversations seemed more engaging, and I was more interested in what others had to say.

Humans are social creatures. We need interaction with others to thrive. My time in solitude made me realize the value of these interactions.

So here’s a practical tip if you’re planning a similar retreat: Don’t cut off all human contact.

Instead, limit your interactions to meaningful conversations.

You might find, like I did, that these interactions become more enjoyable when they’re not an obligation but a choice.

Conclusion

Stepping away from the noise of everyday life to focus on yourself can be a transformative experience, as it was for me.

You gain self-awareness, improve your relationships, and even boost creativity.

But it’s important to remember: this isn’t about escaping from life; it’s about taking the time to understand yourself so that you can engage with life more intentionally and fully.

My advice? Start small. You don’t need to disappear for a month like I did.

Even a weekend of solitude can work wonders.

Disconnect from technology.

Spend time in nature. Allow yourself to be bored.

Listen to your thoughts without judgment. And most importantly, be patient with yourself.

You might be surprised at what you discover when you take the time to really focus on yourself. I know I was.