‘A gift’: Robert J. Coplan discusses solitude in new book

Ian White speaks with Robert Coplan, author of The Joy of Solitude, a book about reconnecting with yourself.

Solitude should not be synonymous with loneliness, according to an expert in the field.

“We can also experience solitude as a gift, as a reward – particularly when we choose to go there, when we choose to spend time in solitude, when we take some me time. It has a lot of good things to offer us,” Robert J. Coplan told CTV News.

Coplan, a psychology professor at Carleton University, is the author of The Joy of Solitude: How to Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World.

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He recommends disconnecting from social media when you seek to recharge your batteries with solitude, although music and meditation apps on your phone could be helpful.

When asked about Calgary’s first forest bathing trail, he admits he’s a fan.

“When we’re in nature, our breath slows down, our heart rate slows down, we get a chance to feel relaxed because we get a break from the constant input that the city has to offer us,” Coplan says.