This story was originally published in The Highlight , Vox’s member-exclusive magazine. To get access to member-exclusive stories every month, become a Vox Member today . On any given Saturday, you might find Morgan Quinn Ross , an assistant professor of emerging media and technology at Oregon State University, deep in the mountainous woods, sans phone, on a solo run. “People generally know that I do it, so if I die, I would like to think that they would find me eventually,” Ross tells Vox. “But I find that really restorative. I find that it’s really helpful just to check back in with myself after the week and really appreciate nature.” After conducting multiple studies on solitude , he’s come to consider this form of alone time — one completely removed from human contact — a way of being “attuned to the self.” During the week, Ross trains with a run club, but Saturdays are for him; they’re his opportunity to reflect.…