10 Reasons To Spend More Time Alone
It is so easy to get caught up in social media, work and family obligations that we don’t take the time to spend more personal time alone. We often forget how important it is for our well-being. Being alone is beneficial not only from an emotional perspective- but also from a mental one as well. There is a delicate balance between being available for everyone else and taking care of one’s own needs. To ensure that the latter happens, it can be helpful to establish boundaries by spending personal time alone. To explore this idea further, we’ll look at 9 reasons to spend more time alone.
Reason #1: It gives you the space to recharge so you can return to your daily roles in full capacity.
When you think of the word “alone,” what is your first thought? Is it that feeling of solace and peace, or loneliness and isolation? The truth is that solitude can be a good thing. It gives you the space to recharge so you can return to your daily roles in full capacity.
Being around other people can be very draining- especially for introverts. Indulging in small-talk, providing customer service, communicating with colleagues and just showing up in life all require effort. Naturally, you will need a break to recharge and avoid overwhelming yourself and your well-being. It’s easy to get caught up in the hectic pace of life and forget what it feels like when you’re more at peace, but spending time by yourself can help you to have a better balance in your life.
One of the reasons that people are so reluctant to spend time alone is because they feel like it means a lack of fulfillment or happiness. But this couldn’t be further from the truth! Spending some personal time with oneself is a sign of emotional maturity. It can also give you an opportunity for introspection and self-reflection, which in turn helps you grow as a person. There’s no better way to reconnect than by spending quality time with nobody else but YOURSELF. Only when you are fulfilled within are you truly able to fulfill your roles, responsibilities and obligations to others.
Reason #2: Being alone creates space for unobstructed creativity & flow
Spending time alone gives you space to explore your own interests without worrying about what other people think. It can be easy to become swayed by the opinions of others. But the best ideas and perspectives come from what YOU want, not what others think is best. Worrying about what others think can limit your creativity, and make it hard to focus on anything. But when you’re alone, there are no external distractions or opinions that will get in the way of your creativity flow. It’s YOUR time for self-exploration, and it should be honored as such.
Activities to help stimulate creativity & flow when spending time alone:
*Dancing
*Writing
*Singing
*Playing a musical instrument
*Reading
*Listening to music
*Listening to motivational talks/speeches
*Drawing
*Exercising
Reason #3: It helps you to keep your personal autonomy
When we spend time with people who are like ourselves it’s easy to feel at home in their company. But when we spend time around those of different backgrounds or beliefs, our sense of self can be challenged which often leads into a new discovery about oneself. Spending some personal time alone allows us an opportunity for introspection without judgmental interruption. After all, we all have our OWN lives to live, and our own paths to take. But it can be really difficult to build personal autonomy and live an authentic life when you are too consumed with the perspective of others. This is another reason why it’s so important to spend more time alone.
3 Ways to build personal autonomy by spending time alone:
- Begin a new hobby.
- Develop a new skill.
- Create your own space for creativity and play.
Reason #4: Personal time creates space for personal reflection and development
Our schedules and obligations can have an adverse effect on the time we need to spend with ourselves. Sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough hours in a day, or minutes in an hour for some people to do what they want without feeling rushed. But when you take that personal time for yourself, it creates space for self-reflection which is really important if you want to grow as person. Personal development, or figuring out who you are and what you want to be in life, is hard without self-awareness.
To be more aware of who you are, spend more time by yourself. When you spend time alone, it will help you understand things that are important in your life. It also helps you figure out what your ‘why’ is. Understanding yourself better can lead to personal development. It means that you will learn more about why you do things and what is important to you. It also will help you figure out who you are as person.
Self-reflection and development questions to ask yourself when spending time alone:
- Why do I do the things I do?
- Am I happy?
- What makes me unhappy?
- Why do I feel the way that I feel?
- Why do my feelings change so much?
Reason #5: Strengthens your sense of independence
There are many benefits to having a large support system in your life. But it is equally beneficial to spend more time alone in order to strengthen your sense of personal independence. The idea of being completely on your own can be scary. But it is also empowering to know that you are fully self-sufficient and capable enough to take care of yourself without the help or interference from others.
You should feel confident being alone in your own company. And when it’s time for relationships, you can appreciate the benefits rather than depend on them as a necessity. You will have an easier time understanding what other people are going through because of your own personal experience with independence. Building a strong sense of independence makes all those difficult choices in life much clearer and manageable. It also helps you to get clear on your vision for yourself and to set goals instead of just dreaming about them.
Questions to reflect on your personal independence when spending more time alone:
- What is important to me?
- What matters most?
- Where should I go or live?
- Do I have healthy relationships with others?
- Who should my friends be?
- What do I need to improve?
- How can I improve?
These questions may seem overwhelming at first but they become more clear over time if you spend some quality, meaningful moments by yourself reflecting on them.
Reason #6: It gives you the space to help you better control your emotions
There are many situations in life that will cause you to feel negative emotions like anger, sadness or fear. Learning the skills of emotional self-control and management can be challenging but it becomes easier with time if you practice these skills when your moods are more stable and positive. Spending some personal time alone each day is a great way to build this skill up over time without any pressure of other people around who might make things worse.
The most difficult personal growth work is done inside our own minds. Personal time alone allows us to watch ourselves think, feel and react from a neutral space where there are no distractions or other people’s opinions to get in the way. This makes it possible for us to see how we might be at fault in some situations- as well as understand patterns that may not have been clear before. If you spend some time each day by yourself without distraction then this increases the odds of being able to make better decisions about the way you handle your emotions and the way you react to emotional situations in life.
Click here if you’d like to read the blog post where I give 4 Tips To Help You Manage Your Emotions During Stressful Situations.
Practice this “Breath Awareness” exercise to learn how to manage and control your emotions:
- Take a few moments to find a comfortable seating position, or find a place to lay down comfortably (grab a blanket if needed).
- Place one hand on your belly, and the other hand on your chest.
3. Breathe normally, acknowledging each inhale/exhale
4. Notice the way your chest rises with each inhale
5. Acknowledge the sensation in your belly with each exhale
6. Feel your heartbeat through your belly
Reason #7: Spending Personal Time Alone Increases Self Awareness
Being a person who understands oneself is important because the more we know about ourselves, the better chance we have at understanding how other people feel & react- which reduces conflict with them. When someone has low levels of self awareness they might not be able to see things from another person’s perspective- which prevents empathy (not being able to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes) and often leads to conflict.
When you’re alone, there are no distractions to get in your way when it comes to accepting yourself. You can take this opportunity to explore who you truly are on a deeper level. When we feel totally at peace with ourselves, anything is possible because our fears don’t hold us back anymore. Releasing sadness or regret is also easier during personal times alone as well. We often attach our emotions from negative moments into other aspects of our lives – even if those moments were years ago. So being able to be mindful about how they affect us now allows us an important step towards letting them go forever.
Reason #8: It leaves room for mindful moments & more personal peak experiences
Peak experiences can be defined as moments of intense happiness, insight or creativity. Some people call them epiphanies because they’re so powerful and can change your life for good. Peak experiences often result in a sense universal connection and lead to a sense of “life’s meaning.” Peak experiences are often experienced alone, but this can result in a lot of personal growth and self-actualization.
Activities related to peak experiences when spending time alone:
*Take a walk
*Spend time near a lake/ocean
*Practice yoga
*Look at the stars or the moon
*Drink tea
*Meditate
*Spend time in nature
*Journaling
Reason #9: You have more time to focus on your personal interests & hobbies
Stress is a part of life, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many ways that you can manage your emotions and reduce the amount of stress in your life. One way to do this is by spending some personal time alone practicing a hobby. We all have things we’d like to do and try. Passion projects and hobbies are sometimes what can make a tough life- one that’s fulfilling and happy. In this day and age, it’s important to find some time for personal interests, no matter what they are. So spend some time alone and find a hobby that you enjoy and create a weekly ritual for yourself. Allowing yourself the opportunity to relax and indulge in something you enjoy can lead you into an overall happier life.
Reason #10: Being alone will help you learn to practice self-love
One of the most critical pieces of self-care is taking time for ourselves. We often feel guilty when we do things that are good for us, like going on vacation or spending alone time with our partner. But it can be really important to make sure you’re giving your body and mind the much needed attention they deserve. Spend an evening indulging in a hobby, learning something new (or old) or just doing whatever makes you feel fulfilled. As you spend more time alone you’ll find yourself asking questions like: “What are some ways that I can love on myself today? What is one actionable way to implement self-love into my day?” Take note of these questions and answers as you explore what it means to love on yourself.
Ten ways to spend more time alone and practice self-love:
- Journaling your thoughts/emotions
- Take a bath
- Give yourself an at-home facial
- Speak positive affirmations to yourself
- Dress up without reason
- Wear perfume/oil
- Put on lotion after your shower
- Buy yourself flowers
- Listen to guided meditations for self-love
- Clean up your home
Conclusion Paragraph: It’s time. The best way to protect yourself and others is by investing in your own well-being. If we are not happy inside ourselves, then how could we be present in our relationships? If you want to show up for the people who are most important to you but don’t know how, then start with taking care of YOU first! It all starts with a self-care practice. You need to take care of yourself before you can start taking care of others, and that starts with spending quality time alone. In order to show up for your family, friends and community (and also just so you’re able to do those things), make sure you have taken care of yourself first by investing in your own well-being through a self-care practice like meditation. Are you ready to begin living a more mindful life? Check out this Free Meditation 101 Guide on how to get started!
Are you ready to begin living a more mindful life? Check out this Free Meditation 101 Guide on how to get started!
Snowi Lee, Founder of Poetic Touch Therapy and The Haven Sisterhood & Self-Published Author
Hello Queen!!
My name is Snowi. I’m an Author, Spiritual Advisor & Self-Discovery Coach.
I help women along the journey of self-discovery through self love. My divine mission is to help women to discover happier, healthier and calmer versions of themselves. It’s my absolute honor to serve you. 🙏🏽♥️💫
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