Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
We are daily bombarded with news, text messages, email, and phone calls. We keep in touch using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and we never miss an update. We envy our friends for their perfect lives, and we pick up the stress from the ones around us. We are always in a rush, constantly striving to accomplish more and become more productive. We do everything faster, we sleep less and work more, and our to-do list seems as if it has no end. It’s nothing wrong with that, but from time to time, we have to allow ourselves to step back, disconnect, and learn to enjoy solitude.
So many people are terrified of being alone because they often time tend to associate solitude with loneliness, sadness, or depression. Being alone feels like a problem that needs to be resolved.
But you need time alone to understand your own value and to discover your strength. It is the only way to know yourself better, to accept, and value yourself for what you really are. From time to time, allow yourself the luxury of thinking about just one thing at the time.
Learn to use your time alone to enjoy your own company. Turn off your phone and eliminate distractions. Relax. Put some music on. Read, journal, pray, meditate, or just chill out. Be comfortable with who you are and what you are.
Being solitary is being alone well: being alone luxuriously immersed in doings of your own choice, aware of the fullness of your own presence rather than of the absence of others. Because solitude is an achievement.
Alice Koller
This is what happens when you embrace solitude:
You relax. Being alone in today’s crazy life is just a great chance to relax. Allow yourself at least 10 minutes of solitude and quietness, and let your mind and your body de-stress and relax. Give your brain the chance to unwind and rest. It’s one of the most nourishing and refreshing gifts you can give to yourself.
You connect with yourself. When you take time to be by yourself, you have the chance to connect with yourself at a deeper level, think clearly, and find your own voice. You allow yourself to balance the positive and negative aspects of your life and to get a deeper insight into what really makes you happy. When you are alone, you can ask questions and find effective solutions for your problems.
You improve your relationships. Solitude can improve the quality of your relationships with others. Find out what you need and what you want from yourself and from the people in your life, and then make better choices about who you want to spend your time with and who you want to be around.
You become more creative and more productive. In solitude, you find time to engage in deep thought, which helps to improve focus and productivity. That makes you more open to new ideas and more creative, allowing inspiration to flow. When you eliminate any distraction and interruption, you are able to focus and get more work done in a shorter amount of time.
You plan for the future and set goals. Check-in with yourself and your desires and write down your goals. Revisit and evaluate old goals and, if they don’t represent you anymore, set new goals and start pursuing new dreams. Make peace with yourself and with life’s many changes.
You develop gratitude and a greater sense of awareness. Solitude helps you appreciate the smallest things that get lost in the routine and rowdiness of daily life.
[Tweet “Solitude reminds us of what is essential to our inner self. #solitude @celebratingsun “]
Here are a few tips on how to find more time for yourself:
- Turn off your phone and TV
- Meditate
- Wake up early in the morning and take advantage of the quiet time when everybody else still sleeps
- Schedule time alone
- Take a long bath
- Enjoy outdoors
- Pray
Solitude reminds us of what is essential to our inner self. It gives us the chance to understand ourselves better, to start seeing the things we’ve missed, to be more balanced, and to become the greatest companions we can be.
Do you like being alone from time to time? Do you, sometimes, seek out solitude?
For more tools and resources on happiness check out my Resources page.
I love my alone time. I find it really frees me mind to connect with myself and find focus of the things I want to accomplish.
Haha! I’m glad I’m not the only one. 🙂
Solitude is as important to me as breathing – can’t live without it! 🙂
Ahhhh, this is so fabulous! I especially love solitude while out in the wild, to totally disconnect and settle my energy. Great post!
Thank you, Kayse! Reconnecting with nature is so refreshing! 🙂
Lovely post Ana. I’ve become really protective of my “alone time”. It’s the only I get to connect with my best friend, me. <3
I love that! “Connecting with your best friend.” Perfect! 🙂
Thanks you sharing Ana. I had to share with my Twitter family. During my depression 2 years ago I cut off social media, changed my number, and started over. I really need a huge detox. I spent A LOT OF TIME with myself in HEALTHY WAY than I ever did before. When life gets hectic I feel the need to have some ME time. 🙂 xo
I’m so glad you liked my post – and thank you for sharing it, Siedah. Solitude is sometimes the best medicine.
You know it’s funny, but I truly relish my time alone, mostly because I have very little of it. There is something quite healing in being able to just focus on my own thoughts for a few minutes 🙂
You are so right, Jenn. Solitude is at the same time healing, nourishing, and refreshing. Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
What a great article. I agree that too many times people are afraid to be alone, but once you learn to be alone, it can be so healthy and rewarding. Can’t wait to share this article with my Facebook and PInterest fans.
Thank you so much, Karen! i’m so glad you like my post. 🙂
Ana, I love this. Before our lives changed drastically a few years ago I didn’t like solitude much. I was never alone. I was either at work, with hundreds of other people, or with my family. I had no idea how much the constant go or the constant need to be “on” was damaging my health. Now I crave solitude, I have learned who I am, what I feel, and really delve deep to a calmness. When things get too busy I can feel myself losing a bit of sanity. Then I go lay down and take time. I really love your tips and I will be following them more, I think that embracing solitude is a lost art, today’s kids don’t really know how to enjoy it, I think that’s why there is so much anxiety in our youth. Sad, isn’t it?
“I think that embracing solitude is a lost art.” How I love that, Niki! I guess we become wiser with age and we start enjoying solitude. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and for your always gracious comments!
I’m an introvert, so these comes naturally to me! The problem is when I can’t find time to be alone.
I’m an introvert too, and I try to spend some time alone from time to time. It just feels good. 🙂
It took me some time, but I’ve finally mastered solitude, and it’s truly the deepest kind of fulfillment to love being alone with myself. I think enjoying our own company makes way for a kind of peace that is palpable to others, and leads to less stress when we get back to the busyness of life.
You are so right! Solitude is the fastest way to recharge our batteries.
Wonderful article. Appreciating solitude calms the mind, makes us wiser in our choices and cuts down the stress of life.
Thank you, Leanna. Solitude is one of the most nourishing and refreshing gifts you can give to yourself.
I am totally one of those people that are terrified of solitude… I hate being alone. I loved reading this post because you’ve made me realize the importance of having some alone time and that I should embrace it like you said! Thanks for sharing<3
xo Nicole
http://www.damatoadventures.blogspot.com
Thanks for stopping by, Nicole. I’m glad you liked reading my post.
I get my solitude by going off to my craft room on the other end of the house. It gives me time to think while doing something that I enjoy. Every couple of weeks I get solitude at work when I am at a different location, and working by myself. I really enjoy that, gives me solitude most of the day.
Spending time in your craft room it’s a great way to be with yourself and your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by, Linda!
Hi Ana, I love my solitude, which is probably why I like living where we do. I find it hard to understand why people feel the need to be so busy or are constantly with others. I get up early to enjoy the peace and quite before the family wake up and I enjoy my morning runs – on my own.
When I am alone I feel totally relaxed. I find being with people tiring, so being alone gives me a chance to recharge my batteries. As you pointed out, being alone allows us to connect with ourselves. I like to be able to hear myself think.
xx
I like that – and it’s so true! “I like to be able to hear myself think.” So nicely said! You live in a beautiful place and reconnecting with nature is a great way to find peace and relax.
Love this! So true – we are lost in our busy lives. We need to de-screen ourselves and get that ‘me’ time to pause and reflect. Thank you for the awesome reminder 🙂
Embracing solitude is incredibly nourishing and it allows us to unwind and relax. Thanks for stopping by.
What a great reminder. I need alone time every day or I get pretty cranky. I don’t know how people can be so connected all the time without going a bit nuts, actually!
As an introvert, I THRIVE on solitude – I love it. It recharges me and calms me. However, I’ve gotten in the habit of using my time alone for activities that aren’t all that relaxing, like spending extra time working on my blog and watching t.v. for hours on end.
Your tips on how to find more time for yourself are really helpful for me as I’m trying to find that peaceful place of solitude again.
Love this post, Ana!
I don’t know why so many people dislike being alone these days. I NEED some solitude every day or I get grumpy. Waking up early would be a great way to get that in from the start. If only it weren’t so difficult! Thanks for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
I know what you mean about waking up early – it’s not easy at all. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, and once you get used to it, it doesn’t seem that difficult.
If you haven’t already read it, I think you would enjoy ‘ A Book of Silence, by Sarah Maitland.