Your brain has a break to rest and reboot. You are more capable of being productive. You learn more about yourself during moments of solitude. You have a better opportunity to problem-solve and weigh your options. You have an improved perception of yourself and therefore choose more healthy relationships.
If you are always surrounded by others, simply schedule in about 30 minutes of solitude each day for a week. You might choose to drive or walk to work on your own instead of joining someone else. You might go for a hike alone or visit the beach on your own. Just commit to doing a short, 30-minute activity without anyone else present or demanding your attention. Take notes on the experience. Was it better than you anticipated? Were you bored? Why? Write down as many details as possible to better understand your aversion to being alone.
For example, if you have to stay home on your own for a weekend, you could rent some cool movies, plan to do a creative project, or complete schoolwork during your alone time. To keep your energy revved, gather fun music, books, and other tools to make the time less boring. Preparing for moments of solitude can make the difference between the time dragging by and going by more quickly. Simply fill the hours with things you already love to do.
Being alone is a great time to brainstorm a new business idea, write a novel, develop a new song, make pottery, improve your photography skills, and so on. Even if you do not work in an obvious creative field, you can still benefit from this creativity boost.
Solo activities cover the full spectrum of hobbies. You can go for a hike, read a book, visit a museum, or shop at a flea market. [7] X Research source
Self-care activities can be anything you enjoy doing that restores you. It could be meditating in the mornings before starting your daily routine. It could be relaxing in a hot bath after a long day of work. Choose a few activities that you find soothing and do them during your alone time each week. You might find, after doing this for a few days/weeks, that you have actually come to like solitude!
Spend a few minutes of your solitude jotting down a couple of things/people/opportunities you have to be thankful for. They can be a simple as having a bed to sleep in or a moment to yourself.
Since solitude boosts concentration and productivity, this a wonderful time to plan out your goals and figure out a method for reaching them. Just be sure to develop SMART goals. These are goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-dependent. [10] X Research source Get a notebook and jot down some major goals and add in actions you can take to accomplish them. If you have really large goals, you may need to create smaller goals to move towards before reaching the primary one. For example, if you would like to move to Spain, you might have smaller goals like saving money, finding a job, and learning Spanish.
Spirituality will mean different things to different people, but it tends to refer to a connectedness with one’s inner self—a process that can only be achieved when alone. Use this time to meditate, practice yoga, pray, or reflect in nature for great spiritual understanding. [12] X Research source
In addition to boosting your mood, exercise also enhances energy, fights disease, improves sleep quality, and helps you manage weight. Go for a walk/run with your dog. Hike through the local woods. Ride your bike to the farmer’s market on weekends. [13] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Just keep your naps to a short period of time (say, 20-30 minutes) and several hours before you were planning to go to bed at night. [14] X Research source
Be mindful that downtime can be incredibly positive when it is used for self-soothing and restoring activities. However, if you are using your downtime for mindless activities or distractions, you could be adding to your stress rather than relieving it. Assess the things you do during alone time and see if they have a positive benefit or are simply distractions until you are around others again. [16] X Research source
