Did you know being comfortable alone is a sign of healthy self-esteem?
We live in a world of constant contact—a place that’s losing sight of the importance of being alone.
When around others, even when you don't realize it, you monitor people's reactions in order to gauge the appropriateness of your own feelings and actions.
Solitude helps you regulate your emotions and has a calming effect that prepares you to better engage with others.
It increases your emotional intelligence and Self-awareness. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships.
Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence, and you can’t increase your EQ without it. Since self-awareness requires understanding your emotions and how you react to various people and situations, this necessitates careful self-reflection, and self-reflection happens best when you’re alone.
Solitude is a time for reflection, for thinking about things more deeply. In a world increasingly focused on speed and competitiveness, solitude is precious and something to be treasured.
One of the greatest benefits of spending time alone is how it helps you develop a better understanding of who you are. The more you know and understand yourself the more likely you are to do things that you love, learn things that interest you and spend time with people who make you feel good.
You don't need to set aside big blocks of time to be by yourself in order to benefit from solitude. Just twenty minutes of alone time each day is enough to help you rejuvenate from the daily grind.
If you think you don't have time to sit quietly and think, you probably need alone time more than ever. The busier you are, the more likely you are to benefit from some quiet time.
Here are the top 16 ways to help you develop spending time alone, building your Emotional Intelligence and start cultivating the practice of being self-aware.
1. Read a book or listen to an audiobook.
2. Write in a journal or start a blog.
3. Take a walk or go for a hike.
4. Watch a movie or binge-watch a TV show.
5. Exercise or practice yoga.
6. Cook a meal or try a new recipe.
7. Meditate or practice mindfulness.
8. Learn a new skill or take an online course.
9. Listen to music or create a playlist.
10. Do a puzzle or play a board game.
11. Paint, draw, or do other creative activities.
12. Declutter your space or organize your belongings.
13. Take a relaxing bath or shower.
14. Visit a museum or art gallery.
15. Volunteer or do a good deed for someone else.
16. Reflect on your goals and priorities.
Whether you decide to meditate, write in a journal, or take a hike in nature, it's up to you. But, whatever you do, silence your electronics and allow yourself to be alone with your thoughts.
Then use one of the top 16 ways to spend time alone and set aside twenty minutes every day to be alone with your thoughts and watch what happens.
If you're not used to solitude, the silence and lack of activity can feel uncomfortable at first. But, setting aside time to be alone is an essential component of building mental strength and living a rich and full life.
Lean into it and schedule an activity to do by yourself once a month. For example, go to dinner alone, take a long walk by yourself, or engage in an activity that you enjoy.
Emily Roberts, a psychotherapist said, “ Choosing to spend time doing things by yourself can have mental, emotional and social benefits, but the key to reaping those positive rewards comes from choosing to spend time alone”.
One of the benefits of spending time alone is it boosts your self-esteem. Enjoying your own company is a huge confidence booster. If you’re bored and restless when you’re by yourself, it’s easy to start thinking that you’re boring or that you need other people around to enjoy yourself. Learning to enjoy time alone boosts your self-esteem by confirming that you are enough.
This week choose one of the top 16 ways to spend time alone: You may find that it’s a lot more enjoyable than you thought and gaining this deeper understanding of yourself will help you in all facets of your life. And not only for yourself, but for others as well. The better you know yourself, the better you are able to be a partner, friend, and person in all other relationships.
I trust you have learned that being alone helps you form a clear understanding of who you are, what you know, and what's right for you. The ability to process your wants, needs, desires and express your boundaries is improved by getting better at identifying moments when you need solitude to recharge, reflect and trust yourself.
Much love,
Vanessa
Every Wednesday I post a new blog regarding life, relationships, the wheel of life and self-mastery.
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This is so true as we are too connected to phones, tablets, computers etc and just being alone is not enough as you are running from yourself essentially I guess. Self reflection and learning about ways to surprise your self when you choose to spend time in your own company is rewarding. Thanks Vanessa for the tips. Will try them out. Ronah
This is so true as we are too connected to phones, tablets, computers etc and just being alone is not enough as you are running from yourself essentially I guess. Self reflection and learning about ways to surprise your self when you choose to spend time in your own company is rewarding. Thanks Vanessa for the tips. Will try them out. Ronah