It enhances our inner awareness and creativity. When you allow yourself quiet alone time, you reactivate certain areas of the brain that enhance creativity. You can delve deeper into your thoughts, contemplate and develop new ideas. Having quiet time gives your brain a reboot. With so much information coming in, you sometimes do not give yourself enough down time to fully process the information you have received. To function at your optimum level, your brain needs to have time to rest. This is the same for your body as well. Alone time allows you the opportunity to have inner self-reflection. A time to get to know who you are, and to be comfortable with that. What you like or dislike without being influenced by the external activity of life and people. Alone time may even give you the opportunity to reflect on varying issues or concerns in your life to help you solve problems. Being consistent with having alone time frequently will enable you to feel more confident and less dependent on others. You may increase your comfortableness in your own skin, making it easier for you to meet new people and develop long-lasting and healthy relationships.
You can also leave your home to find someplace to be alone, such as a garden, park, local library, small café, or art gallery.
Be sure to be direct and honest about your need for alone time. For example, you might say something like, “For my own well-being, I need to have at least a few hours to myself every night. Please don’t disturb me when I am in my room. ” If someone invites you to do something with them, then you might say, “Thanks for the invitation, but I am not up to it right now. ”
The people in your life will also benefit from your alone time. You will be happier and more enjoyable to be around. So don’t feel too guilty about it. [6] X Expert Source Jennifer Butler, MSWLove & Empowerment Coach Expert Interview. 2 September 2020. To overcome the guilt, try remembering how much more energized you feel after you’ve had some time to yourself. This is something you need that makes your life better. Or you can try thinking about all the things that you DO accomplish each day. Make a list if it helps you visualize all you do. This should help you feel less guilty about taking a few moments for yourself.
You could put a sign on the door saying “Do Not Disturb” or “Gran’s Quiet Time” or “Studying, Don’t Interrupt. "
Try saying something like, “You know I love you, but sometimes I just need a little time to myself so that I can clear my head. ” Or, “When I have a little bit of alone time, it helps me get things done faster so we can enjoy our time together more. ” It’s a good idea to remind others that “alone time” is good for them too, and that you’ll respect their alone time when asked.
Instead of saying, “I feel suffocated in my life with you,” try saying something like, “A little alone time will help me decompress so that I can be more productive and enjoy our time together more. ”
When you make alone time part of your daily ritual – especially if it’s something exercise or health-related – people in your life will be less likely to put up a fuss about it. Identify and choose what activity you want to do by yourself for your alone time. It could be journaling/writing, meditating, exercising, drawing/painting, reading a book, taking a quiet walk in nature, or going to a movie. Ensure that whatever activity you choose, it will be something you like and find enjoyable. It could be an activity you have done in the past that sparked a light in your own physical, mental, or emotional being.
You can also be more productive when you’re alone, so it’s good for everyone if you get a little alone time. If you take your alone time when fewer people are demanding your attention, you’ll probably feel less guilty about taking the time for yourself.
Delegating these tasks should free up some time for you and it can be beneficial for your children or other household members to relate a little more to just how much you do every day.
Try doing some self-care activities during your alone time – like getting a massage, practicing your yoga, or getting a haircut. These things can help you feel more relaxed and replenished in your daily life. Most importantly, turn off your phone while you are engaging in your alone time activity. Avoid the distractions of social media, phone calls, and text messages.
