When was the last time you did something for yourself, by yourself? Just you alone in your thoughts enjoying a scenic morning walk as you sip on a smoothie or going to that restaurant no one ever wants to go to, but you’ve been dying to try?
In our interconnected world, spending time alone is not very popular and at times frowned upon as some associate it alone time with loneliness. However, there are so many amazing benefits from spending time alone and unique experiences to be had. Spending time alone, can help you reconnect with yourself and improve your emotional, mental, and social wellbeing. It’s also important for your own personal growth & development as you gain a deeper sense of comfort and confidence within yourself. So, let’s jump right into the benefits of alone time and re-discovering yourself again.
Helps You Practise Self-love
Self-love is about loving yourself on every level, mind, body & soul. Always remember that you deserve to feel good about yourself and to love yourself each day, no matter what. Spending time alone is great for reflection, it gives you the opportunity to focus on your thought. It will allow you to develop a deeper understanding of what it means to love yourself and appreciate all the things that make you special. You may find that you have less to worry about and more decisive when you’re not distracted by the thoughts of others.
Helps You Come Out of Your Comfort Zone
Spending time alone is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and become fully comfortable with who you are. Doing things alone encourages to find the courage to do things you were too scared to do and ultimately grow and develop as a person.
Improves Mental Wellbeing
Spending time alone can seem like an emotionally challenging experience. For many people, the thought of spending time alone can evoke a range of negative emotions: anxiety, loneliness and even boredom. However, on the contrary alone time is a key component of maintaining a healthy emotional state. Many studies have shown that spending time alone is associated with more positive emotional outcomes, including increasing feelings of contentment and enriching wellbeing. There are several reasons why spending time alone might be beneficial for your emotional health. It allows you to eliminate anything that’s not no longer serves you or brings you peace. Being alone will allow you to prioritise yourself and make time for you.
Re-discover Yourself
We get so caught up in our daily lives, getting things done and being there for everyone else we often neglect ourselves. Alone time can help you break out of these patterns and rediscover yourself. One of the greatest benefits of spending time alone is how it helps you to develop a better understanding of who you are. The more you know and understand about yourself the more likely you are to do things that you love and are passionate about. When you're alone you have the freedom to explore your own wants and needs. You’re able to redefine who are and find your own voice, it's easy to lose yourself when you are being pulled in different directions. You can make decisions without having anyone second guess them and truly focus on what makes you happy.
Tips On How To Spend Your Time Alone
True contentment comes from within. We must learn to truly enjoy your own company and feel more at ease with yourself. Here are some suggestions for how to spend your alone time:
- Try a new creative hobby
- Read a book
- Take yourself on a date
- Go for a walk
- Cook your favourite mea
- Pen down your thoughts
- Get close to nature
- Treat yourself to a spa day
- Meditate
- Go on a solo trip
No matter what life stage you’re in right now it’s very important to prioritise yourself and doing things that make you happy. The goal of this blog is to get you started, don’t feel pressured to throw yourself in the deep end all at once, take your time and find what feels comfortable for you. Start with a plan and in small doses and increase as you go along if needs be. With some practise and self-belief, you will find that alone time can be one of the best gifts you can gift yourself. Why not give it a try!
#TakeTheJourneyWithMe
Lots of love,
NESS & ME