Put yourself in time-out: why alone time is important

Alone, but not lonely

Learning to enjoy your own company is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Why is alone time so important? Take some time to read this article to find out. Then, go solo for a while… no people, no distractions and no social media… a complete time-out. You can thank us later ;)

Time alone is cleansing

Your dose of alone time is just as important as getting the right amount of sleep, enough vitamins and minerals in your diet and consistent exercise. It's a way for you to recharge, reassess and regroup for the next day or week or month. Needing some time-out from the world is not something to be ashamed of, in fact, being open to solitude is highly commendable. When you spend a lot of time with people it can be quite mentally draining as you constantly find ways to interact and be social. A lot of energy is spent when constantly connected to other people. The time alone will lift all social pressures, give you a boost and fill your energy levels.

You do you!

During time-out you really can do anything you want to. Imagine waking up knowing you have the entire day to do what you feel like doing? Bliss! No back and forth deliberating on a Whatsapp group about where to meet or at what time… in fact, you can turn your phone off right now. It's up to you! The more time you pencil in for yourself the more you will discover what you love doing. During this solitude you have the pleasure of focusing on your own thoughts, ideas and feelings – no one else's… it's a one-way ticket to mastering self-care!

Time to get smarter

How often do you read or watch interesting documentaries or Ted Talks? ... That's what we thought! Alone time isn't just for sleeping all day or binge-watching series, you get to enrich your life further by reading, learning a new language or instrument, baking or anything that you've always had an interest in trying to do. The benefits of reading are massive and have positive health effects like keeping your brain sharp and warding off Alzheimer's disease. Alone time pairs perfectly with a great book!

Meditate

Did you know that it has been shown that meditation can help increase your immune function, lower aches and pains and boost happiness? Where do we sign up?! Try meditating when you're on that next date with yourself and discover the power of meditation on decreasing stress and anxiety levels.

Creativity

While it's not always a good idea to just let your mind take over and sit in silence listening to the chatter inside your head it is important to find that peace and rhythm in your day that allows for creative thought. When you take a break from people, noisy places and the digital onslaught in the form of emails, Whatsapps, Skype calls, Instagram and Facebook your brain gets the chance to work on problems or ideas in the background. Spending time alone can lead to your creative side blossoming. Working alone, brainstorming alone and completing general cognitive tasks alone can allow you to get more done than if you were working in a group. By being alone you have no one else's ideas to sidetrack you and your thoughts come first.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

By spending time alone and appreciating it you will probably find your relationships with those close to you will improve. The time apart gives you a chance to reflect on your relationships with friends, family, your partner and even work colleagues and you will become grateful for their roles in your life and vice versa.

If you've never been one for enjoying time alone or cannot see yourself being comfortable doing it, don't worry! It's pretty great once you get the hang of it. If you're new to it, start off with a few hours a week and make sure you have your favourite books, music, snacks and hobbies on the ready. After a while you'll love the time-out and you won't know what you did without it.

"What a lovely surprise to finally discover how unlonely being alone can be." Ellen Burstyn