How Solitude Can Help You Grow

Human beings are wired to live and thrive in groups. However, we're also more connected than ever before in history.

We can no longer expect to be done with work just because we've left the office. Our work and our relationships follow us everywhere we go thanks to modern technology which includes cell phones and social media.

While such tools keep us connected, they disconnect us from our real selves.

Much of our daily stress can be attributed to dealing with people constantly and working all the time. We almost never have moments of quiet and stillness.

A much-needed solution is to make time for yourself and embrace a state of solitude.

Make no mistake, solitude is not the same as loneliness. Unlike loneliness, solitude is a choice and it can help you become healthier emotionally, mentally, and by extension, physically.

Let's look at why you should find more ways to be on your and a few ways to do so.

Detox from social media

When you get on social media, it's easy to lose track of time. And you go through a whirlwind of emotions as you consume content marketing that's meant to provoke you.

Choosing solitude includes avoiding social media for a length of time. The longer you go without scrolling through Facebook or Tik Tok, the better you'll feel.

Without the constant hit of dopamine you get from seeing content and getting reactions, you'll find yourself coming back to a more normal and balanced state of mind. You'll start feeling calmer and happier.

Discover what's important to you

When you spend time alone, you get to think about what matters to you. You'll be away from the influence of other people and the media.

Choose your time alone to pull out a journal and write about important things in your life. Some prompts that you can use are:

• The path you want your career to take. Perhaps you'd like to upskill yourself or start a business
• How to improve your existing relationships
• Altruistic goals such as contributing to society or playing a leadership role in your community by fundraising for a non-profit organization. Or doing some kind of community outreach

It's only through silence that your own voice sounds more clearly. You'll come out of solitude with better ideas on what to do and why you're doing it.

Find space for creativity

We often don't realize it, but being connected all the time occupies our minds and uses up our energy. As a result, we're unable to explore our more creative sides.

If you'd like to create more time and mental energy for creativity, then it's important to find solitude.

Artists and writers have frequently taken off to lone cabins and solo trips to work without interruption and to hear the whispers of the muses.

When you spend time in solitude, you'll find that your mental and emotional reserves can finally be channeled in more creative ways. Try to get away to a quiet place and carry your artistic tools with you. Bring a journal, a tape recorder, paint, and other craft items, and use your time alone as a way to grow personally.

Improve your relationships

When you travel by air, flight attendants always tell you to put on your oxygen mask first before helping someone else.

This is because you can only look after others when you’re doing well yourself. It works the same way in relationships.

Taking time for yourself and spending an evening alone or going for a trip by yourself can do wonderful things for the people you love. Even when you don’t see the impact right away.

Entering solitude allows you to recharge. And get in touch with your real thoughts. Not to mention, creating space is healthy since it allows you to grow on your own and avoids co-dependence in your relationships.

When you take time to think, practice being creative, and feel more balanced, you can come back to offer more to your loved ones and friends.

Conclusion

Many people think of solitude as being a punishing state. But when it’s a choice that you deliberately make, it can transform your life for the better. There are several reasons laid out for you on why you should seek solitude from time to time.

There are clear mental health benefits that come from avoiding information overload. And you create opportunities to grow personally and in every other area of life. If you're a business owner stuck in a rut, you could find clarity. And at the very least, a change of pace will refresh you.

Try going 12 hours without your phone and staying on your own. You’ll be better for it when you resume your normal routines.