Adrian Volenik
There’s spending time alone, and there’s utilizing time spent alone. People who really value alone time belong to the second group of people.
They know how to spend this valuable time on advancing themselves and not spending time aimlessly and in vain.
So, if you want to take a page out of their book, here are the things people who value alone time do very differently:
1) Reflect and self-introspect
For a long time, I simply couldn’t spend any time being alone or not doing anything. I couldn’t let my mind be idle because it would always let me know how unsatisfied I was with life.
But for people who value alone time, solitude is their sanctuary for introspection. They keep journals or contemplate to better understand themselves, their goals, and their life’s direction.
You see, that was my worst mistake. I didn’t want to introspect and ask myself difficult questions. This made it impossible for me to grow and find the underlying reasons for my despair.
Eventually, I managed to do a 180 and even form something important:
2) Develop a strong inner voice
Privacy also allows us to develop a strong inner voice. If we let it.
In fact, everyone can become skilled at listening to their intuition and making decisions based on their own values and beliefs.
I’ve learned on my own skin just how important a strong inner voice is. During challenging times, a robust inner voice serves as a source of strength.
It provides motivation and encouragement to persevere through difficulties, promoting your resilience and adaptability.
Because of it, I’ve become more confident than ever and not afraid of taking on new projects that are seemingly out of my comfort zone.
3) Learn and grow
For people who value alone time, being alone is like a classroom for self-improvement. They have the chance to take online courses, read educational books, or watch documentaries to expand their knowledge.
On the other hand, most of us spend this time unwinding from our work or family and spend this valuable time watching Netflix or scrolling through social media.
Those who don’t recognize how wasteful it is to do these things in excess find themselves on their back leg when a major setback happens.
They simply won’t be prepared mentally or in terms of skills.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s crucial to relax and unwind. But here’s how to do it:
4) Enjoy nature
Do you like to go out in nature? Do you do it as much as you should or like?
Those who spend a lot of their time outdoors, whether in a serene forest, a local park with a lake, or by the ocean, know how important it is to connect with the natural world.
At a baseline, nature promotes relaxation and rejuvenation.
For me personally, hiking and trail running is one of the best activities overall. I love the call of the open space, the big sky, and the view from the summit after you finally reach the top.
There’s nothing like it, really.
But to fully immerse yourself in nature, you need to disconnect from digital devices. This allows you to be present in the moment and avoid distractions from the online world.
Let’s expand a bit more on that.
5) Disconnect
To fully immerse themselves in their alone time, people who value alone time disconnect from digital distractions.
Turning off phones and disconnecting from social media (incredibly important!) helps them avoid the constant influx of information.
There’s nothing more successful at killing the present moment than TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
You go from being attentive to mindlessly taking in content that’s served by an algorithm that’s highly tuned to hook you in as long as possible.
And here’s how to break the shackles:
6) Practice mindfulness
For the longest time, I genuinely thought mindfulness was something for people without ambition and hippies.
Luckily, I’ve come around since.
I now know that mindfulness is essential for your mental and physical health, it also helps manage and reduce stress, improves focus and well-being, increases resilience…
Mindfulness encourages you to focus your attention on the present moment instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
It lets you experience each moment as it is, without trying to change it or judge it.
That’s why alone time is an ideal setting for practicing mindfulness, and people who value it do mindfulness exercises, like meditation or deep breathing, to stay in the present moment.
7) Seek inspiration in solitude
Some people find inspiration and motivation in others. People who value alone time find it in themselves.
They actively seek inspiration during their alone time. Whether going for a solo hike, listening to instrumental music, or stargazing at night, they find unique sources of inspiration that come to life only when they’re alone.
The same can be said for the following.
8) Solo travel adventures
I follow many solo-travel YouTubers. I love their content and can’t wait for the new video to drop from the handful of channels I’m subscribed to.
If you ever watched their videos, you saw that they embrace solo travel, exploring new destinations entirely on their own.
This unconventional travel style allows them to immerse themselves in different cultures and take risks they might not in a group setting.
And that’s where the growth happens – out of the comfort zone and far away from the cushy status quo.
9) Embrace minimalism
Many who value alone time come to the same conclusion. In order to live a better life, they need to embrace minimalism in their lifestyles.
They find that reducing clutter and simplifying their surroundings leads to a sense of calm and clarity.
I tend to agree with that. We all hoard countless gadgets, knick-knacks, trinkets, and other things of low value that shouldn’t have a place in our homes as they just clutter them.
Funny enough, my mom calls them dust collectors and doesn’t want any in her home.
Plus, many times, a cluttered home leads to a cluttered mind.
So, if you have trouble focusing, regularly procrastinate when it comes to cleaning and organizing, or have a feeling that the walls around you are closing in, it might be time to look around you and de-clutter your environment.
Start by removing and recycling or giving away 10 items per day. That way, you’ll ease into an organized home without much effort.
But think about the following, too.
10) Prioritize self-care
Busy people regularly put themselves in the last place. Everything and everyone else takes precedence.
On the other hand, valuing alone time means recognizing that taking care of oneself is not selfish but essential.
These people understand that self-care includes physical aspects like exercise and a balanced diet, as well as mental aspects like meditation or seeking therapy when needed.
It’s a known fact that these practices help maintain overall well-being. But first, you need to make some time for these activities.
11) Set boundaries
If you don’t know how to even carve out some alone time for yourself, you need to start by setting boundaries.
You see, establishing boundaries is the key aspect of preserving alone time. You need to communicate clearly with friends, family, and colleagues about your need for solitude and let them know when you are and aren’t available.
This is especially important when you have kids and they expect you to be available 24/7. Being a parent often means you don’t have any spare time for yourself.
This obviously makes parents extra miserable on top of all their other responsibilities.
That’s why working together with your partner so both of you can get regular time for yourselves is paramount.
Final thoughts
Do you like spending time alone, or do you prefer spending it with other people? I know what introverts and extroverts will say, but what if you’re an ambivert?
In which group do you belong then?
