Alone But Never Lonely
If you’re someone who thrives on the company of others, spending time by yourself can sometimes feel impossible to enjoy. But whether we like it or not, being alone is a natural part of the human experience; one that we cannot avoid and should therefore learn to not only embrace the feeling of solitude but even appreciate it too.
That being said, enjoying your own company is a crucial skill that everyone could benefit from. Relationships, careers, physical possessions and even the way we look are all extremely fleeting, and so when we attach our happiness to these factors that are external and temporary, we remove the ability to depend on ourselves for our own fulfilment instead. So, if you’re looking for ways to cultivate a sense of contentment and peace despite what may be happening in the rest of your life, here are a few easy steps you can start incorporating!
Fill Your Time With Activities You Legitimately Enjoy:
Alone time tends to become far more appealing when we associate it with getting to do things we genuinely love and want to do. When you fill your time with activities that actually bring you joy, you transform your solitude from a moment of lack that you’re needing to suffer through into a moment of opportunity that you’re actually excited to seize. Whether it’s listening to a podcast while doing chores around the house, indulging in your favourite hobbies or even taking yourself on a solo mission to explore your local neighbourhood; when we reframe being alone in a more positive light, your body and mind naturally begin to feel more upbeat.
Start A Project:
In addition to pleasure pastimes, why not consider delving into projects that you’ve been wanting to get involved in - such as organising your room, training for a half marathon or finally starting that online side hustle you’ve been putting off for way too long (maybe it’s even deciding to create your own health & fitness app ;)). No matter what you choose, projects are a great way to spend your alone time because they not only give you a goal to work towards but a sense of purpose and meaning too.
Self-Love Is Key:
Perhaps the most important step in learning how to be happy alone, is to actually be happy within yourself. That means genuinely enjoying your own company, prioritising your own personal development and growth; or maybe it's simply about recognising the ways in which your relationship with yourself can yield just as much value, love and support as your relationship with others.
So, while we do need interpersonal connection in our lives, it’s also possible to enjoy and even thrive living a life with more solitude. At our core, learning how to be happy alone is about reframing how we think about our alone time - and ultimately how we think about ourselves.
Team Sudor