“Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.” Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

We live in an increasingly busy world. The development of technology means that we’re always accessible and switched on. This can lead us to feel overwhelmed and mentally drained from the constant interaction with people and having to absorb lots of information.

Having the chance to have some solitude and alone time to quieten our minds and restore a feeling of calm can be very beneficial to our well-being. It gives us a chance to think deeply about what matters most to us rather than being stuck on a hamster wheel and caught up in day-to-day issues.

In western culture, we can sometimes associate the need to be alone and have some quiet time with people who are sad, lonely or anti-social. However, having some quality solitary time can be healthy and enable us to feel better equipped for our interactions with others. It can help us to have a greater appreciation of our relationships and connection with others.

Spending some time like this calms our mind and gives our brain a chance to reboot and replenish itself. In these circumstances we have the opportunity to relax our mind and as a result we may get flashes of inspiration. It could be that it increases our creativity and helps us to devise some solutions to challenges we may be experiencing.

When our mind is quiet and still, it enables us to tune into our inner voice and increase our self-awareness. It enables us to have a better understanding of our true desires and feelings. We make better choices about how we spend our time. This includes who we hang out with and the environments we occupy. Overall, it enables us to set some targets and goals that are aligned with our true feelings and deepest desires.

After a period of relaxed alone time without distractions, we’re able to get clarity on our priorities and what’s most important to us. This helps us to sharpen our focus and make best use of our time. We’re able to concentrate and become more productive. It provides an opportunity to have a break from meeting the needs of others and allows us to focus on our own happiness and well-being.

Slowing down means that we feel less anxious and being still restores some equilibrium to our life. As a result, we’re more relaxed and this is beneficial to our relationships, because we’re less stressed. Therefore, we’re better equipped to listen and understand other people’s perspectives. Quality alone time helps us to build our mental resilience and become more resourceful and self-sufficient, resulting in us having a greater sense of independence and confidence.

Carving out alone time requires effort and planning. It needs to become a habit in the same way you may go to the gym or go for a run or a walk. Conscious effort is required in order to establish and embed a healthy habit.

Here are a few ideas to create some quality alone time: –

Unplug from technology

To help recharge your brain and give it a rest, consider creating some space each day where you disconnect from all forms of technology. Switch off your phone, tablet or pc.

Create a specific time for quiet time  

Make it a habit to have a specific time each day where you meditate or have some mental stillness. It doesn’t have to be lengthy if you are pressed for time. You will notice benefits from just 10/15 minutes a day of quality quiet time.

Journal/creative writing

Immediately after some quiet time, spend 5/10 minutes writing in a journal or do some creative writing. You’ll find that it helps you to problem solve, generate ideas and feel calmer. It’s a positive start to the day if you do this first thing in the morning.

Use your lunch time positively

Have a change of environment and eat your lunch away from your desk. If the weather is warm and sunny, eat it outside. It’s also a great time to get some exercise and go for a walk daily. Brisk walking of 20/30 minutes has great health benefits.

This week, why not take some time out to reflect and consider what steps you can take to create more quality alone time.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk