How to Combat Loneliness and Embrace Alone Time
Spending quality time with yourself can drive an energizing reboot or be a path towards personal discovery. Your mind can recharge. You can grow more in tune with your thoughts and surroundings. You can forget about compromising!
But it’s easy for alone time to turn into mindless social media scrolling and observing the rest of the world from the outside. Solitude can quickly become loneliness.
To combat loneliness in life’s still moments, here are some practical ways to redirect the outcomes of alone time and begin to experience its benefits.
Invest in Your Space
In my first college apartment, the walls of my room were bare and white. The lighting had a blue, sterile hue. I felt a hollow loneliness radiating from my walls, which made the days when my roommates were gone feel difficult. I took notice of how my space made me feel, and decided to make it more comfortable. I bought a bookshelf to display my book collection, added a green blanket to my bed, and bought a lamp for my bedside table. With these small changes, my room became a space where I found rest.
Even if you don’t have an eye for interior design, there are quick ways to warm up your space. Switch any light bulbs with a blue hue out for something that emits warmer, yellow light. Purchase a big plant or a vase of fresh flowers. Incorporate a few decorations that are personal to you, whether they are framed photos with loved ones or posters of your favorite musicians. Use throw pillows or an area rug as pops of color.
And don’t worry, you don’t need to have a huge home or invest a lot of money into expensive decor! Your space can also be a local coffee shop that is filled with comfortable furniture and plays music that you like. It can be a spot at your favorite beach where you can watch the ocean and listen to the waves. The important thing is choosing a signature spot that makes you feel warm and cozy inside.
Go on an Exploration Walk
Being alone can feel intimidating if the expectation is to sit still. Walks are a great alternative, and you can add intention to your walk by seeking to explore. When I go on walks, I prefer to ditch the earbuds and leave my phone at home or in a zipped pocket. Instead, I try to turn on my curiosity and notice the things around me.
Curiosity can be simple. Try to notice how the air feels. Is there a breeze making the hair on your arms stand up? Does the humidity make your skin feel sticky? Is the sun making your squint? How does the fresh air feel in your lungs when you take a deep breath?
Make a goal of choosing five things in your path that make you smile. For example, on my most recent walk, I noticed a painted cardinal on my neighbor’s mailbox, the way my dog’s curly hair ruffled in the breeze, and the laughs of kids playing on a playground.
Walking with the purpose of exploration helps you appreciate small things about your surroundings and feel grounded in your own presence.
Pick One Creative Project
One hurdle to enjoying alone time can be boredom. To make sure I always have an alternative to spending time on my phone, I try to have one creative project in progress at all times. The concept of a creative project can look different for everyone. I have gone through phases making clay earrings, watercoloring stationery, and making magazine collages.
The possibilities are endless! Do you like to bake? Choose a cookbook and work through the recipes. Are you a musician? Make a goal of learning a new song. Do you enjoy writing and doodling? Start a bullet journal.
Having a go-to project for when you are bored is a great way to feel productive and fulfilled on days you are spending with just yourself.
Alone time is a valuable spark of personal growth. When you are intentional about spending time with yourself, loneliness can become healing, inspiring, and energizing!
What is your favorite way to embrace alone time?
