| p>I admit it. I'm the type of person who loves | | | | Stress happens when we believe that we do not |
| alone time. Don't get me wrong - deeply | | | | have the time, experiences, or resources to deal |
| meaningful relationships with other human beings | | | | with a challenge or situation. Feeling pressured and |
| are a necessary and important part of my | | | | anxious about a perceived unsolvable or impossible |
| everyday. However, I adore, crave, and carve | | | | situation, our bodies release adrenaline and gear up |
| out vast amounts of time alone. | | | | for a fight or flight response to handle the |
| As it turns out, solitude is a positive state, | | | | immediate danger. Taking a few minutes of alone |
| necessary to remain sane and healthy. Not | | | | time to breathe and calm down helps bring new |
| everyone needs hours of time alone, but | | | | perspective that while the situation at hand may |
| everyone needs his or her own personal balance | | | | be undesirable, it is not a life or death situation. |
| between engagement with the world and | | | | With relaxation comes a new ability to be at ease |
| engagement with self. | | | | with yourself. And with ease comes the ability to |
| Why Be Alone? | | | | tap into inner resources, grasp valuable insights, |
| 1. Time to Rediscover Self and Reevaluate | | | | and find new innovative, creative solutions. |
| Priorities | | | | 4. Be With Your Own Feelings |
| People often want to accomplish big important | | | | Taking time alone creates space to relax, clear |
| things in their personal lives... Like achieving a fit | | | | out the world, and be with no one else's feelings |
| and healthy body, overcoming an addiction, writing | | | | but your own. By stepping away from all the |
| a first novel, or beginning a new self-based | | | | outside noise and busyness, you allow new |
| business. But one of the top reasons that stops | | | | opportunity to clear confusion and sort out your |
| them from achieving their goals is an inability to | | | | emotions and feelings. Once our head is clear, you |
| put themselves as a number one priority in their | | | | can take the time to explore what you truly |
| everyday lives. Deciding to spend time alone each | | | | believe. |
| day is an important step toward recognizing the | | | | 5. Be Independent |
| value of putting self as a priority. | | | | A person who leads a self-reliant life is able to |
| 2. Bring Back Your Lust for Life | | | | think for him or herself rather than meekly |
| You may be wildly busy in your life, but are you | | | | accepting other people's ideas. When you're |
| joyfully taking action on your most important | | | | relaxing by yourself it's much easier to enjoy |
| dreams? It's easy to push your personal goals to | | | | some self-reflection, be true to your own private |
| the back burner and think you'll get to them | | | | heart, more independent, and more in control of |
| tomorrow, next week, or next year. | | | | your personal choices. Increasing your alone time |
| Unfortunately tomorrow never gets here. Each | | | | can lead to an empowered ability to trust |
| day becomes a repeat of the previous day. Living | | | | yourself, trust personal intuition, make decisions |
| in a repetitive rut results in boredom and | | | | for yourself, and be confident in your own ability. |
| diminishing joy. To bring back your hunger for life, | | | | Michel Montaigne, French Renaissance writer and |
| spend some time alone each day focusing on new | | | | scholar is quoted as saying, "A man should keep |
| experiences that would allow you to grow and | | | | for himself a little back shop, all his own, quite |
| branch out beyond the ho-hum of everyday living. | | | | unadultered, in which he establishes his true |
| To bring your dreams or personal goals back to | | | | freedom and chief place for seclusion and |
| the front burner, take a few minutes of alone | | | | solitude." Indeed, for all men and women, creating |
| time each morning and ask yourself these | | | | solitude can refresh and lead us into acting |
| questions: | | | | genuinely. |
| - What is really important in my life today? | | | | Starting today, make a solid decision to nurture |
| - What can I do to nurture the core central | | | | yourself with solitude. Be sure to block off some |
| relationships in my life today? | | | | time each day where you won't be interrupted. |
| - What is one action I can take on the dream | | | | Then relax and enjoy the alone time essential to |
| that is most significant to me? | | | | your health, inner peace, and happiness. |
| 3. Time to Breathe and Release Stress Levels | | | | |