Today there is stigma surrounding the idea of being alone. Many people think that if someone sees them spending time alone, they’ll seem weird or not very sociable. How many times have you wanted to go to a football game or a concert, but didn’t because you had no one to go with? People are uncomfortable with being alone because of what others may think, but we shouldn’t be. Being alone is something to embrace.
When I was younger, I remember loving the movie theater, but would often avoid going if I couldn’t find someone to go with. Either my friends were busy or just weren’t interested in the movie. As a result, I would skip out on a movie I was excited to see just because I thought it seemed sad to sit by myself. As I grew older, I realized that it’s ridiculous to stop myself from doing something I’d enjoy just because I’d have to do it solo. So, I started going to the movies alone.
Soon enough, I started going to football games alone too. I stopped picking up my phone out of nervousness when I was eating in public because I no longer cared that I was eating by myself. You know what? I felt cool. I was able to do things on my own terms. The truth of the matter is that being able to enjoy time with yourself is something we all take for granted. You often don’t get that much alone time, and alone time is a good thing.
As you grow older, it is likely you will be working a full-time job, maybe moving in with a significant other and even raising children. The amount of time you have for yourself is not much.
According to Senior Research Connect, “People in their 40s and 50s spend about 4 hours and 45 minutes alone, and those younger than 40 spend about three and a half hours a day alone.”
Why not enjoy the free time you have now and learn to embrace your own company?
There is something incredibly peaceful about sitting with a cup of coffee in the morning and journaling rather than scrolling on your phone. It is nice to read at the beach with no distractions instead of trying to entertain a group of friends. Don’t get me wrong, it is just as important to spend time with other people, but it is more normalized than spending time alone. If you wait to be by yourself until you’re 60 years old, you’ll likely struggle with loneliness. I feel it is important to get accustomed to spending time alone now and experiencing the benefits.
According to a report by Psych Central, alone time encourages independence, builds confidence, regulates emotions and helps problem solving. Furthermore, lack of alone time can cause anxiety, agitation and decreased creativity. It is crucial to your physical and mental health to experience solitude, and it is important that you allow yourself to enjoy that time rather than being insecure about it. The next time you want to go do something, consider going by yourself before inviting someone else.