Alone time is an important part of life.
I don’t think enough people are able to understand and fully appreciate the value of spending an hour solo, completely disconnected from friends, family and acquaintances. Considering how connected people are with commodities like cell phones and the Internet, it’s no wonder we have such difficulty pulling ourselves away for even a few minutes.
It has almost become second nature to call up a friend the minute we leave the classroom as if we haven’t spoken in years, or to sit in Starbucks analyzing our lives over a cup of chai tea with a new acquaintance, or to procrastinate in the Knight Library until the wee hours of the morning with a fellow classmate.
I’m no loner. I enjoy socializing just as much as the next person. I live for deep conversations, dancing the night away with my best girlfriends, and being a part of other people’s experiences. However, as much as some might beg to differ, I’m not an energizer bunny. I need my “me time”- a few moments to collect all of the thoughts buzzing around in my head.
I am a firm believer in the importance of personal reflection. We cannot be truly happy in the presence of others if we are not first comfortable being alone. We do not have to announce to the world that we need to just be alone, nor should we have to take great pains to relax. It’s simply a matter of finding something we truly enjoy doing, for no other reason then to feel completely at ease.
For me, just 30 minutes in my room, listening to classical music and reading “Persuasion” by Jane Austin is all I need to feel refreshed and self-assured at the end of a hectic day. As nerdy or boring as it may seem to others, it does wonders for me, and that’s all that really matters. I also like to sit in a busy area of campus, turn my iPod up as loud as it can go and just watch the world rush by me. Regardless of what you have to do in order to take that short, sweet escape, it is important to embrace it unabashedly.
If you would rather do something more rewarding, consider a hobby.
We all have hobbies – activities that we do in our leisure, for no other reason than to experience the sheer enjoyment and satisfaction that results from completing something just for ourselves. Doing these activities, even if it’s only for 10 or 20 minutes, is like pulling into a rest stop in the middle of a long road trip and stretching your legs – you can shake off the tension and feel more at ease.
Writing short stories, practicing calligraphy, card-making, knitting scarves – these are all hobbies of mine. Yet, three weeks of school have already rolled by and my knitting remains untouched, stuffed into my top drawer.
My art supplies are screaming for attention but my hand is so exhausted from hastily taking down notes in class and typing up assignments on my computer that the last thing I want to do is meticulously copy down sentences with my calligraphy pen. However, my negligence ends today. This week, I plan on taking some time, even if it’s just 15 minutes, to do the things I love, alone and without interruption.
When was the last time you truly relaxed and embraced a talent or a passion? Even taking a trip downtown alone can ease your mind. The more we surround ourselves with people, the more pressure we feel to act a certain way or to say certain things. Traveling alone or shutting yourself out from the world for a bit may seem intimidating, but it’s really more freeing than binding.
So break away from your friends for a while and go do something just for yourself – they’ll be there for you when you’re ready to come back to the world again.
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