Why It’s Important To Do Things Alone

A couple of days ago I wrote a post on opening up and writing my anxieties about being more alone, but also coming to terms with it. I noted that it was a post more on expressing my fears, and I promised I would create part two and include why doing things alone can benefit you, so this is part two!

To first start out, I want to go over not only ways being alone can make you see the world and yourself differently, but can benefit your health as well. With the help of two articles from medium.com and one from bustle.com, I have put together a list of things to know when doing things alone! (Remember this is just in the effort to love and understand yourself as well as life, not things you have to do or are “cures” for being lonely).

1. Remember, no one cares that you’re alone, people actually admire it

Just like you may be wondering about what others may think of you or may judge what you are doing, everyone else is thinking the same way. I have to remind myself this all the time, and actually, in today’s world, we are encouraging more people to do things alone because we have become so dependent on one another (at least in my generation). Every time I see a woman doing something fun on her own, I actually want to be like that, and it inspires me to actually try!

2. Forgive yourself for feeling weird (accept all the emotions you feel)

It’s definitely okay to feel weird, uncomfortable, or awkward, but allow yourself to feel this. Once you have accepted the feelings and moved past them, you are now growing as a person and can really accomplish anything.

3. You have the freedom to do whatever you want (not needing to rely on someone)

What if I want to spend two hours roaming the same store looking at the same things? Or what if I want to just sit outside and look out at the lake for a long time? Well, I don’t have to ask anyone, I can just do it! That’s the real beauty.

4. Reduces mental stimulation and allows you to recharge

One article from medium.com explains that “It always feels like everyone around us (and strangers) are out doing things constantly with loads of people. But they're not. We only think they are because it's all we see.” We are constantly consuming and wanting more, but there becomes a time when we need to remember to slow down.

The other article I mentioned from medium.com states “A big reason we’re not comfortable being alone is that we’re not comfortable being alone with ourselves” by doing something alone that is different from watching TV or on your phone, we can learn to appreciate the time and it actually increases long term concentration and productivity.

5. Allows you to be more present

In continuation of the point above, when we slow down and spend time with just ourselves we can remember that as cliché as it is, we can’t just let life pass us by. And we only need ourselves to experience life!

6. Makes you appreciate your worth

In the medium.com article titled “Why You Should Get More Comfortable With Being Alone”  it is noted that “If we don't know ourselves or aren't in tune with what we like doing or value, we can't reiterate that to other people. Not knowing our individual worth can make it challenging to maintain friendships and a plethora of relationships, romantic or otherwise.” By spending time with ourselves we can become self-aware, notice what we may like, used to like, or never liked, etc.

7. Makes you appreciate the time you do have with others

And lastly as mentioned, we only have so much time here on earth, so when you spend it with people, it makes that time even more special. In addition to that, when you are alone it makes you think of who you miss the most and who you would actually want to spend time with.

Hopefully, this has helped and you are feeling more comfortable with the topic of doing things alone. I might just make a part three and add ideas of things to do, so keep an eye out for that!

Initial points are credited to the three articles used. Those are from medium.com, bustle.com, and another from medium.com.