Have We Forgotten The Importance Of Solitude?

By Katherine Gardner on July 22, 2016

We all have a pattern that we follow. From the second we wake up in the morning to the moment we fall back asleep at night, we’ve all become relatively predictable. Wake up, check Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. and then repeat consistently throughout the day. Play music while getting ready in the morning. Play music from the moment the car is turned on until it is turned back off. Binge watch whatever series you’re currently obsessed with whenever a free hour (or twelve) presents itself.  Whip out Pokémon GO whenever and wherever you can with the hope of adding a new Pokémon to your ever-growing Pokédex. We’re living in a never-ending cycle of distractions and with these constant distractions it becomes hard and even uncomfortable to spend time alone with our thoughts without involuntarily reaching for our smart phones.

Solitude is simply the act of being alone, and however barbaric that may sound at the moment it’s actually beneficial to you for a lot of different reasons.

Solitude helps increase creativity.  You would be amazed at how easily ideas start to flow just by detaching yourself from outside activities and allowing your mind the freedom to think deeply about specific topics. This is especially important for students who are involved in majors that require a lot of individual thoughts and ideas. When it’s beginning to feel like you’ll never be able to come up with the perfect topic to write your final essay on or find the perfect subject to base your portfolio on, take a few minutes out of your day to sit in solitude, clear your mind, and allow yourself to think deeply. You won’t know what your mind is capable of until you give yourself some time to think.

(Pinterest.com)

Solitude is a gateway to self-discovery. As cheesy as it sounds, spending time alone without any distractions is the best way to really understand who you are as a person. Due to the busy and cluttered world we’re living in, it’s easy to get lost in other people’s opinions and personalities instead of taking the time to form your own. Solitude provides you with the chance to ask yourself important questions in order for you to come up with honest answers without the influence of others.

(Pinterest.com)

Solitude gives your brain a much-needed break. Our minds are constantly being pulled in fifty different directions. There are very few moments each day when there is not a screen in our face, a person we’re talking to, or an assignment that we have to complete. This constant state of go can become exhausting and overwhelming after a while, which could easily lead to stress. By sprinkling small amounts of solitude and meditation into your day and letting your mind relax you will feel more calm and put together.

As uncomfortable as it might feel at first, cultivating the ability to embrace solitude is indicative to a healthy and creative lifestyle. So put on some comfy clothes, make yourself a cup of tea, light a candle and enjoy the gift of spending some time alone.

 

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