4 Benefits of Spending More Time With Yourself
Are you someone who looks forward to spending time alone?
In today’s modern world, we are constantly ‘on’, ‘connected’, and encouraged to seek happiness and validation externally and through material possessions. It is becoming increasingly important to carve out time for yourself.
There are many benefits of getting intentional about spending time on your own regularly.
Here are 4 benefits of scheduling in more me-time:
Allows your mind time to process information and events
When you are alone, you are able to focus and concentrate on your own thoughts and feelings without the influence of others. There are certainly times where it’s good to seek out advice from other people, but this needs to be balanced equally with time for self-reflection. In this fast-paced world, you experience many things and take in large amounts of information in a short span of time. Sometimes it’s easy to get to the end of the day and only start breaking down, processing, and understanding these events at night time right before bed - this is not the most convenient, especially if you want a restful nights’ sleep! So ensure you take time throughout the day to just sit down, slow down and reflect on the days’ conversations and events.
Tune into your intuition and find the answers you need from within
There have been many studies that show how beneficial meditation is to your mental health. Regularly allowing time to quieten your mind and be with yourself will show you over time that your intuition is always sending you messages and all the answers to your questions are inside you. We are conditioned to seek what we need externally. This can be through books, the media, the internet, or from other material things. Although these things can sometimes provide inspiration and motivation, they will not always provide the answers we need. We are spiritual beings in a material world, and if we create the space, we will find all the guidance we need from within.
Time to simply indulge in things you enjoy
Whether it’s watching an old movie, spending an hour in the bookstore, or enjoying a coffee in your favourite cafe, you can use this time to indulge in the things you really enjoy without worrying about the needs of others. I think sometimes we take life too seriously and it’s important to regularly do things that bring you joy and happiness. This will make you feel more engaged in your life. It will also allow you to discover and use your creativity. Remember that creativity is a broad term, and it does not always mean painting, drawing, or being artistic. Here are some other examples of creativity:
Problem-solving
Experimenting with your style by creating unique outfits
Cooking
Writing
Asking questions and exercising your curiosity
Connecting with people from all walks of life
4. Get to know yourself
All of the above will certainly help you achieve one thing - to get to know and understand yourself better. Here are some questions you can explore through me-time:
What inspires and motivates you?
What fears do you have? Are these justified or unrealistic?
What is your working preference/style?
How do you feel about where you are in life now? Are there changes you’d like to make?
How can you bring more joy into your everyday life?
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the past year?
The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself. If you are happy, healthy, and fulfilled, you will be in a much better position to look after those around you and be your best self for them. Me-time should be a priority. Not only is it a great time to indulge in self-care, but you'll also gain a better understanding of your thoughts and emotions, and you may even learn some things about yourself that will surprise you.
