Why You Should Enjoy Life Alone And How You Can Include The Practice In Your Routine

“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.” – Bell Hooks

Do you ever find yourself struggling to enjoy life alone? And that even if you need or want a moment to be alone? Let’s face it! You are not alone. This is the reality for many of us.

Sometimes, we overlook our needs.

If this resonates with you, you will likely find a good reason to NOT be alone. You ignore that gut feeling telling you to set apart some alone time. You pretend to not hear when your loved ones mention you taking some time away from work and everything else.

I’ve been there too. I’ve been in your shoes. But we have to remember to have some alone time. Allocating some time for yourself can tremendously impact your well-being. Allowing ourselves to be content and appreciate the goodness in solo experiences leads to a more meaningful and enriched life.

Therefore, taking some time to spend time alone should be a practice to include in your routine.

In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of being able to enjoy life alone to help you find comfort within yourself.

So why is enjoying life by yourself so important? 

Enjoying life alone has many benefits to add to your life. This practice helps you:

• Feel liberated
• Appreciate your independence
• Develop self-love and confidence

1. Feel liberated

One of the benefits of living an independent life and relying on yourself is liberating. In fact, it creates a sense of autonomy that empowers you to fully experience the world around you.

Remember though, living an independent life doesn’t mean going through life alone; it just means being in control of your own life. It’s when you choose to take charge of your destiny. When you do so, you break free from any limitations holding you back, allowing you to pursue your passions and interests with real commitment.

How many times have you thought: I can’t do this alone, I can’t go on solo adventures, or pursue a hobby all by myself?

I’m going to challenge you. The next time you feel that way, push yourself and try it out. Start one step at a time. Start by spending an evening alone with a good book to read. See how it feels. You will love it! You know that feeling you have when hanging out with your bestie? Well, it’s similar!

Learning to enjoy life independently unlocks a world of possibilities. Even better, it allows you to fully appreciate the value of your own company.

2. Appreciate your independence 

Once you are able to spend and enjoy time alone, you are free from the pressure of external expectations. You are only responding to YOU and your own needs.

I don’t know about you, but I have been on group travels that ended up being lousy experiences because the group members couldn’t agree on anything. Deciding the wake-up time, lunchtime, and daily activities becomes a struggle. But that’s expected in a group activity, right? Because we are our own individuals with different needs and drivers. Now, think for one second that you didn’t have to go through that, and it’s possible to enjoy a solo trip. It’s a good feeling, right?

So, a few years back, I found a solution. I travel on my own from time to time. This way, I get to do anything I want, not worrying about anybody else’s needs. This is just an example, but you see my point.

It can be truly liberating. So, try it out and see how you feel and what you learn about yourself. Whether you’ve contemplated taking a solo hike in the mountains or exploring a new city alone, please do it!

It will help you understand the power and strength of standing on your own two feet. What’s more, you can embrace the joys of life on your own terms and find a new sense of gratitude for the blessings of freedom and independence.

3. Develop self-love and confidence

Another benefit of time alone is that it fosters self-love, which is crucial for leading a happy and fulfilling life. Enjoying time for yourself will help you recognise your worth and the value you bring to the world.

Whatever you choose to do, the more time you spend alone, the more comfortable you will be in your own skin. Suddenly, being alone doesn’t feel scary or lonely anymore. Instead, it becomes an opportunity to explore your interests and hobbies, learn more about yourself, and grow personally.

Remember, once you are comfortable spending time with your own company, you can love other people around you. Moreover, people around you will also want to spend time with you.

Now that you know the benefits of spending time alone, how to develop the habits? The reality is that even if it’s not easy, we all need to work on developing the skills to enjoy life on our own.

You can develop the skill by following the below steps.

• Find simple pleasures of life
• Engage in activities that make you happy

Find joy in the simple pleasures of life

How many times have you found time to focus on yourself when needed?

I don’t know about you, but it’s been a challenging task for me. We are so busy and always connected that it can be hard to find moments of solitude.

What’s the solution? Set time aside as if your life depended on it. If you are like me, you may discover incorporating a 30-minute walk in the middle of the day on weekdays helpful. I’m not going to lie to you. It’s been hard to stick to the plan. What I do find useful is leaving my phone behind. You can incorporate any hobby or activities that you like.

So, if you have a busy life and struggle to find time for yourself, consider activities that make you happy and embrace them fully. Whether it’s finally picking up that book that’s been sitting on your shelf for months or taking a leisurely walk through nature without any distractions, give yourself permission to disconnect and indulge in peaceful, solo activities. It will improve your overall well-being.

So, the next time you find yourself alone, don’t be afraid to savour it and find happiness in the little things. Alone time will lead you to self-reflection.

Engage in activities that make you happy

Finding time in a busy world can be overwhelming and stressful. However, it’s essential to make the point to focus on ourselves and engage in activities that bring us joy.  It’s also part of taking care of yourself.

Therefore, do you know what activity makes you happy? If you do, then go ahead and engage in them. Whether it’s mixing up ingredients and creating a delicious meal in the kitchen or painting a masterpiece on canvas, whatever it may be, these moments of happiness can serve as a refreshing escape from your day-to-day routines.

If you don’t know what makes you happy, it’s time to find it. Have you tried creative activities like photography, cooking, painting, and drawing, or physical activities like hiking, running or going on adventures to discover a new culture, food, country and city that you’ve never visited before? You may enjoy relaxing activities such as meditation, reading a book, taking a bubble bath, or even spending time at a coffee shop.

The idea is to practice activities you enjoy independently as part of your routine. This will allow you to tap into your creativity and have fun.

Bottom line

Spending time on your own, without anyone else besides you is very important for your well-being. It will help you have a fulfilling and meaningful life. All we need to do is willing to learn and begin the journey.

At the end of the day, living happily alone is an art in itself. So, go find yourself.

I hope this post helps you take the decision to spend time on your own and enjoy every moment! What’s your go to activity to enjoy alone? Share with us in the comments below.