These days, many people live alone – and not always by choice. Some times we find ourselves alone and on the brink between being content and being dissatisfied with our solitude.
So if you find yourself alone, what are some things you can do to settle into your aloneness and even enjoy it? Try these ideas:
1. Find a hobby you love
Discovering a new hobby isn't about keeping yourself busy to avoid loneliness. It's about finding something you can do in your downtime, when you're on your own. It could be reading, painting, baking, scrapbooking, swimming laps – whatever helps you tune in to yourself, focus on a fun task, and find joy in your solitude.
2. Seek joy in solitude
Solitude is an opportunity to be with your self, to be still, and to experience enhanced connection with yourself and your surroundings.
When you spin your approach to solitude from fear to joy, you can start to look forward to your alone time. You might feel free walking on the beach, sitting in the shade of a tree, going to the cinema alone, or hiking. See solitude as a chance to be alone with your thoughts, to connect again with yourself and the universe, to reset and unwind.
3. Plan your solitude
Loneliness is a claw that creeps up when we're alone but would rather have company. So to find contentedness in your solitude, plan for it. Whether it's a few minutes each day behind a closed door, to take time out from your routine, or planning a day alone at the beach or a short road trip, when you schedule solitude you have something to look forward to.
4. Find meaning
Lastly, attempt to build meaning into your solitude. Set a purpose, an intention, to your alone time. It could be to find clarity, to start or complete a project, to find fulfillment in your self. Without this, you may feel aimless in your aloneness.
Originally published on Feb 03, 2016
