As much as today’s world glorifies the idea of companionship and romance, many people are losing sight of the fact that enjoying being on your own also gives abundant bliss. Even if you are in a healthy relationship with someone, you shouldn’t burden your partner with the responsibility of your happiness as chances could be that as time progresses, your partner could get busy with more responsibilities. And that leaves you with more time to spend with yourself. On the flip side, if you are single, your relationship status shouldn’t make you feel lonely or depressed. Instead, you should learn how to use that alone time to your advantage to fall in love with yourself and do things you love. Yes, learning how to enjoy being alone is an important part of your personality development.
HealthShots got in touch with Dr Kamna Chhibber, a clinical psychologist, to understand how to enjoy being alone. The expert shared a few simple yet effective ways of how to be alone without feeling lonely.
5 tips to enjoy being alone and being your own best friend
1. Build hobbies
That alone time is the perfect opportunity to build hobbies and tick off things from your bucket that you have been wanting to do for so long. Try painting, cooking, or swimming, and the list goes on and on. There are umpteen opportunities waiting for you out there. You just need the time to pursue them.
2. Focus on understanding yourself
You must try to know yourself better in that alone time. Understand what ignites the spark within you. Understand your strengths and weaknesses, and use your strengths to overcome any shortcomings you might have.
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3. Seek growth in every aspect of your life
Develop a growth mindset by becoming aware of the fact that you can always become better and hone your skills as you start making the right moves. This me-time could be the perfect time to learn, unlearn, and relearn new beliefs, fresh perspectives, and thinking patterns. “Look at what could be the things you can do that can help in your growth personally and professionally,” adds Dr Chhibber.
4. Use that time to become mindful
Whether you are thinking to read, cook, or paint, use your energy to do things very mindfully. Start practicing mindfulness in the activities you perform. That way, it will become a natural part of your life and you will become naturally mindful. Mindfulness is the key to maintaining your calm and staying centered amidst all the chaos and noise around you.
5. It’s normal to be alone at times
The expert says, “Understand that every individual does need to spend time with themselves, and this is a normal part of life.” Some people dread being alone, for they find it mentally taxing. The world has wired us to believe that the most ideal stage in life is when we are with someone or in any company. Most people don’t know how to enjoy being alone and make the most out of it. If you are guilty of that as well, it’s your time to show up for yourself.