Dear America: Make Time for Yourself

When life moves fast, you need to remember to save time for yourself. There should be a balance between socialization and solitude. When that balance is reached, it can lead to one’s life being far more enjoyable.

There are many benefits to alone time which include sleeping better, increased creativity, and a greater focus on the many things in your life as well as improving your relationships with others.

Better sleeping habits is likely the most important benefit of making time for yourself. Eight to ten hours of sleep is recommended for teens and at least seven hours of sleep is needed for adults. Quality sleep on a nightly basis is necessary to feel rested when you wake up each morning. So instead of staying up really late because of the social pressures to do so, remember to find a reasonable amount of time for sleep to ensure that your sleep schedule does not deteriorate.

Creativity may be lacking in the lives of some, but it is important to keep it in your life. The creative mind can flourish when alone. From this, new ideas can spark and progress can be made towards your goals. Of course having others to build off of your ideas or edit them to create a better result is definitely beneficial. But knowing when to find some alone time to think things through is just as important.

When you set aside some time for yourself, you can focus on the aspects of your life beyond your social responsibilities, possibly by making substantial progress on any work you may have.

Or starting a project that keeps you busy and productive.

You may even discover a new hobby that sparks your interest.

Hobbies can add meaning to your life. When you are not currently socializing with anyone, having one or more hobbies that you enjoy can help maintain your happiness. Especially if you find that you have an abundance of free time, you should use that time to find what interests you the most.

Another thing you can work on in your free time is evaluating the goals you have made for yourself. Dive into deep thought about where you are now and where you want to be in the future. Then make a plan for how you are going to reach that goal. It takes time to fully understand your plan, but truly thinking about it is a step in the right direction.

Strong relationships with others is paramount in living a fulfilling life. But saving time for yourself can actually make those relationships even stronger. If you have built up frustration or resentment towards someone in your life, taking time to yourself can ease your mind. The time can be spent by letting out your emotions in any constructive manner, by finishing work, or by doing an activity that you enjoy. So when you meet with them again, you will be in your right state of mind, thus allowing you to be genuine.

There are many distractions that keep us occupied in our lives. This can cause us to struggle to find quality time to appreciate the little things in life. Phones for example are a constant distraction for this generation and it does not seem like the trend is slowing down anytime soon. Alone time being solely spent on a device is not very healthy, but when used in moderation, it can help with letting people escape from their problems. There is all the knowledge in the world at our fingertips, although not all of the information is reliable. Even with that being the case, taking some time to yourself on your device can allow you to relax.

Another relaxing activity you can do in your free time is to enjoy the outdoors. If the weather permits, go for a walk or a hike. It is always nice to find a quiet space where you can be alone and simply appreciate the natural beauty of the world. Maybe grab a book and sit under the shade of a large oak tree. Whatever it is that you choose to do, you will feel refreshed and ready to take on the day.

It is not always easy to find time for yourself. More so now than ever before. With the advancement of technology connecting people from around the world, there is no shortage of bonds that can be formed. On top of that, simply living as a productive member of society requires you to interact with others. Especially if you wish to maintain your happiness. But alone time should never be pushed aside due to fears of being lonely or excluded from society. Making time for yourself is not meant to separate you from the world, rather to achieve your personal goals.