- [Amanda] Hey, Psych2Goers and welcome back to another video. Thank you so much. And your love and support has enabled us to send your way another
wealth of everyday psychology. So, let's explore. We are naturally social beings. Society encourages your evolution and heeds you to not be alone. Social ability ensures survival, and it also makes you feel good. So, it's no wonder that for some of us the thought of being alone terrifies us. But as David Whyte once said, "Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement
of your aloneness to learn that anything or anyone that does not bring you
alive is too small for you." Your aversion to solitude
can be a result of stigma or a tumultuous childhood. For example, narcissistic parenting. Perhaps, it's because you often conflate loneliness and solitude. Loneliness is a negative
state marked by isolation. Whereas solitude is being
alone without feeling lonely. But, regardless of the reason having time alone can be beneficial. During this time, surely
many of you have had to adapt to a life alone in your homes. At first, loneliness can seem
terrifying and isolating. But, solitude should not be feared. Many discoveries lie in wait
when you take time to be alone. Here are six ways you can enjoy solitude. Number one, self-reflect. Am I holding onto something
that does not serve me? Am I living intentionally or what matters most to me in life? These are just some
examples of the answers your solitude can fetch for you. Time alone affords you
time for self-reflection and self-healing. In solitude, you can turn inwards and assess your needs and thoughts and find solutions to pressing problems. Solitude helps you achieve
a degree of mental clarity that you might not have
been aware that you needed. Number two, find joy. How often have you had to make the choice between turning in early
or pulling an all nighter on a weekend? One way to make use of
alone time is to find joy. Often were bogged down by all
the things that we have to do and we push aside what we want to do. Finding joy can be taking some time to meditate on your thoughts and emotions or doing something you
actually want to do. In the process of
exploration and discovery, be grateful for the solitude. It can include starting
a happiness journal where you occasionally write
down things bring you joy. Number three, nurture your hobbies. This is perfect time to pick up the hobby you never seem to get time for. Like, water coloring or practice the piano like you've always yearned to. Having or taking some time to be alone allows you to explore or
re-explore those things you were once interested in
but did not have time to do. Nurturing your hobbies not only
increases your skill levels but forces you to engage
creatively in something, which in turn helps your
brain's development. Number four, take time for self-care. What is your ultimate go-to self-care? Have you sorted out your
winter wardrobe yet? Self-care comes in many
different packages. For some it's a physical
practice, soaking in a hot bath, painting your nails or doing your hair. For others, it means
disconnecting from social media, practicing yoga or cleaning. It's important to take time for self-care. Engage in whatever form
of self-care you need. Not only will it give you something to do, but it will instill within
you a sense of calm. Number five, learn something new. Is there a new language
you've been wanting to learn forever, perhaps
a recipe you wanted to try but never had the time for. Solitude is a great opportunity
to learn something new whether you're learning a
new language or a new skill. Productively engaging your
mind for the sake of curiosity is a wonderful way to spend time alone. Learning something new will not only make you feel
more confident in your abilities but also help you create
a buffer against stress. Recent research found that engaging in learning activities helped
workers create a buffer from detrimental effects,
such as negative emotions, unethical behavior and burnout. And number six, play, dance. As you get older, does it
seem like you're slowly losing your childhood sense of wonder
and excitement over things? Do you miss engaging in activity
for the sake of activity? When was the last time you did something just for the sake of doing it? It's been awhile, hasn't it? Play grounds you to the present, while being in the present,
the past, the future and all of their worries dissolve. There are many spiritual, emotional and mental benefits to play. The most beneficial is
how it reduces stress. As a full fledged novice adult, play may seem like a waste of time. And even if you are intrigued by the idea, how would you even play? Well, one way is to develop and retain your sense of wonder. Get curious about even
the simplest things, that is the essence of childhood. Solitude is not just a moment in time, it can also be a state that you go into to find answers about yourself
and the world around you. There are many ways to find solitude. On a hike, in between the lines of poetry or during meditation. Being alone does not have to be scary, it's a part of your journey
back to your true self. It is worth the time, investing in knowing
yourself a bit better, an opportunity to nurture
love, find joy and get curious. We hope we were able to give you insight into some of the ways
you can enjoy solitude. Do any of these describe your experiences? What are some other ways
that you enjoy your solitude? Leave a comment down below about your experiences of solitude and please feel free to share
any thoughts you have as well. If you found this video helpful, be sure to hit the like button and share it with those out there who are still a stranger to
the benefits of solitude. Don't forget to subscribe to Psych2Go and hit the notification
bell for more new videos. And thanks for watching.
