How To Enjoy Your Own Company

📷 : www.tumblr.com

For some reason, we do not often spend time with ourselves. You may have binge watched your favourite show for half the day but have you ever spent nearly as much time in a public place? I grew up thinking it was odd to go to the movies by yourself or to book a table for one at your favourite restaurant. We seem to forget that we don’t need a person by our sides to be able to have a good time. 

There is often a stigma attached to being alone. For some reason it is seen as socially unacceptable to do things by yourself. As soon as we see someone by themselves, we sort of assume something is wrong, something they’ve done to repel other people. 

“That guy is eating alone, that’s so sad.” 

“Oh, that woman is at the movies alone, I feel bad for her.”

Why is it always presumed that people don’t want to be doing things alone? This type of thought can lead us to believe that we cannot go somewhere unless someone is with us & when no one is available we would rather not attend than go alone. 

#1: YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS TRULY YOUR OWN 

Whether you are single or not, there is a unique value in taking time to see your own reaction to things completely unfiltered by any social expectations of friend groups or relationships. Often you are able to notice more details & take more in when you are alone because there is no one pulling your attention elsewhere. 

#2: BREAKING PATTERNS OF RELIANCE

We are all so rooted in spending time with people that sometimes, when no one is available, it can feel like a loss to be alone. Instead we should recognise our individual strengths & appreciate one on one time with ourselves. It also teaches us to be comfortable with who we are. In this day in age it’s easy to miss out on fully knowing our own thoughts & habits. 

#3: MAKING ROOM FOR CREATIVITY

Group brainstorming is great but there’s also time for quiet, personal reflection. Clearing out distractions & allowing time to reflect is a great way to tap into your creativity. Going out to events & doing it alone can help you focus on all those creative energies. 

#4: BEING ALONE WITH YOUR MIND IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS FOR YOUR SOUL 

Use your alone time as a change to clear out your cluttered mind & just get back in touch with yourself. Taking a little ‘me’ time gives you an opportunity to get away from distractions for long enough to reflect on your relationships & the course of your life so that you can determine what changes, if any, you might want to make. Once you start becoming more comfortable with being alone, doing activities by yourself can actually be enjoyable. It takes a degree of confidence & initiative to do things solo, of which you should be incredibly proud of. 

If you want to do something, why should the idea of doing it alone be enough to stop you?

Keep an eye out for a couple of posts the relate back to enjoying your own company. They’ll be ‘Five Reasons You Should Spend More Time With Yourself’ & ‘Eight Things To Do Alone For A Change’. 

B x