In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it has become difficult to find a time to truly disconnect from others. In today’s world, whether it is a phone call, text message or email, we are easier than ever to get ahold of, whether it’s family or work trying to connect. It is more important than ever to establish a “set of guidelines” for yourself so that you can keep your time, and mental health and well-being in check.
The Importance of Solitude: There’s a difference between choosing to be alone and feeling alone. Wanting to go on a shopping trip alone or wanting to go on a walk alone is not the same as being depressed. Being alone from time to time can give you the ability to hone in on how you are feeling and allows you to focus on you for a moment. For some, it is not that easy though; they feel guilt for not wanting to spend every moment with their family. We should not love others more than we love ourselves; we should not prioritize others above ourselves. Does that mean we are meant to solely focus upon ourselves and abandon all responsibilities to others, not remotely. There are times when we absolutely need to prioritize others but we also need to be sure to carve out times when we are priority #1.
Embrace Technology Detox: Even if you feel you are not constantly thinking about social media, texts messages or emails, your brain unfortunately is. Simply putting your phone on silent and leaving it in your back pocket is not enough. To truly disconnect from your phone, you must do just that. Find a room, a place, where you can put the phone so it is truly out of sight, out of ear shot and a place where it is inconvenient to get to. Our brains are very “trainable”, the more we check our phones, the more our brains want to check our phones. When we stop doing so, our brain gets somewhat confused because you are altering what it has become accustomed to doing and that’s checking the phone. If the thought of this is overwhelming, it really is evidence that you should consider doing this all that much more. Just like our brains were trained to want to constantly check our phones, we can break our brains of this habit.
Conclusion: In the pursuit of a well-rounded and fulfilling life, finding time to relax and separate yourself from family is not selfish; it is necessary. By embracing solitude and prioritizing "me time," you can cultivate a healthier relationship with yourself and, in turn, enhance your ability to nurture meaningful connections with your loved ones. Remember, taking care of your well-being is not a luxury or a “that would be nice” but a fundamental requirement in the quality of life for both you and your family.
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