The Choice

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

By Serene Tng, 1st June 2010

It sounds a tad narcissistic. But too many of us don’t do it. It is not just about making ourselves feel good but it is about taking care of our needs well enough that we are able to care and love someone else fully and wholeheartedly. I find it very healthy and constructive once in awhile or regularly to just check in on ourselves and spend some quiet time alone. It doesn’t have to take long and it doesn’t mean we completely shut people out. Alone time can mean anything:

* Just having coffee by ourselves
* Taking a stroll through our neighbourhood
* Reading our favourite book and magazine
* Watching our favourite DVD
* Shutting ourselves in the room for just a while
* Spending time with some of our hobbies or interests
* Tending to the garden
* Fixing parts of the house
* Taking our dog for a walk

And within this alone time, while we are making the most minimal effort to do the things we love, it allows us to refresh and recharge even if nothing comes out of it. And sometimes, our favourite activities enable us to subconsciously check in on where we are at, what really annoys or frustrates us at the moment, decide what we really want, how are we really feeling and where we want to be heading. If we neglect to find out how we are doing, then chances are, it might come out the wrong way on others or we might expect others to resolve our own frustrations and worries. Or we might have a nagging thing in our heads that we wrongly think it is created by others. If anything, alone time makes us a better person, or it seems to work for me. I find more strength and energy to take on the world and care for friends, family and loved ones.

What do you think? What are some of the alone time activities you indulge in? Share with me at serene@thechoice.co.nz