It seems the lockdowns in 2020 started to reset us almost into a new trajectory.  Now, five years later, it’s in full throttle. What used to satisfy most of us in every area of our lives just isn’t. We are shifting emotionally and mentally big time. One of the ways we are changing is by needing more solitude and alone time.

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How is This Shift Happening?

There is no question that thousands and thousands of us are being pushed into emotional and mental challenges. It could be from job loss, relationship breakup, illness or injury, financial issues, catastrophic events, something else that shakes us to the core, or a combination.

Then there are the more subtle shifts—the internal ones. The fear of job loss, getting caught, or losing everything. Sometimes it’s just an uneasiness, discontentment, or feeling that something doesn’t quite feel right.

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6 Reasons Why We Might Require More Solitude or Alone Time

1  PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS

Maybe your body can’t endure 10+hour workdays or juggling more than one job before it starts breaking down. Slowing down and taking more alone time is a way to avoid injuries and illness. But if we don’t permit ourselves to do that, then the illness and injuries themselves often force us to take that much-needed alone time to recover.

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Another Reason Why We Might Require More Solitude or Alone Time is…

2   RELATIONSHIPS

One way relationships are affecting us more is that most of us are not as tolerant of difficult relationships as we were. Now we are often choosing to opt out of physical interaction with those individuals or groups who are confrontational, negative, and oppose our perspectives.

Another way relationships are affecting us is that more interactions have become superficial or lack a genuine connection. While face-to-face, we often find ourselves walking on eggshells, trying to avoid comments that may trigger an upset.  Another thing that is making relationships less genuine is the fact that misleading others and hiding the truth have become almost “normal.” Then there are fewer discussions about positive things or anyone’s future dreams and aspirations—mostly, they are just grumblings about what’s happening. This can be very draining.

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Another Reason Why We Might Require More Solitude or Alone Time is…

3  TO GET RELIEF

At times, the current pace things are changing is causing many of us to retreat and decompress more than before. We have all probably overcome changes in our lives, but not at this speed or intensity.

Alone time offers a chance to slow down, rest, recharge, reduce accumulated tension, reflect, and regulate our mood.

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Another Reason Why We Might Require More Solitude or Alone Time is…

4   THE NEED FOR MORE INDEPENDENCE

Often, solitude allows us time to tune out the external opinions and pressures that can aid in the misalignment of our moral compass. Alone time can get us in touch with our own thoughts, feelings, and sense of self.

We may not be able to control what’s changing in our lives and in the world, but we can control how it mentally affects us.

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Another Reason Why We Might Require More Solitude or Alone Time is…

5   WE LACK MOTIVATION

It’s getting harder for most of us to get motivated to physically “do” as much. In the past, we might have been able to stay on the hamster wheel and be crazy busy doing stuff, but now it’s getting tough not to feel it’s pointless.  It’s like we’re being pressured into a life of not being as productive and learning how to sit still more and “do nothing.” The combination of AI and the robot’s abilities to do tasks, and the job layoffs that come with it, the new way of living will probably escalate.

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Another Reason Why We Might Require More Solitude or Alone Time is…

6   THE DESIRE TO FIND A WAY OUT

Instead of going deeper every day into the rabbit hole, alone time can help us find our way out. A good part of the pain we are experiencing now is our resistance to making the necessary changes needed to dig out of the hole.

Once we…

• Find our moral compass again
• Shift our perspectives, if not to positive, at least to “neutral”
• Become aware that we are beginning to feel mentally better
• Start allowing our mind to wander without judging it
• Get comfortable being who we really are

Our intuition or inner guidance will steer us away from the darkness.

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Summary

The sooner we stop judging ourselves for not being as motivated, needing a break from the external pressures, not physically “doing” as much, and opting out of some relationships, the faster we can get on with this new way of living.

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I have two QUIZZES that may help you adjust to needing more solitude and alone time right now…

Is the Changing World Stressing You Out?

How Often Do You Listen to Your Intuition?

Also, check out the Inner Work and Intuition sections on my website.

And, if you need an advisor to help you on your quest, contact Vickie Champion for a coaching and consulting session at a discounted price.