Creating alone time is so important to our mental and physical health. Here’s how I create alone time during a pandemic.
I wake up at least an hour earlier for alone time
I discovered this little slice of heaven when I was analyzing routines that help create alone time and be more efficient each day. Hang on – I know, I know, it sounds terrible when you value sleep so much but hang with me on this one.
There is such a thing as the 5am club, but I’m not suggesting getting THAT crazy…unless you want to! I wake up at least an hour earlier than the rest of the crew at my house to have alone time doing whatever my little heart pleases.
I wrote about my morning routine here, but lately I’ve been spending time checking emails and doing some blog research while sipping my coffee and water.
The quiet time in the morning is my favorite part of the day. It’s so peaceful watching everything as the sun rises. It allows me to set intentions for my day and wake up without the morning chaos around the house.
I’m not a morning person by nature but waking up an hour earlier has been crucial for my mental health and creating alone time in my day.
Communicate about needing alone time
Communication is key to everything, especially important in this case. My honey and I were both previously married and understand relationships take a lot of hard work. We made a commitment to each other to do whatever it takes to make our relationship successful.
Part of this includes open discussion about our individual needs. It’s human to need alone time and that’s ok. I used to operate off of the fact that someone needed me every second of every day. It only left me feeling frustrated and drained.
After some time analyzing my habits I realized I needed to create alone time for myself. My honey has been so supportive and equally understands how important this is.
I’m not talking about going overboard and secluding yourself from everyone all the time. I’m talking about spending time on activities you enjoy for your own self care.
When discussing this, bring it up like any other plan you have. In my case, I’ll say I need to run a few errands or have some quiet time to read. I’ll emphasize that it’s something I need to do alone.
My partner and I discuss our days ahead of time
Another way we communicate is by discussing our days ahead of time. We’ll discuss any meetings or hours of work blocks we have scheduled. If he wants to go for a run he communicates when he’ll do so and I’ll plan around accordingly.
We’ve even gotten to the point where we plan the time we’ll spend together, whether it’s watching a show or sitting out back with a glass of wine.
Communicating our schedules has been super helpful. Especially during a pandemic, when it’s easy to confuse and mix schedules since we’re both home all day.
It’s funny, in the beginning of the stay at home orders I think a lot of people felt some natural pull to be tied at the hip with their family. It’s still so important that everyone has space to create alone time.
Having separate spaces in your home where you can spend some time alone is helpful. It’s even fun to have an excuse to create a little oasis for you to enjoy.
Mid-day walks are great for alone time
A few months ago I discovered getting out for a daily walk was so crucial for my mental and physical health. Early in the pandemic I joked with my family that everyone should have the perfect yard and be able to get into the best shape because there was nothing else to do.
While we’ve now settled into routines and found new ways to have fun at home, I really enjoy taking daily walks. Usually they’re 30 minutes with a good book or some upbeat music.
I like to take my walks between mid-morning and lunch time when it’s not too hot and I’m at a good break point in between work.
The fresh air and sunshine adds a little pep to my step and provides a reset to dive back into work for the afternoon. It’s a great time to connect with myself and revisit my intentions for the day while assessing where I’m at.
Summary
Creating time for yourself is so important, especially during a pandemic when we’re often surrounded by others at home. Even if you live alone, create some time and space away from work to dedicate to yourself.
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