The Beauty of Being Alone

One of the hardest things to master in our time as college students is the art of being alone. We all have very busy lives and because of that, it can be difficult to sit down and take a break. There is so much pressure, and it’s easy to overpack our schedules trying to be as involved as we can. At Elon University, students are even described as being over-involved, which adds additional pressure for all of us to be as involved as possible.

As if it isn’t hard enough to dedicate a single hour in our packed schedules to be alone, it’s even harder to accept the fact that we’re taking time away from other things we could be doing. There is so much social pressure to always be doing something social during our free time. This might be sorority parties, going out on a Friday night, or even just grabbing a quick bite to eat with a friend in between classes. It’s easy to feel like you’re not making the most of your four years at college when you’re sitting at home instead of going to fun events.

Yes, college is the time to have fun, meet new people, and be social, but learning how to be alone is one of the most valuable life lessons you can learn.  

Being alone allows you to let your guard down and really reflect on your life. When we are surrounded by others, we subconsciously filter both ourselves and our thoughts to put up an impression of ourselves that we want others to see. The people who are around us influence us a lot more than we may realize.

When we’re alone, we can reflect without the influence of others. Being alone allows us to think more clearly and make decisions based on what we want, without any influence from others.

Learning to be alone can be difficult, but it is such an important habit to form, especially in college. If you’re not used to it take it one step at a time, maybe trying to take even a couple hours out of your week to be alone. If you’re someone who feels guilty for spending time alone, just remember that what you’re doing is important for your well-being and mental health.