College can feel like a roller coaster, especially for first-year college students, with a whirlwind of social events, classes, joining organizations, nightlife, etc. it can feel exhausting being around people all the time. For some, alone time can feel impossible with so much going on all the time. For others, alone time comes more naturally, especially in such a big campus, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. There is a healthy balance between both of these that is often overlooked. You don’t have to constantly be around people or isolated all the time, there’s a balance. Being alone is given such a negative connotation when in reality it can do so much for a person.
- Helps spark productivityĀ
When you are alone, you have full control of your actions. You can focus and concentrate more when you don’t have people around you to disrupt you. This sounds like common sense, but so often I see groups of friends studying together and while that is awesome, everyone learns at a different pace. While someone might be able to move on to the next section of the material being studied, others might still be struggling, but don’t speak up. Having alone time to study allows you to obtain more knowledge making the time spent studying worth it.
- Self-reflectionĀ time
Alone time allows you to think clearly about many things including self-reflection. Whether it be about the long day you just had or about what your goals and ambitions are for the future, being alone allows you to feel and think about anything without judgment from others. It can be easy to follow what others are doing and saying especially in a big college atmosphere, but having solo time gives you the opportunity to be authentic with yourself.
- Allows you to pursue your own interest
In an environment where so many opportunities are available for creating hobbies and passions, having time to explore these interests alone gives you a chance to self-explore without outside pressures. So many times I hear friends join organizations for each other and it’s not something they’re quite interested in. This just seems like a waste of time when you would rather seek opportunities that interest you.
Embracing solitude doesn’t mean isolation; it’s about finding moments of peace and self-discovery amid the hectic campus life. Finding that balance between socializing and enjoying solitude is crucial for college student’s well-being and personal development as young adults. Solitude allows you to be authentic with yourself and don’t feel the pressure to live up to someone else’s standards.