Today, after training this morning, I was driving home by myself. My Jiu Jitsu school is located about a good 25 minutes away from my house. The ride is quiet, through the backroads and farmland of North Brunswick, Jamesburg, Monroe Township, and Englishtown NJ. There is not much to see except some old houses and lots of empty land.
I had the radio off and my mind was just wondering. I was trying to drive and type in some notes on my phone to remember some of the thoughts I had. This is not recommended. However, it got me thinking. Most of my blog ideas, my creative inspirations, and all sorts of ideas, come to me during my alone time.
The Dalai Lama recommended we spend some time alone with ourselves each day. Well, if the Dalai Lama is not good enough for you, little old me is going to elaborate on it. Spending time alone each day is a simple way to get the most out of yourself. There are countless reasons, but the main reason is…
Spending time alone actually can increase your productivity.
When you are alone, you are not forced to think. Your mind naturally, and calmly, wanders away. It reviews whatever thoughts may be lingering in your head. It cleans up some of the muddled mess that our minds become during the work day. It also gives us a chance to breathe, which in turn helps our whole body, mind & spirit relax.
Now, many people know the benefits of a nice walk in the park, or quiet car ride, or an outdoor lunch, yet they still do not make time. The day is filled with things to do that seem much more important. I mean, how does going for a walk in the park help someone be more productive?
The answer is it clears your head. Simple as that. It gives you a chance to regain your thoughts in the solitude of your own head. It takes you out of the fire of everyday life and gives your mind a chance to rest. This, in turn, helps your mind work at full capacity once it gets back into the swing of things.
Think of it like a wrestling match. You wrestle until you get really tired. Then you relax, grab a drink, and get right back on the mat. Now, think of just wrestling straight through without ever stopping to rest or take that drink. Who do you think is going to be a more productive wrestler? The one who had the break? Or the one who did not?
Your brain works the same way. Give it a chance to relax and regain its composure, and you will be twice as productive without the rest. Your brain is a muscle. It needs time to relax just like any other. So spend some time alone with yourself. Give your brain a chance to sort out its thoughts. Your body will thank you for it, and so will everyone else around you.
I would love to start a discussion of how people spend their alone time and how it helps them. Our minds could all use the advice, so please do comment.
Alright, it’s time for me to get to work. I’m looking forward to my alone time already.
2 Comments
One of the things I do in the Mornings lately to clear my mind is after the alarm goes off, I lay there for a good 5 minutes, just breathing. Taking in the sounds of the morning (or if you know me better almost afternoon) the good ones with the bad ones, not trying to judge what is either. Just listening to the world around me. I try to do this everyday, I actually learned this great tip from the guys over at http://www.lifedev.com. It works great, by nature I am a scatter brain, being an artist sometimes we work from choas, and we like it like that, however this can prove pretty heavy on the mind and body over time. Another tip i try to do is walk my dog a few times a day, and just enjoy the moment. Lately I find to become increasingly calm is really just reliquishing your power to the moment of now, nothing else really matters,for nothing else really exists. The past is gone, future is always tommorow, the only time one can truley be happy or alive is right this moment, me typing this comment for instance, when the comment is over I go about onto the next moment. Many people get caught up or lost in not yet moments of the past and future they get lost in their own heads and that voice rambles on and on. I think stepping back breathing and regrouping isn’t only for productivity but also for mere survival.
For me, my most productive time is when I’m alone, after my significant other heads to bed. I love staying up late because I always feel like I’m in the perfect mood to get things done.
People need that time alone to really digest all of their thoughts and emotions. For me, it’s the middle of the night. For others, it could be driving home from work or while they are going for a run. Either way, I think that it’s extremely important to take some time out of the day to be by yourself and really just take some time to think.