The Importance of Finding Daily Solitude

solitude1The most valuable lesson I learned in music school was that the best work gets done when you are alone in a practice room.

Solitude.

Solitude is not as easy to come by these days with TV, the internet, smart phones, and other gadgets serving a huge role in our life.  Those things can find their way into our once-empty practice rooms and disrupt our creativity.  While I love the advent of new technology, I know there is a need to step back from it on a regular basis, especially to give us a chance to create and do great work.

I love being around people and engaging in great conversation, but I still have the need for solitude daily.

It is a necessity for all of us.

The Benefits of Solitude

The greatest artists, musicians, and creative people spend a lot of time in solitude. It’s only when we are alone that we can reach deep and find ourselves.

My best thinking, writing, and practice is created in solitude.

Some benefits of solitude:

  • time to think deeply
  • deeper understanding of ourselves and others
  • time to “reboot” our brain and unwind
  • space to create
  • time to work through problems more effectively
  • isolation from others (especially detractors) helps us to find our own voice

Like anything else, the learning is in the doing, so those are only a few benefits for now.  You will find many on your own.

How to Find Solitude

Start by disconnecting.  Set aside some time each day to unplug from all the ways you connect with others. Turn off your cell phone, internet, and the TV. If you use your computer to create, such as writing, then write using Ommwriter. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can get done when you’re not distracted. Take every means of connecting with others, and disconnect.

Then decide which way you prefer to find solitude:

1. Find your “practice room”. In music school we had empty rooms with no windows.  It made it easy to “hole ourselves up”.  This can be done in your office, by shutting the door and/or using headphones and the calming music of your choice.  Or it can be done at home, by finding a quiet space, shutting the door if you can, or using headphones. The key is to find a way to shut out the outside world to the best of your ability.

2. Escape. Go outside and enjoy the outdoors. Take a walk, hike, or ride a bike. Find a quiet coffee shop or a park bench.

Other ways to enjoy solitude:

  • Read  great book somewhere comfortable.
  • Take a walk every day.
  • Get into work earlier, and work in quiet.
  • Pick an hour each day to disconnect.
  • Meditate

A little time of solitude each day is life changing.  You will find your productivity and relationships improve dramatically.  Post comments here about how you create moments of solitude. 

Carnivals I was featured in this week:

Carnival of Retirement at Making Sense of Cents
Yakezie Carnival at Young And Thrifty
Carn. of Financial Camaraderie at My Personal Finance Journ
Carnival of MoneyPros at Family Money Values

Carnival of Financial Planning at Making Sense of Cents
Carnival of MoneyPros at The Savvy Scot
Finance Carn. for Young Adults at PF Carny
Yakezie Carnival at Making The Life You Want

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