It sounds like you have a really good system, Lori: a mix of time alone every day and longer periods alone.

I also count my exercise time as alone time. I wear earbuds at the gym so I don’t have to talk to people (much, anyway).

My free time is precious to me. I’ve learned to carve out pockets throughout my day. Mornings with the news (though that’s not terribly relaxing these days). Afternoons with lunch on the deck or a walk in the park. Afternoons is my exercise time. Mine alone. Nothing like sweat to get rid of negative energy!

Also, I took time away not long ago. I’d planned to be solo, but my mom wanted to tag along. It turned out to be one of my most creative periods in years. Just six days in the Ontario wilderness with no TV or Internet seemed like a lifetime away from it all. And I was so happy for it.

I’m glad it helped, Shannon. I hope you get the free time you need!

And thanks for quoting Socrates: “know thyself.” I’ve been reading a lot about ancient Greek and Roman philosophy lately.

The “know thyself” maxim has been attributed to many sources, including the ancient temple at Delphi.

Gene, you do a great job of getting your alone time.

I’m concerned about the people that are so plugged in to modern technology that they cannot fully relax, even when “alone.” When I’m on the computer, I’m doing the technology and connection thing.
When I’m away from my computer, whether alone or out with others, I don’t have the cell phone on (usually), and I never check e-mail, etc.

More people just need to take themselves out for a nice walk in the woods and leave all the connection stuff behind.

I think for a lot of go-go-go modern people, with so much time and attention going into virtual worlds where there is little or no physical activity, time alone can actually feel uncomfortable, especially if that time alone is “off-line”. I think learning to tolerate that discomfort and later developing a genuine love of alone time is really worth the effort. I see a lot of people these days who’re busy as Hell, hyperactive mentally, with little or no depth of feeling or substance in their lives. They seem to be “checking” things all the time: Facebook, email, phones, etc. but something seems missing to me. And that something might be the kind of inner connection to their own bodies, minds, hearts and guts, that can only come from being with themselves, alone. After all, Socrates did say “Know thyself” not “know thy friend’s status updates”…