Seek solitude
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. -Mark 6:31
Many of the great people across all generations have understood the benefit of getting away from all of the noise of life and finding solitude, to include Jesus himself. Rest, reflection, and quiet were revered in times of old, but today they’ve been replaced by busyness and productivity. It’s frowned upon in today’s society to do anything less than work yourself sick and brag about how busy you are. Overwhelm is killing us.
We’re prescribed antidepressants and antianxiety meds by the ton, but it seems like no one is talking about the need to get alone and find quiet. I’m not suggesting that the meds don’t work or that no one needs them, I’m just pointing out that we’re treating the symptoms and not the root of the issue. Why have we had such an abundant increase in depression and anxiety? Could it be that life is just too fast paced for what the human being is designed to take? Could it be that we weren’t created to be busy at all times, to fill every idle moment with something? Look around you in any public place and you’ll find people stuck to their phone screens because they don’t know what to do with a moment of waiting or downtime.
We’re designed to spend time in nature, to connect with the planet we call home. Many who spend a decent amount of time in nature will tell you that it’s possible to connect with the Creator through His creation. There’s just something about spending intentional time outdoors that recharges the spirit. I love hiking, but sometimes it’s a ride on my motorcycle through less-populated areas that brings me peace. It can be really beautiful and almost always lifts my mood.
When is the last time you prayed, in quiet, without anyone else around, and for more than a couple of minutes? Alone time is important in our relationship with God, listening to Him, bringing our cares to Him. Being still. Being intentional and undistracted.
The practice of journaling is also underappreciated. Finding a time and place where you can be undistracted by the many responsibilities of your day to just write down your thoughts is a therapy better than most others. It doesn’t have to be a long process, and you don’t have to write down anything specific. Just unload your thoughts onto paper. For me, it often makes me feel lighter, like I got something literally off my chest.
And let’s not forget reading in quiet. Like, reading an actual book, not a website or your social media feed. Spend time losing yourself in a good book and feel the weight of the world lift, even if only temporarily.
If you find it difficult to get alone time, start small. Find whatever moments you can and go from there.