By Mark Kaplan / May 1, 2022
We might think solitude is being lonely, but solitude is a healthy behavior. Our nervous system is frequently in overwhelm because we have too many things on our to do list and too many worries.
People seek escape with many venues. Sometimes the escapes are healthy and often they are destructive. Overeating, alcohol, drugs, shopping, gambling, anger, internet surfing, and phone addictions might all be avenues of escape that are not helpful.
Seek the Healthy Escapes
Healthy escapes are exercise, meditating, reading, listening to music, walks, yoga, and silence. Many find solace in the quiet routine of an aerobic exercise like running, biking, swimming, treadmills, and walking. If we can enter flow in our exercise in which we are challenging ourselves and eliminating distractions, we shut down the prefrontal-cortex and enter a state of bliss.
Solitude is a state that allows our nervous system to recalibrate. I love to go camping for solitude. The first day when it gets so dark I can’t see 5 feet and it is so quiet I am amazed, it is a little difficult to adjust. I like to sit in front of a fire and listen to the silence and accept the darkness. After 3 days, I have a whole new nervous system. I don’t want to return to civilization.
Creativity Needs a Relaxed Nervous System
If our work is creativity, we need to calm our nervous systems to access our subconscious. It is out of the subconscious that connects with Universal Intelligence that we get ideas that are novel. When we work on a problem and have gathered all the information, giving our subconscious time to work through the solutions often results in epiphanies that wake us in the night.
Stress is anti-creativity. Overwhelm is anti-creativity. When you add the caffeine from coffee and energy-drinks we use to prop up our energy, we are overloading our adrenals. When we accumulate the stress intended to arm us for emergencies, various systems get shortchanged. Our body shuts down immunity and digestion to deal with stress.
Find a Happy Place
Find a place to escape the noise and demands of your obligations. A long walk can work for some. More active engagements to focus on breathing is excellent. Sitting on a mountain top would be useful if it is practical. Going on vacations for over 50% of the workforce results in more stress because they check in every day or worry about being replaced.
Sleeping well is important for optimizing energy and refreshing our nervous system. Good sleep requires preparation. Reducing caffeine intake after our morning coffee helps. Not engaging in intense activity an hour before bedtime is helpful. Not eating after dinner allows our digestion to relax. I listen to particular music that allows me to break from the day before getting into bed.
Exercise during the day calms our nervous system. Strenuous exercise allows inflammation to be replaced by refreshing chemicals as a natural biological process. It replaces cortisol, the worry hormone, with the happiness brain chemicals of dopamine and endorphins.
Develop a Lifestyle for Fulfillment
Creating a lifestyle dedicated to personal growth and contribution reduces the petty concerns that plague us and drain our emotional energy. Our lifestyle prioritizing health, personal growth, and contribution lead us to productive activities and reduce the concern over work/life balance. Having productive days is supported by time management and time blocks for productive activities. Include a solitude block to make the time spend on everything else more fulfilling.
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