Overworked and stressed? This can save your sanity

Life is becoming increasingly complex due to rapidly changing technology. The stress levels among people are increasing at an alarming rate due to the increasing aspirations and expectations of the people.

Companies demand a lot from their employees to beat the fierce competition, which is only possible by being innovative and creative in the delivery of goods and services.

During this process, employees experience fatigue in the workplace, resulting in higher stress levels. Employees also want to prove themselves and survive by going the extra mile.

In this context, solitude is the need of the moment to break stress, monotony of anxiety and boredom.

What is loneliness?

People often confuse solitude with loneliness. In fact that is not the case. Loneliness is a state of being alone for a short period of time, with no physical contact with others.

It’s like taking a break once a week by completely avoiding routine work. It’s also like taking a short leave of absence for vacation.

Like people go for fasting without taking food to give rest to the internal system, people also go for solitude to give rest to the mind for a while.

Loneliness vs. loneliness

Often, loneliness and solitude are used interchangeably by people. However, there is a thin line that separates the two. Loneliness is a negative state while loneliness is a positive state.

Solitude helps to keep yourself internally occupied with a healthy thought process as a companion. Loneliness reflects missing something in life. It represents isolation.

Loneliness exhausts the body and mind, while solitude restores. Loneliness is bitterness, while loneliness is sweetness. To put it succinctly: loneliness is chosen while loneliness is imposed.

“Alone time is when I step away from the voices of the world so I can hear my own.” -Oprah Winfrey

Merits of solitude

• It is the best way to get to know yourself better.
• It removes the clutter and clears your mind, improving your concentration.
• It helps in beating stress levels.
• It helps you dig deep inside and bring out the best.
• It helps with better self-awareness, self-control and self-discipline.
• It helps in regaining the lost energy. Moreover, it builds new energy, improves creativity and innovation.
• It helps in exploring yourself analytically, thus improving your personality for overall success.
• It replenishes your energy and helps you move forward with confidence and optimism.

Solitude is steadfastness

When you do routine things, you get bored. Then it is time to seek solitude for self-analysis and introspection. When you want to do things differently, it’s time to go for solitude.

People go to the beach and spend time in solitude with the sound of the sea waves because it brings comfort and strengthens willpower.

History shows that several great leaders preferred solitude when in need. In the epic Mahabharat, at the end of the Kurukshetra battle, Duryodana immersed himself in water to keep calm for a while and recharge his batteries.

It was a kind of loneliness. Saints and sages seek solitude to examine themselves internally. They go to a serene place and enjoy a state of solitude. Therefore, solitude is steadfastness.

People should spend some time in solitude every day to stay healthy physically, mentally and spiritually. It should be treated as an investment and a cost of time.

Few companies offer sabbatical leave to their employees who work for a certain period. It helps them to relax and return to work with recharged energy.

In summary, it is essential that individuals and institutions regularly seek solitude, taking into account the increasing uncertainty and complexity resulting from rapid technology.