Alone Time.

It's Friday night. In the world of 20-somethings, this usually involves the following:


a. a HUGE sigh of relief that the work week has finally come to a close
b. a couple friends
c. something alcoholic - pick your poison


For me, tonight only involves option A. I have the heavy task in front of me of cleaning my very messy apartment (and thus feeling the cleansing peace of mind that tidy surroundings inevitably brings) and simply enjoying some time by myself.


"Me-time" is a funny thing. It hinges on a very delicate balance between too much and not enough - if you tip too much to one side of the scale, insanity almost certainly follows. Spend too much time alone and you feel a painful yearning for company, and spend too much time with people and you find yourself melancholy over the fact that you haven't checked in with your emotional barometer in a while.


Moving should be defined in the dictionary as "chaotic; a verb that renders most subjects it effects to go partially crazy and feel abruptly uprooted with nary a moment to think a single thought that doesn't revolve around itself". There is always a box to be unpacked or a piece of furniture to procure - the list seems to grow tenfold everytime you check something off. Needless to say, the last month and a half of my life has been filled with various unrelated tasks that all lead to a common goal: finally feeling settled in a new place.


The first few weeks were especially busy. I went from an 8-hour workday to some moving-related line on my to-do list, leaving myself barely enough time to enjoy the basic human rights of sleep and food. It kind of felt like finals week of college, but one that went on for about a month. Now that the couch has been ordered and walls have been painted and my belongings have all found a place (in some form or another) I finally have a moment to inhale and let the reality of my new life sink in. 


I have always been a social person, but a social person that needs enough time in a day to check in with myself for a minute or I start to go a little nuts. In the sorority, sometimes that me time consisted of just sitting in my closet to get away from everyone; not because I didn't enjoy their presence in my life (quite the contrary) but because I truly believe that a basic human need many of us ignore is the importance of spending time by ourselves.


It isn't anti-social. It isn't a sign of depression. It doesn't mean you don't love the people in your life. It just is what it is: necessary. It can be something as simple as reading for 10 minutes, writing in a journal, baking cookies or if you're feeling really ambitious running a couple miles. We all need to simply shut off our volume for a little while each day and turn our attention inwards, make sure that you are doing ok; taking a few moments each day that is completely centered on being selfish. I can't stress the importance of this enough.


That's why, after a month filled with emotions, changes and a busyness I haven't experienced in a long time, I couldn't be more excited to spend tonight cooking myself dinner, giving my new home a much needed spa day and reflecting on how happy I am to be in this moment, just hanging out with me.


Take my advice on this. Make the last few minutes of your day revolve around a cup of herbal tea and a back-issue of Vogue. Run for 15 minutes listening to your favorite new song. Meditate. Eat chocolate. Do something that makes you happy, relieves your stress and makes you feel ecstatic about living.


Just promise me you'll do it alone :)


♥mb.