While it is healthy to be around other people a lot, alone time is also very important. Some people are considered extroverts, so they feed off other people’s energy; others are introverts who need downtime in which to watch their favorite TV show or read a book quietly for a few hours. I have definitely heard more about the issue of alone time since I got to college, freshman year in particular. In college, there are constantly people around you, things to do, and new people to meet. Sometimes I would come home after a day of class and completely crash onto my bed in exhaustion from simply being around others for several hours on end.

Making conversation with people, or even just being around their energy, can be draining for some people. It is easy to fall into a horrible mood after a long day of socializing, which is why you must always squeeze in some alone time. You don’t want to start snapping at your friends just because you forgot to take a walk or go to the gym by yourself. Even if you just go to your room for an hour and lay there, you will feel rejuvenated. Not all of us are lucky enough to be able to stand being around others 24 hours of the day, but in the long run, that is perfectly okay. Those extroverts also need alone time, whether they realize it or not, because spending time with yourself and learning to be independent is, in my opinion, one of the most vital parts of growing up.

I have noticed that as I’ve grown older, my appreciation for alone time has increased. I get to reflect on things, not wear pants if I don’t want to, listen to any music I want, and/or binge read an awesome book. I now make it a priority to spend time alone because I don’t want to feel annoyed by my friends or family just because I haven’t checked in with myself to make sure I’m not in need of a nap or a quick solo episode of “Friends.” Plus, if we always seek our happiness from other people, we can become a dependent or even an attention-seeking person.

So I strongly recommend that everyone out there takes at least an hour once a day, or even just once a week, to cuddle up in your pajamas and enjoy some much-needed R&R with you. You may not even realize how much you’ve been needing it.