Throughout life, there is pressure to constantly surround yourself with people. Spending time alone can carry a negative connotation implying you don't have friends or are an outsider, but spending time alone is so important for so many reasons.

As fun as it can be to spend time with family and friends, alone time shouldn't be something that's forgotten about. Being alone is not the same as being lonely, and knowing the distinction between the two is key. Being alone is taking the time to focus on yourself and letting yourself be free to think, say, or do whatever you want. It's not having to feel like you need to be on your A-game or to act in a certain way.

Spending time alone allows uncensored thoughts to take shape. You're free to cry, scream, laugh, and watch as much Netflix as you want. It's not like you can't do these things with friends or family, but doing them alone can be therapeutic. Spending time alone can help you unwind from a long week or make an important decision for yourself.

Not taking the time to separate yourself from the outside world for at least a little bit can cause you to lose touch with your inner self. No, you won't die, but you might feel different. You might find you're not as happy or relaxed as you would be had you had some alone time.

I know a ton of alone time isn't for everyone, but if you've been feeling lost or know you haven't had enough time for yourself lately, go ahead and give yourself a few hours to do whatever you want.

For me, time alone is sitting in bed in sweats watching hours of YouTube videos or Netflix and relaxing at the end of the day, and it's one of my favorite times.