“I don’t know about you, but I love me some quiet time.”
That was always my response or sentiment when someone was trying to insert themselves in my free time to engage in something I wasn’t interested in doing or that I considered unimportant in comparison to my “quiet-time” plans. On more occasions than one, I had already gone through reveries of my next break from the matrix.
Of course! I am rarely that selfish and make sure I try to spend adequate time with family and other loved ones; but as an introvert, that was not always easy. It was only in my late 20’s I had realized that quiet time was necessary for my being. This article is not a scholarly response to the topic.
I believe today, more than ever, quiet time isn’t just a luxury, it is a necessity; important in restoring balance (dare I say, sanity) in our days that are full of distractions.
Power of Personal Reflection
Quiet time for me is so restorative. When I don’t take quiet time out during any part of the day (outside of regular night sleep), I often feel frazzled; like I don’t have a pulse on where I am or what I’m doing. It does not even necessarily have to be a specific time of the day — just that quiet time alone, is taken.
Quiet Time- A Means for Recalibration
At some point, I just feel like I need to recalibrate. You would think that just having A “to do” list or a notepad or some kind of digital tool to keep the day in check and flowing, would be sufficient. Yet, I realized at some point that it wasn’t about the list or organization of my day that kept me balanced (dare I say, sane).
It was deeper than that. Taking quiet time out daily, literally makes me feel more human. “Human?” — as opposed to what?
“I don’t ever enjoy feeling like a robot.”
I never want to feel like I’m just doing ‘to do.’ Have I gone through days on the planet feeling like that?
Absolutely! and too many times. I surmised though, that something has to give. Stillness became addictive.
We are sentient and there’s a measure of internal and external stimuli both playing some role in how we navigate this world, as well as how we see ourselves in it.
The necessity for quiet time isn’t about my being introverted either. Neither, do I think quiet time is a concern for those with moderate to extreme anxiety or any level of attention deficit or fill-in the blank mental condition.
I think it’s just necessary for us, especially in a day and in a time that we live where everything’s gunning always for “GO.”
Ai has also found its place in our lives — this leap has allowed us to do much more in shorter spaces of time; but it has also taken over our workplaces and our lives at breakneck speed. Our sensory space is continually inundated even when we are trying our best to be level.
It can be very easy to get lost in the fray.
But let’s be for real…
Feeling lost, disconnected or unable to engage meaningfully with your surroundings is not a flex.
I think it’s important for us to be mindful of how we feel and to realize that we have to take considerations for our mental space, our well-being .
Many people are going through extremely tough times with unemployment, family and relationships —
Unless they can afford a therapist or have the gumption to walk into now, seemingly more questionable spaces such as places of worship or faith communities? — — there is not much in the way of quality help.
Too much is in flux and places and people that were supposed to be havens and safe spaces are themselves having a hard moment, compromised or genuinely challenged.
Your mental and emotional well-being is too crucial to leave it up to external validation or solely external support. I am a huge supporter of therapy, so if it can be accessed, it should.
Be an Advocate for Your Own Quiet Time
However, I believe it is our responsibility individually, to take stock of where we are and to do so often. Everyone is trying to navigate the world given what they have; It is going to be hard looking about for others if you, yourself are not in check. If we are expecting admin, HR, family, friends or our doctors to check-in and say, “Hey, slow down,” — that pause may never come.
We need quiet time to take stock of ourselves and determine what we need, even though the answer to that may not be in sight. There will be challenges, there will be days we don’t like, there will be days of celebration there will be days of grief but there also will be days of resilience if we take quiet time out, daily.
Notice, I mentioned nothing about the amount of time that should be taken.
That will vary based on each human’s need and ability.
But I believe the more quiet time we take for ourselves, our bodies are intelligent enough to signal what is needed:
Am I good with only 15 minutes, 20, 30 or a full hour or 2? Your body will say, but the realities of your own life will help you come to a quality number.
Bottom line
Let’s keep sanity in these days at the forefront and take quiet time into consideration. We do ourselves a disservice if we don’t. I’m an advocate for quiet time daily — – to recalibrate to “Woosah,” — -to just BE!
- Please note emphatically that “quiet time” in this article does not refer to unnecessary screen time or doomscrolling.
