In college, it can feel like you are supposed to be around people all the time. Whether it’s going out with friends, eating together, studying together, or just hanging out, there is almost this pressure to always have someone with you. Sometimes being alone can even make you feel like you’re missing out. But I’ve started to realize that spending time alone doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.
Learning to enjoy your own company can actually help you become more comfortable with yourself. There are so many simple things you can do alone, like going shopping, getting food, listening to music, watching your favorite show, or even just taking a drive. At first, doing certain things alone might feel awkward, especially when you are used to always having someone with you. Eventually, though, you start to realize that you don’t need other people around to enjoy yourself.
Being alone and being lonely are also two completely different things. You can have a lot of friends and still feel lonely, just like you can spend a day by yourself and feel completely content. Spending time alone gives you the opportunity to think, recharge, and learn more about yourself without worrying about what everyone else wants to do.
College is a time when we are constantly changing and figuring out who we are. Part of that growth is learning how to be independent and comfortable in your own space. Your friends and the people you love are still important, but you shouldn’t have to depend on someone else being available in order to do something you want to do.
At the end of the day, enjoying your own company doesn’t mean isolating yourself from everyone. It simply means becoming comfortable enough with yourself that being alone doesn’t automatically feel like something is missing. Sometimes, you might even realize that your own company is exactly what you needed.