TRAITS OF AN EMPATH - NEED FOR ALONE TIME

Life is a constant balancing act. For an Empath, this is especially true regarding alone time. Social interactions use more emotional energy than others. It can be hard to set healthy boundaries when it may seem that other people might take offense. This can come at the expense of an empath's well-being. Too much time with people, constant noise, and overstimulation can have a detrimental effect on someone who is highly sensitive.

One of the significant needs of an empath is having time for solitude.  This does not necessarily mean a lonely time spent in a rural destination. It means taking a break from all the things that use emotional energy.  It is okay to leave or avoid social situations that demand more than what is at capacity.  Finding ways to take a break is essential, even if it is just closing one's eyes.

Empaths tend to be highly sensitive and have a nervous system that responds acutely to stimuli. They also need time to process what has happened and contemplate how incidents or interactions affect them. They are not people who deflect or ignore what has happened. Time taken in solitude is not an act of depression or antisocial behavior; it is an act of self-preservation and self-care.  

Alone time and recharging one's batteries can look many different ways. Here are some common examples:

  • Reading

  • Taking a Nap

  • Exercising

  • Journaling

  • Gardening

  • Meditating

  • Cooking/Baking

  • Cleaning

  • Painting

  • Enjoying a Hobby

  • Crafting

Writing and the Need For Alone Time

I have my routine in the morning after I drop the kids off at school.  I have a pot of tea, breakfast without interruption, and quiet writing time at my desk.  It has been a lovely rhythm that has kept me more active and something I look forward to each day.  My dilemma is when to let people in.  I have been working on becoming more organized, and one way has been to block out my mornings solely for writing.  I do not schedule anything (unless I have to) in the mornings.  This protects my quiet, peaceful mornings and encourages me to get to work.  But sometimes, I do not want to venture out.  I become desirous of keeping the whole day, from drop off to pick up, for myself.  

If I do become more social than usual, I become completely drained.  My morning routine becomes a time when I get distracted with other projects, or I have to nap to recover. This can become a vicious cycle; I rest a lot, then feel as though I am neglecting people, then I am overly social, and then I get fatigued again.  The cycle is only broken when I start to say no, limit my social interactions to the essentials, and plan my week so I can have adequate rest and restoration as needed. Otherwise, writing becomes an afterthought and not a priority.

Cover Image: Henry Stacy Marks. Woman Seated on a Tabouret, 1849–1898. The Art Institute of Chicago

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