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Are you an introvert? If you pulled an “I” on your last Myers-Briggs personality test, the same crowds that energize your more extroverted friends could leave you running on “E.”
Members of this tribe need time to themselves to recover their psychic energies and nurture their sensitive souls. Here’s a recipe for your perfect alone day for when you need to recharge your social battery.
The first moments of your day are among the most magical. As your brain transitions from sleep to wakefulness, your neurons are like sponges — allowing you to program the tone for the 24 hours to come. Why not start your morning off on a positive note?
Tune into a morning meditation before you get out of bed. You can take advantage of this hypnopompic hour to put your neural pathways on a positive track. YouTube is a glorious resource where you’ll find tons of guided versions that you can access for free. You’ll find those designed to do anything from getting in touch with your higher self to helping you shed unwanted pounds.
Breakfast may or may not be the most important meal of the day. However, enjoying a leisurely morning meal is one of the best ways to say, “Self, you deserve to be treated like royalty.” Instead of settling for a bowl of cold cereal, dig into something decadent.
Indulging your taste buds doesn’t mean abandoning your nutritional goals. Why not dig into one of these healthy omelets that are chock-full of wholesome ingredients like spinach, tomato and mushroom? Alternatively, prepare a decadent frittata the night before and pair a slice with some non-dairy Greek yogurt topped with granola and berries.
After a hearty breakfast, you have to give your body time to digest your meal. Why not do so while sunning yourself on your patio hammock and digging into a juicy novel? Many introverts adore reading — it transports you to another world without forcing you to interact with your fellow travelers on your journey.
Did your last social event leave you surrounded by Debbie Downers, who stole a bit of your sunshine? Why not use your reading time to readjust your mindset? Pick up one of the top inspirational reads for 2021 and put the spring and passion back in your step.
Exercise is a vital part of any perfect alone day, but you don’t have to drive to the gym or log more miles on your living room treadmill. Instead, lace up your tennis shoes and head to the great outdoors. You’ll get a better workout from the up-and-down rugged terrain on a wilderness trail, but that isn’t the only perk you’ll reap.
Researchers investigated the effects of forest bathing on immune function. They discovered that spending time in nature increased the number of natural killer cells your body has to fight infection. Despite cries to return to normal, we’re still in a pandemic. It pays to bolster your body’s abilities to fight germs, and it’s even better when you can do so in a way that revitalizes your soul at the same time.
You don’t have to drop a bundle on a pricey health spa to enjoy a little pampering when you return from your trek. With a bit of creativity, you can create the perfect DIY treatment center right in your home.
You can create a simple sugar scrub with only a few ingredients to slough away dead skin cells and create a rosy glow. Submerge yourself in a bath filled with Epsom salts, your favorite relaxing tea bags and perhaps a few flower petals. Treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure when you emerge all clean and shiny.
By this time, you’re ready to begin winding down for the day. Hopefully, you already feel renewed and refreshed. Put the cherry on top of your recovery by getting ready for bed with a gentle yoga practice.
What if you never spent time on the mat before? You don’t have to get dressed and go to a studio, breaking your solitary bliss. You can find plenty of fabulous channels on YouTube to start your practice for free.
If you’re an introvert, too much time with other people can leave you drained. Recharge your social battery with this recipe for your perfect alone day.
