Time to Think and Be

I finished reading "Digital Minimalism, Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World." by Cal Newport. The book shares how the world of smartphones, social media, and other online distractions capture our attention and keep us away from deeper and more meaningful experiences in life.

One of the topics discussed in the book is that people no longer have quiet time in their lives. We lack solitude and time to be alone and think. Lack of solitude significantly impacts our work as early childhood educators. In an always-connected world, we never take time to be alone with our thoughts. In many of our waking moments, the smartphone provides a distraction from the perceived boredom of an idle mind.

In early childhood education, we work in an environment of emotional labor. An environment that is always stimulating and busy with many demands on our emotions and energy. The action, variety, and new things we learn about others and ourselves are a significant part of the teaching experience. Our constant activity has a cost, like the experience of the smartphone. Educators rarely have a time when we are separate from the demands of our attention.

One solution to this condition is to take a break from our busyness and practice being in solitude. Being quiet and alone with our thoughts is beneficial for early childhood educators. Here are a few reasons why.

Practicing solitude helps us to clear our minds, refocus, and re-energize. In an always busy profession, taking small solitude breaks will provide a buffer to the multitasking nature of our work. Taking solitude breaks will help us focus more when we are in the presence of the children.

As educators, being quiet and thinking on our own helps us connect with the classroom. Solitude helps us be more creative with our work and enhances our problem-solving skills. A solitude practice prepares us to work through the many challenges we encounter during the day.

A solitude practice helps us reduce the stress that builds in our lives. When we take time alone to deconstruct and decompress the day's happenings, we gain perspective. Our perceptions of circumstances in our work become clear and understood, making us happier and creating more life satisfaction.

By practicing solitude, we get to know ourselves better. Practicing solitude enhances our collaboration with others. Much of our work is about making connections with children, parents, and other educators. Connecting with others is rewarding, meaningful, and tiring work for the mind. Being alone to clear the mind makes our time with others more satisfying and productive.

In your work as an educator, how often do you feel tired? In the classroom, we share energy; therefore, we may feel exhausted during our downtime. A solitude practice offers the same benefits as napping. It is essential to take a little time out of our day to be quiet, alone, and re-energize.

When we practice solitude regularly, we become better at facing problems and finding creative solutions. Often, we cannot find answers to challenging issues because our mind is too cluttered and filled with information and blocks the pathways of experience that blend with our knowledge into creative thinking patterns. Being quiet with our thoughts will enhance our problem-solving skills.

Educators work in a busy environment. It is challenging to remember all the daily tasks we want to get done, and our work can become overwhelming. Practicing solitude can increase our memory capacity. As we learn to quiet the mind, our mind is free to focus on the tasks that we find meaningful and want to remember.

As we take time to practice solitude and unclutter our minds, we become more perceptive of our classroom environment. Our ability to sense, think, and act as educators become more thoughtful and precise. Our skills to be present and in tune with what is happening in our world develop.

I know many educators are busy and feel we do not have time to be alone. Time alone is essential for people who work in emotional labor. Here are a few suggestions on incorporating a solitude practice into your life. Some methods take more time than others. Pick the one that fits into your current lifestyle and enjoy the benefits.

Less Connectivity Online – The more time we spend online engaging with social media, apps, and games, takes time away from our practice. Less time online will help our professional and personal lives. Engagement online is the opposite of a solitude practice. Changing the balance between your online life and quiet time will increase your ability to focus, be calm, and act with intention.

Take a Walk – Walking is a good exercise for practicing solitude. Walking is a time to be in nature, connect with the sensory experience of the outdoors, and listen to the voice of your heart. The spirit inside us, our true self, wants to talk with us but cannot because of the constant noise in our personal and professional lives. Take a walk, leave your phone at home, and enjoy the tranquility.

A Lunch of One – Earlier, I mentioned that solitude has the same benefits as taking a nap. Lunch is one of the areas in our workday where we can enjoy solitude practice. It is nice to have lunch with colleagues and catch up on our personal and professional lives. It is also beneficial to take a few days per week or on days when our work is challenging to have lunch alone. Taking time to eat alone, outside on a nice day, or in a quiet corner of the school allows us to gain perspective. It helps us re-energize and refocus for the rest of our day.

Get Up Early Before the World Begins – Many people have busy lives. We would love to engage in a solitude practice and can see the benefits, but when? I have no time. One of the best times to practice solitude is before the world comes alive. Starting your day earlier than the rest of the world is terrific. The house is quiet, and you can take time to think and dream in the peace of dawn. Taking a walk is also very peaceful in the early morning.

Meditate – Many people practice solitude through meditation. Our busyness creates a constant dialogue in our heads. This running story can distract our work and our enjoyment of life. Practicing meditation helps us to be calm. Meditation helps us accept the running thoughts of our mind and regain focus on the present, where true life happens.

These are a few ideas to try as you begin a solitude practice. I would encourage you to think about adopting some form of quiet training. You will create better connections to your wants and needs. All you need to do is take a little time away from the distractions of life, enjoy some quiet, and listen. I have heard it said that silence is golden. It may be the golden ticket to enhancing our work with children.