How Long Can You Sit Quietly By Yourself?
Use these tips to dissolve resistance and enjoy the many benefits of sitting quietly by yourself
Does the idea of sitting still for any length of time disconcert you?
If so, you’re normal. Most people dislike being alone with their own mind.
When people were ask to sit with their thoughts for 6–15 minutes in a series of studies conducted at the University of Virginia by psychologist Timothy Wilson, most said it wasn’t enjoyable and it was hard to concentrate.
In one study of the series, the majority of men preferred to self-administer a mild electric shock rather than sit quietly with their own thoughts for the full 15-minute period.
You could just leave it at that, thinking, “Sitting quietly is too hard. It just isn’t for me.”
But sitting quietly brings many benefits. Maybe there’s a way to outwit resistance and reap the positives that come from learning to sit quietly by yourself.
Let’s take a look.
The Many Benefits of Sitting Quietly
The philosopher Blaise Pascal believed:
“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room…
