The Green Sheet Online Edition

May 13, 2024 • Issue 24:05:01

Inspiration

The profound power of solitude

In the everyday bustle of the payments industry, it's easy to stay in constant motion, alert, ready to catch new opportunities that will speed us toward our ultimate goals. Even when payments professionals have officially shifted focus from work to leisure activities, it's too easy to remain tuned into mobile devices, interacting with friends and colleagues hour after hour.

Even when doing a good job of balancing work and personal activities (that is, if they aren't so indelibly entwined that it's impossible to separate them) ISOs and agents can burn out due to a stimulus overload. This can happen to even the most gregarious salesperson or industry luminary.

One often overlooked solution to this is so simple it's easy to underestimate its power. And that is to regularly spend time alone.

Health benefits of solitude include reduced stress, improved mental clarity, enhanced creativity, increased productivity and better emotional regulation, among other benefits. That’s quite a list.

How to bow out

Following are ways you can incorporate alone-time:

• Schedule regular breaks: Block out specific times in your schedule to be alone so you can recharge and rest, even if it's just 10 to 15 minutes.
• Morning rituals: Start your day with alone-time rituals like meditation, journaling or simply enjoying a cup of coffee in silence. (If you’re new to meditation, try using a guided meditation app.)
• Lunch breaks: Instead of socializing at lunchtime, consider unwinding on a solo walk, reading a book or listening to calming music.
• Disconnect from technology: Allocate time daily to disconnect from emails, social media and other digital distractions. And spend that time on calming activities, gardening, painting or dancing for example, that provide fulfillment and relaxation.
• Explore nature: Spend time outdoors exploring parks, hiking trails or nearby nature reserves. Nature has a calming effect and can help reduce stress. And if you're really adventurous, you can try solo travel.

I hope these ideas will help you prioritize alone-time so you can reap the benefits.

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