We live in a world of collisions and connections. We are constantly surrounded by people, each of whom impact and change us every second of our lives. As human beings, we are social creatures, so these ties are necessary. Yet we often become so caught up in the busy-ness and messiness that are human relationships that we forget to take the time to step into the world of our own minds and to cultivate our inner lives. In order to enrich your sense of self and to begin to enjoy spending time alone, here are some ideas you can try out:

1. Turn off Netflix.

I know, this one is difficult for most people. And while binge-watching "The Office" every once in a while can be genuinely relaxing and enjoyable, the truth is that much of the content we watch is mindless and generally serves as background noise to other activities, such as homework or time on social media. Taking a break from TV will free up the portion of your brain which is usually engaged, however marginally, in the program.

2. Take a long walk.

Getting your legs moving will give you something to do as you let your mind wander. Try going on a walk without headphones, and you will be surprised how much you are able to clear your head. Don’t be afraid of silence. In many ways, your other senses are heightened when you eliminate the distraction of external noise.

3. Try a new form of meditation or prayer.

If you have a hard time focusing your attention during meditation, put together a playlist of some relaxing classical music as a background. And if your mind does wander, don’t worry--you might be surprised to see the places it goes. Personally, I have found that meditating outside is the most relaxing for me. It might take several tries, but eventually you will be able to find a place that is your place, a place where you can allow your thoughts to wander in tranquility. Establishing a particular place to meditate will allow you to associate the location with peace of mind, and if you ever find your brain going haywire, you can return to it in order to center yourself.

4. Go people watching.

Go to a park or a cafe somewhere, and sip your coffee serenely as you see people interact with each other and hurry through their lives. It may sound a little strange, but actually it can be quite fun. You might learn something through your observations!

5. Dance to your guilty pleasure music.

Everyone has that one artist that they are slightly ashamed to be a fan of. When you are by yourself in your room, remember that no one is watching to judge you. Go crazy. Blast that Justin Bieber and jump on your bed like there’s no tomorrow.

6. Go out to dinner or a movie alone.

For some reason, many people feel self-conscious about going out in public alone. If you feel self-conscious about eating at a restaurant alone, however, you can bring a book or a magazine, preferably a hard copy, so you appear occupied. Disconnect yourself from your phone for an hour or two, and do something you enjoy alone. Being in public by yourself will likely make you more comfortable with the concept of alone time, and besides, it can incredibly relaxing and interesting.

See which of these ideas works for you! Taking some time to spend alone with yourself can have numerous positive effects on your life. By learning to be comfortable in the stillness, we can ground ourselves in our minds in order to take on the wild and crazy world around us.