Alone time is important. It gives you time to unwind, relax, do the things you enjoy and just have some fun with you. It's important for your mental health to be able to step back for a bit and be happy in your own company. In all honesty, alone time is my favorite time. Don't get me wrong I also have moments when I need to be around people and I would take hanging out with my best friends over alone time any day, every day.

Learning how to enjoy your own company makes you a more independent person. I love to run errands, spend quiet days or just ride the CTA alone. It's so calming and peaceful. One of my favorite things to do in the city is riding the CTA, rush hour or not, looking out the window with my headphones in. Am I listening to Glass Animals? Am I listening to the Rocky Horror Soundtrack? Nobody knows the day I'm having. It's amazing.

For me, being able to go about my day and being as productive as possible requires me to be alone. I need to be able to go at my own pace, I need to have the right soundtrack to my day as I run errands.

All jokes aside, learning to hang out with myself has made me a more independent person.

After I first moved to the city I was pretty afraid to go anywhere, even to just to run a simple errand or go to class on the train alone. Getting over the initial big city scare was the best thing for me. Now I can go almost anywhere in the city, and nothing makes you feel more like a movie character than exploring a city on your own. I think adventuring on your own is the best because you know your own limits, and you don't need to worry about anyone else getting tired and ruining the day for you.

Getting used to doing things on my own has also made me smarter. Starting to grocery shop on my own this year has really taught me how to budget money and has really taught me that I do need fruit every once in a while. I also feel like I have become more intuitive and aware of my surroundings when I'm out.

Learning to be alone is the best thing you can do for yourself.

I know I certainly feel better about myself. I feel braver about being able to go out on my own, I feel smarter, I feel happier because taking time for myself has allowed me to focus on my mental health and become more independent.

Remember, you are the most important person in your life and it's okay to act like it.