Life moves fast. Sometimes the only quiet moment you get is brushing your teeth—and even then, there's a notification going off.
If you feel like you’re always “on,” constantly reacting, and never really alone with your thoughts, you’re not alone. I’ve been there. When I was caught in cycles of binge eating, gaming, and zoning out for hours on YouTube, the idea of solitude felt impossible. I thought being busy and distracted was just part of life. But I learned something after losing 110 pounds and reworking every part of my lifestyle: you don’t find peace by accident. You have to make space for it.
Even just one hour of solitude can reset your overwhelm and help you reconnect with purpose. Here are 15 real, practical ways to carve out that precious, quiet hour—no matter how busy life gets.
1. Wake Up One Hour Earlier
Yes, it’s classic advice—but it works. Mornings are quieter, distractions are fewer, and if you start your day before the world starts shouting at you, you get a calm head start. That extra hour in the morning gave me time to pray, plan, and just breathe. And that breathing space changed everything.
2. Turn Off Your Phone for One Hour
Put it on airplane mode. Stick it in a drawer. Whatever works. We don’t realize how much noise our phones bring into our lives until we turn them off. For me, this is one of the simplest ways to get a clear head fast.
3. Block Out “Alone Time” on Your Calendar
Treat it like an unmissable meeting. Don’t fill it. Don’t skip it. Just like you make time for work or errands, make time to sit with yourself. Schedule it and protect it.
4. Swap Screen Time for Quiet Time
Track how long you scroll on social media or binge Netflix. Chances are, you can grab an hour from there and use it for stillness instead. When I cut back on gaming, I used that space to walk, journal, or just relax in silence. It felt weird at first. But then it felt freeing.
5. Create a “No Talking” Zone
If other people live with you, try designating a quiet hour—no talking, no music, no devices. Everyone benefits from peace. When I lived with roommates, we had a common rule: 6–7 a.m. was sacred. It worked surprisingly well.
6. Say No to One Thing
Every “yes” is a “no” to something else. Say no to that extra event, errand, or half-hour Zoom call and put that hour back in your hands. It’s not selfish. It’s necessary.
7. Do One Task Slower
We rush through life. Try folding laundry, doing dishes, or making coffee at half your usual speed. Don’t play music or talk. Let it be quiet. Let your mind wander. It’s weirdly therapeutic.
8. Walk Alone Without Headphones
Walking gives you fresh air and movement, but walking in silence gives you space to think. I used to fill every walk with music or podcasts. Then I stopped. Now some of my best ideas come during those quiet strolls with God.
9. Take a Solitude Lunch
Instead of eating at your desk or eating out with co-workers every day, try one lunch a week alone. Sit without your phone. Just eat and think. I did this during my weight loss journey—it helped me reconnect with my hunger levels and moods. Plus, it was a peaceful break in the middle of the day.
10. Journal for Five Minutes—Then Keep Going
Tell yourself you’re just journaling for five minutes. Once you start, you’ll often want to keep going. Write whatever comes to mind. No rules, no polish. Just let it out.
11. Leave One Hour Unplanned
Not every moment needs to be filled or maximized. Try leaving one hour completely blank. Don’t predetermine how you’ll use it. Just see what happens. It might turn into prayer, a nap, a creative hour, or just sitting still. Let it be open.
12. Practice Deep Work in Short Bursts
This one might sound more productive than peaceful, but hear me out. I learned from my routine that doing focused work in 2–4 hour chunks frees up more time later. No multitasking. No distractions. Just full focus. Then, with work done faster, you gain free time for rest and solitude.
13. Create a “Quiet Corner”
Set up a small space just for alone time. A chair by the window, a spot under a tree, or a corner of your room with no distractions. When you step into that space, leave everything else behind. My quiet corner became a prayer chair. The moment I sat there, I felt peace ready to meet me.
14. Use Your Shower as Sacred Solitude
No music. No rushing. Just warm water, deep breaths, and time with your wandering thoughts. It sounds simple, but even 10 quiet minutes here resets your brain.
15. End the Day with Silence
Instead of ending your night on a screen, try lying in bed for a few minutes with no distractions. Reflect on your day, say a short prayer, and let stillness carry you to sleep. Some of the best insights God gave me came in those quiet end-of-day moments when everything else faded away.
Make Space to Hear Yourself Again
Solitude isn’t selfish. It helps you show up better for everything—and everyone—else in your life.
Start small. Try one or two ideas this week. Even 15 minutes of true alone time can be powerful. Over time, that builds into something life-changing.
Ask yourself this: When was the last time you sat alone without any goal, screen, or noise? Just you, your thoughts, and maybe God.
Give yourself permission to create that space. You might be surprised what you hear in the silence.
