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Inspiration

The profound power of solitude

n the everyday bustle of the payments industry, it's • Morning rituals: Start your day with alone-time rit-
easy to stay in constant motion, alert, ready to catch uals like meditation, journaling or simply enjoying a
new opportunities that will speed us toward our cup of coffee in silence. (If you’re new to meditation,
I ultimate goals. Even when payments professionals try using a guided meditation app.)
have officially shifted focus from work to leisure activities,
it's too easy to remain tuned into mobile devices, interact- • Lunch breaks: Instead of socializing at lunchtime,
ing with friends and colleagues hour after hour. consider unwinding on a solo walk, reading a book
or listening to calming music.
Even when doing a good job of balancing work and per-
sonal activities (that is, if they aren't so indelibly entwined • Disconnect from technology: Allocate time daily
that it's impossible to separate them) ISOs and agents can to disconnect from emails, social media and other
burn out due to a stimulus overload. This can happen to digital distractions. And spend that time on calming
even the most gregarious salesperson or industry lumi- activities, gardening, painting or dancing for exam-
nary. ple, that provide fulfillment and relaxation.
• Explore nature: Spend time outdoors exploring
One often overlooked solution to this is so simple it's easy parks, hiking trails or nearby nature reserves. Na-
to underestimate its power. And that is to regularly spend ture has a calming effect and can help reduce stress.
time alone. And if you're really adventurous, you can try solo
travel.
Health benefits of solitude include reduced stress, im-
proved mental clarity, enhanced creativity, increased pro- I hope these ideas will help you prioritize alone-time so
ductivity and better emotional regulation, among other you can reap the bene
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.
Kate Gillespie, President and CEO

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