Siddharth Saoji 
For men in the demanding decade between 35 and 45, life is a constant juggling act. Pulled between the needs of growing children, aging parents, your life partner, and a demanding career, the pressure to be everything to everyone is immense. This period is marked not just by stress, but by a unique “full-circle” guilt. You see your own childhood in your child’s need for attention and your own future in your aging parents’ need for connection. This dual perspective makes the desire for time alone feel like a failure to both your past and future self.
This need for personal time, however, isn’t a selfish desire to escape responsibility, but a fundamental requirement for mental well-being. Solitude offers a rare opportunity to drop the various roles, quiet the guilt, and simply process thoughts to reconnect with yourself. This quiet restoration is crucial for managing the competing priorities of this life stage.
Finding this essential solitude doesn’t require grand gestures or long retreats. Instead, it can be woven into the fabric of daily life through small, intentional acts. A solitary walk or run, or even carving out 30 minutes for quiet, uninterrupted thought at work, can provide powerful moments of renewal.
Ultimately, embracing solitude is not a withdrawal from commitment but a vital tool for showing up more fully in all aspects of life. By finding this balance, men can navigate the pressures of this challenging decade with greater self-compassion and be more meaningfully present for their families and themselves.