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Hi friends,
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I’m thrilled to share some exciting news!

This week I’m launching two new book clubs for the Madison Campus community. These clubs are part of our larger project— designed to support parents, students, and staff as we all navigate the challenges of raising kids in a digital world.

If you’d like to learn more about how we can partner with your child’s school, simply hit reply to this email and I’ll be happy to share the details.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s MindSwitch…

I’ve been reflecting on what it really means to be alone. I recently revisited Sherry Turkle’s 2014 TED Talk, Connected but Alone?—and it hasn’t left my mind. Our days fill quickly with lunches, playdates, birthday parties, and meetings, yet we often postpone time with the one person who is always with us: ourselves. Oftentimes we catch ourselves feeling lonely, and believe that it means we are alone.

But there’s an important distinction here: being alone is not the same as feeling lonely.

Being alone is a situation. It’s sitting in the quiet, recharging, and enjoying your own company. Far from isolating, it strengthens us, sparks creativity, and makes us more present when we return to others.

Feeling lonely is an emotion. It’s the ache of disconnection—even when surrounded by people or with hundreds of “friends” online. Loneliness doesn’t come from solitude; it comes from the absence of real connection.

Turkle reminds us that the more comfortable we are with solitude, the less likely we are to feel lonely. When we learn to enjoy our own company, we stop reaching for constant distractions or empty interactions. Instead, we bring wholeness into friendships, making them deeper and more authentic.

However, this requires intentional practice. Journaling, daydreaming, reflecting—these simple acts help us reconnect with ourselves and, in turn, connect more meaningfully with others.

Yet today, social media tempts us with the promise of connection but often leaves us more isolated. We scroll instead of sitting in the quiet, and in doing so, we skip the self-reflection that builds real bonds.
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Research shows that both passive browsing and active engagement on social media are linked to increased loneliness over time. The very platforms meant to bring us closer may actually amplify disconnection.

Alone time, then, is like charging our battery. Without it, we run out of energy with others. With it, we have more to give.

This doesn’t mean giving up our phones—but it does mean using them with greater intention. Like Turkle, “I’m not anti-technology, I’m pro-conversation”. Conversations with the people right in front of us. And perhaps most importantly, conversations with ourselves—the ones we compromise when constant notifications pull us away. Learning to be alone matters. In solitude, we discover who we are—and only then can we build the genuine connections that keep us from ever truly feeling lonely.

When was the last time you felt truly recharged by being alone?

Strategy for Parents

Helping kids value solitude doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are three small, high-impact shifts you can start this week:

1. Set up “quiet corners”​
   Create a cozy spot—maybe a beanbag by a window—where kids can draw, read, or simply think. No devices allowed.
2. Plan daily mini-solitude moments​
   Start small: five to ten minutes after school with no screens, music, or to-do lists. Let kids choose how to use that time.
3. Name the difference​
   Talk about how being alone can feel peaceful and full, while loneliness feels empty. Ask, “When do you feel happily alone? When do you feel lonely?”

These simple habits teach kids that being alone is not a punishment, but a life skill—one that builds confidence, creativity, and deeper friendships.

📖 Recommended Reading

​Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle.

In a world that praises busyness and endless scrolling, choosing solitude can feel almost rebellious. But we need it. When we pause the notifications and sit with our own thoughts, we’re not withdrawing—we’re refueling. We give our minds space to imagine, to breathe, and to notice what truly matters.

So before we rush on to the next thing, let’s take a few minutes—just us and our thoughts. Let’s show our kids that quiet isn’t empty; it’s where real connection begins. Together, we can create homes where solitude isn’t rare, but a natural part of growing strong, curious, and deeply connected.

If you’d like to explore how we can partner with your child’s school to tackle the challenges of raising kids in a digital world, just hit reply to this email and I’ll gladly share more details.
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Until next time,
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Alexandra

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