In our society, we're often told to be more introverted and take time for ourselves. And while that's true, there are some things you should do alone—things that will help you learn more about yourself and what you want out of life. These activities can be as simple as watching your favorite movie in bed or taking a long walk around the neighborhood on a Saturday afternoon. So grab your phone off the charger and get comfortable: here are 10 genius things everyone needs to do alone at least once!
Go on a long walk by yourself.
Take a walk.
It doesn't have to be anything fancy—just get out there and walk around. Walk through the park, around your neighborhood, or just meander through the woods. You can even make it more fun by packing snacks and taking your dog along for company if you're into that sort of thing. As long as you're alone with yourself and surrounded by nature (or however else you prefer to fill up that space), there's no wrong way to do it!
Take a vacation alone.
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Eat slowly.
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Get up early.
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Take a nap if you feel like it.
Taking time for yourself is the best way to get on a healthy schedule and make sure that you're getting your body moving, but we often feel guilty about doing things alone because there's always something else we could be doing instead. For example: "I should go out with some friends tonight instead of watching Netflix at home." Or: "I should go grocery shopping after work instead of eating leftovers again." Just because other people are busy doesn't mean that what they're doing is more important than what's going on in your mind and body, so don't let them guilt you into thinking otherwise! If it helps, think about this as making space for yourself to focus on the things that bring meaning back into your life—and then enjoy those moments for what they are without feeling guilty about them later!
Listen to your favorite band's album from start to finish on repeat.
Listen to your favorite band's album from start to finish on repeat.
Why? Because you love it, and you shouldn't have to apologize for that.
Why not? Because it's fun! You get to listen to the music you love repeatedly and analyze what you like about each song (beyond just the lyrics).
Eat dessert for dinner.
Eating dessert for dinner is a great way to celebrate the end of a long day. It's also a friendly reminder that you're worth being pampered every now and then.
Try cooking up some chocolate pudding or cheesecake! You can make them as fancy as you want—with homemade whipped cream and fresh berries from the farmer's market or with your favorite ice cream topping. Feel free to add sprinkles, too! Just don't overeat; it's best not to go overboard with sugar when it comes down to making healthy decisions about what food goes into your body.
If possible, try eating dessert for dinner on weeknights when work gets hectic and stressful; this will give you an extra boost in the mood before going home so that you can better relax after work.*
Take a bubble bath with candles, music, and a glass of wine.
A bubble bath is one of the most relaxing things you can do for yourself. It’s also a great excuse to take some time out from your busy life and spend it alone.
Candles are excellent for setting the mood, but you should use them carefully if you have kids at home (or pets). The same goes for music—you don't want to scare little ones!
If wine helps you relax, then, by all means, bring it into your bubble bath! Just remember that alcohol causes dehydration so remember to drink plenty of water.
Make a bucket list.
It's a way to ensure you're spending time doing what you want to do before you get old and die. The best part is that no one else has to know what is on your list! It’s all about the surprise when they find out at your funeral. Also, knowing what people want in their lives means more than actually getting it done. If they were going to achieve something, they would have by now—just let them be happy with their lives and don't worry too much about them not being perfect versions of themselves already. That said, if anyone wants help making these lists for themselves or others (I'm talking about myself here), do you know where to find me?
Be in complete silence.
You may have heard that silence is the best medicine, but now you’re wondering what that means. Does it mean you need to go into a cave for a month? Should you put on earmuffs and walk around the streets with your eyes closed? Well, no—there are much better ways to get your fix of silence. How about going outside at night and looking at all those stars above you? Or maybe going on a hike through nature where there aren't any cars or lights or people talking loudly over their phones in restaurants? Or maybe even sitting alone in your own home (or even apartment), free of any distraction except for whatever thoughts pop into your head as they, please.
Whether it's one day or three months, take some time out of every week to disconnect from all communication devices so that no one can bother you. Go somewhere quiet where there aren't many other people (or if others are around, don't make eye contact with them). Try not to think about anything else besides enjoying being alone! If this seems complicated, try thinking about something pleasant, like eating ice cream or spending time with friends instead of coworkers at work; whatever helps ease tension between mind and body should work fine here too!
Write letters to people you love but will never send them.
One of the most therapeutic things about writing letters is that you don't have to send them. You can write to anyone and anything, and no one has to see it but you. This can be a great way to express your feelings without feeling pressured or afraid that someone will judge your words.
If you have someone in mind which will never know what was written on those pages, it's also an excellent way to get out all kinds of thoughts and emotions that would otherwise build up inside you until they become too heavy for your heart or mind.
Writing about what's going on in your life is a fantastic way of getting things off your chest—whether that means venting about something difficult or just expressing how much happiness something brings!
Go grocery shopping alone.
Go grocery shopping alone.
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Get the best prices, and you don't have to wait in line.
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Buy the things you want.
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Take your time and enjoy the experience because it's good to be alone sometimes.
Meditate or pray.
Meditation and prayer are two ways to calm the mind and connect with the divine. They can be done together or separately—but they're a great way to spend time alone.
Solo time can help you learn more about who you are and what you want out of life.
Going solo can help you learn more about yourself and what you want out of life. It's a good idea to take some time to think about these things when no one else is around to influence your thoughts. You might think friends or family would best do this kind of reflection. Still, often their presence inhibits us from really opening up, so it's better to go somewhere alone, where there are no distractions or external influences.
If you're thinking about changing jobs, moving cities, or even continents—which would involve massive changes in every aspect of your life—it's important that you know exactly what sort of person (or type) will thrive there before actually making these decisions. You'll need all the clear-headedness possible when trying something new and unfamiliar; plus, having an objective view on whether or not it will work for you means not wasting precious energy on something that won't work out anyway!
Solo time is something everyone can benefit from. It allows us to find new ways of thinking and to do things that we might not have considered if we had just continued with our routine. It's essential to take some time for yourself now and then to recharge, reflect and grow. And if there is any doubt about whether or not this will work for you... try it out!