Since February is all about celebrating love, let’s dive into some whimsical ways to express love to yourself this month by going out on a solo date!
This might feel a little uncomfortable or unusual to those who aren’t used to spending time with themselves doing things they enjoy, but when you get into the habit of going on a solo date every week or every month, you find that there’s a lot about yourself that you don’t know. These dates could lead to explorations about your actual interests, likes and dislikes, and your patterns of behaviour and thinking styles, or force you to sit with feelings you’ve been avoiding.
Either way, they are going to be deeply meaningful, helpful, and pleasant over a long period of time.
But first, let’s return to our why. Why do you wish to go on a solo date?
If the answer is not learning to be alone so you don’t depend on people at all, romanticising loneliness, or replacing and avoiding relationships, then you have a green light to proceed! 🚦🟢
Solo dates are all about how present you feel with yourself. These do not have to look aesthetic, performative, productive, useful, or conventional at all. They simply have to be a space and time that you’ve carved out for yourself, where you’re allowed to just be. Here you can be yourself completely, with no fear of judgment or need for masking your true self.
Ideally, these shouldn’t feel forced, or like a task to be ticked off. Neither do they have to be exquisite, sophisticated, grand, or taking up a lot of time. These decisions are purely yours to make, based on what feels intuitive.
What would it feel like to take yourself somewhere today, not to fix anything, but simply to be with yourself?
Let’s take a look at some fun ideas based on your interests, I’ve also attached a visual representation of how they could look.
🌿 If You’re Drawn to Calm & Comfort
- Visiting a familiar café and ordering your usual
- Sitting in a park, garden, or by a window with no agenda
- Reading, journaling, or simply people-watching
- Walking slowly, without tracking steps or time and noticing what’s around
- Switching off all devices while you spend time alone at home sleeping, snuggled in bed with your pet or while just cooking warm meals and enjoying the weather
- Having a plant/gardening day
These dates are about safety and softness, away from constant stimulation.
🎨 If You’re Drawn to Creativity & Expression
- Visiting an art store or museum and writing about it, visually documenting it, or talking to people visiting
- Drawing, doodling, writing, or creating without an outcome, and without sharing it with anyone
- Taking yourself to a pottery studio, workshop, or class
- Playing a musical instrument, singing, or dancing alone
- Visiting a nearby recreational space and taking photographs of things you’ve never noticed before or feel curious about
- Indulging in scrapbook or junk journalling about your week or your interests
- Hosting yourself a night of painting with a soothing drink
These dates remind your inner child that expression doesn’t need permission or applause.
📚 If You’re Drawn to Learning & Curiosity
- Spending time in a bookstore or library
- Learning something new just for fun
- Watching a documentary or diving deep into a topic of interest
- Attending a talk, event, conference, or workshop alone
- Exploring a new subject that sparks interest
- Starting your language-learning journey, just for fun
- Challenging yourself to improve in something you would like to learn
These dates honour your curiosity, without forcing you to be useful or productive.
🍰 If You’re Drawn to Food & Sensory Pleasure
- Eating out alone and ordering exactly what you want
- Trying a dessert or dish you’ve been craving, without limits
- Visiting a bakery, café, or food market
- Buying groceries by visiting local grocery shops and physically choosing what you need
- Eating slowly and noticing taste, texture, and preference
- Getting a stress-relieving oil massage
- Consuming art that you find visually pleasing
- Listening to the same songs that you never get tired of on a bench in a garden
These dates teach your inner child that pleasure doesn’t need to be earned.
🚶 If You’re Drawn to Movement & the Body
- Going on a long walk or run without a destination
- Stretching, dancing, or working out
- Hiking, swimming, or cycling alone
- Sitting on the floor or lying on the grass
- Going to the beach for yoga
- Practicing intuitive movement to songs that resonate with you right now
These dates are about listening to your body, not pushing or forcing it.
🌍 If You’re Drawn to Exploration & Adventure
- Visiting a part of your city you’ve never explored
- Taking a short solo trip or day outing
- Trying a new route, café, or experience
- Saying yes to a small spontaneous plan
These dates remind you that life is meant to be explored and that change is safe.
🧸 If You’re Drawn to Play & Nostalgia
- Watching a cartoon or show you loved as a child
- Playing a game, puzzle, or sport
- Doing something silly, light, or unserious. For example, dancing badly on purpose, talking in a silly voice, wearing something playful at home, or laughing at yourself intentionally.
- Revisiting places or activities that once felt joyful
These dates help your inner child feel remembered and chosen, and remind it that play is safe and needed.
Do you have any creative ones you can think of? Let me know and I’ll be the first one to try!
If this reflection brought anything up for you, you’re welcome to write to me at piyusha@gratefulness.me. I’m always open to hearing your thoughts and suggestions for future topics.
I hope this helps you discover time with yourself that feels meaningful, nourishing, fulfilling, and peaceful. Until next time. 🤍
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