So many times I have people ask
me, "But what do you DO by yourself all the time?!"
People can't seem to fathom that
it IS possible to have fun and enjoy your life, even if you live
alone! Going out with friends can be amazing, but sometimes you just
need some alone time. Sometimes your friends may be busy, or your
social circle may not be as large as you'd like, or maybe you're like
me and just prefer doing most things alone!
There are lots of suggestions
online for solo activities, but a lot of them also come with a price
tag: wine tastings, cruises, taking in a concert... today I'm going
to give you a list of 20 suggestions for things you can do solo AND
free (or for very little!)
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| Accessibility: Photo of a man wearing a backpack, standing on a slanted wall, overlooking a view of the Eiffel Tower. Photo copyright Pexels. |
1.
Become a tourist for the day!
Set some time aside to look at
your town like you never have before. Many places offer walking tours
of local sites for free or just a few dollars. Check out museums,
browse through a gift shop offering handmade goods, take a peek at an
art gallery, stop at a historical site, or visit a famous landmark!
And remember to take lots of pictures.. that's half the fun!
2.
Pack a picnic!
This doesn't cost much at all...
grab some peanut butter or tuna sandwiches and a bottle of water and
find a lovely spot to sit and enjoy your lunch. You can even eat in
your car if you need to! (Just remember to bring napkins!)
3.
Hike a trail!
You don't need to become a
mountaineer for this one... just remember to wear sturdy shoes and
bring water and a hat to block the sun. Walk as fast or as slowly as
you like, for just as far as you like... even a casual stroll is good
for your health and you'll end up sleeping better after spending time
in the fresh air!
4.
Brush up on your photography skills!
Even a cell phone camera can
take great photos if you know your stuff! You can have a "selfie"
session, but how about getting behind the camera for a while too?
Experiment with macro photography and different types of lighting.
Arrange a still life. Get out there and photograph the weather... a
foggy, misty morning, a glorious sunset, the magic of the first
snowfall. You might end up with something frame-able!
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5.
Teach yourself a new craft!
Always wanted to knit a sweater?
Envious of your great-aunt's crochet skills? Wishing you could build
a birdhouse for your backyard? How about making a D.I.Y. fire pit for
the backyard? Youtube has lots of great how-to videos, or you could
do it the old-fashioned way and scoot off to the library to check out
a few books!
6.
Visit the library!
It's a great place to find more
than just how-to books. You can learn something about a new culture,
bury yourself in a great mystery, even check out a few comics!
7.
Write a letter!
Technology makes it so easy to
stay in touch these days... email, social media, video chats, and
probably hundreds of apps. But nothing quite beats the thrill of
getting a special, hand-decorated envelope in your mailbox! Grab a
pen and some stationery and get writing! If you don't have writing
paper at home, you can get lots of free printables online! Not sure
who to write to? How about an elderly relative (or conversely, a
grandchild, niece, or nephew), a friend you haven't seen in a while,
or someone you know is going through a difficult time? There are also
different organizations around the world that allow you to send
letters to armed forces members, people in prison, sick children, and
so on!
8.
Try a new recipe!
Sick of the same old, humdrum
meals? Why not try a meal from a different culture? You don't always
need to buy a pile of expensive ingredients... sometimes you can make
do with what's already in your pantry and fridge. Chinese, Italian,
East Indian, and Mexican dishes are common enough in Western culture,
but how about trying something from Brazil, Korea, Kenya, or Russia?
The dish you try might even end up as your favorite!
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| Accessibility: Close up of five smooth stones painted with simple scenes of sailboats on the water. Copyright Pixabay. |
9.
Paint rocks and hide them!
This is a fun and feel-good
activity! Have some art supplies at home? Grab a few fist-sized rocks
and splatter away! Try making tie-dye patterns, goofy faces, or paint
a positive message such as "Peace" or "Believe".
Then hide them around your community! You're enjoy the chance to be
creative and brighten someone else's day!
10.
Volunteer!
There are lots of ways to
volunteer your time. Visiting a shut-in or people in the hospital,
helping at a food kitchen or homeless shelter, spending time at the
local humane society, even offering to mow someone's lawn or paint
their front steps. There are SO many ways to get involved in your
community and help others!
11.
Study a language!
Even if you're not able to
intensively study and learn an entire language, there are so many
reasons to learn a few words and phrases in another language! Perhaps
you're planning on taking a trip to Thailand and you'd like to be
able to ask for (and understand!) directions. Maybe you have a
customer who uses sign language and you'd like to be able to
communicate with them directly rather than relying on an interpreter.
It could be a simple as wanting to say "good morning" to
your new neighbors from Germany, in their own language. There are
lots of great resources online, and if you live in a larger
community, you might even be able to join a group or take a class!
12.
Journal!
I really enjoy getting my
thoughts down on paper. Sometimes it helps me look at life more
objectively. And it's fun to look back years later and remember the
misadventures, emotions and inside jokes that you may have forgotten
about.
13.
Memorize something!
Whether it's The Oration Of
Mark Antony, the 23rd Psalm, or Jabberwocky, memorizing a
speech or poem is a great way to pass the time and exercise your
brain. You never know, you may be suddenly called upon to recite
something!
14.
Take in a coffeehouse or benefit concert.
Many coffeehouses, Open Mics,
and local music shows are free to attend, or require just a small
donation at the door. If you enjoy music, this can be a great way to
spend an evening out, mingle a bit, and perhaps make some new
friends.
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| Accessibility: Photo of a bearded man wearing a striped shirt, sunglasses and an American Flag bandanna, playing a harmonica into a microphone. Copyright Pixabay. |
15.
Practice an instrument.
Have a grand piano in your
porch? An electric guitar in your garage? A clarinet in your closet?
An accordion in your attic? Grab it and practice a song or two! You
might discover a genuine talent that you never knew you had!
16.
Make a mixtape!
(Or a compilation CD, or a
playlist) Looking for some upbeat workout music? How about some
gentle flute music to meditate too? How about making a list of hit
songs from the year you were born? There are tons of fun ways to
organize your music!
17.
Have a movie night!
Whether it's a fantasy flick, a
rom-com, a scary movie, a childhood classic or even old home movies,
nothing beats a movie night! Go all out... fluffy pajamas, a snuggly
blanket, hot chocolate, popcorn, peanuts, M&Ms, dimmed lights,
and settle in for a cozy evening!
18.
Rearrange your furniture!
This one doesn't sound as
fun, but trust me, moving your couch to an opposite wall or getting
rid of that hideous over-sized dresser that you hate can really perk
up the look of your living space! If you're super handy, consider
painting or wallpapering an accent wall with a bold new color or
fresh pattern.
19.
Browse a thrift shop or second hand store!
Whether you're looking for an
accent piece for that newly-rearranged living room, shopping for a
new kitchen gadget to try, looking for cheap holiday decorations, or
just in the mood to dig through a mound of dusty VHS tapes and
records, you never know what treasures you might unearth at your
local Salvation Army!
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20.
Plant some flowers!
Don't have a garden? Try growing
a houseplant or two! Packets of seeds can be gotten for just a dollar
or two in most garden centers. It'll brighten up your living space,
and be good company for you. If you have pets though, be sure that
whatever you're planting is pet-friendly in case they decide to take
a nibble!
Let me know if you're able to
put some of these ideas to good use! What are your favorite solo
activities? Feel free to drop a comment below!
