I didn’t get an early Valentine’s Day post out last week because I’ve been working on a project that’s been pretty time-consuming, but I wanted to write about something self-love-related anyway and it’s never too late to do that.

One of my self-love tips is always related to enjoying our own company or getting to know ourselves a little better. If you’re anything like me you spend time taking care of a lot of other people in your lives. And while that certainly can be rewarding, it’s essential that you turn a little of that care and attention on to YOU. I’m also one to spend a lot of time experiencing things with others and I enjoy extending and receiving invitations as I’m a pretty social person, but sometimes it’s nice just do something only you want to do

For the sake of this particular post, I’ve decided to skip anything at-home-related as many of us have spent quite a bit of time in the house over the last two years. If you’re tired of the DIY at-home self-care suggestions and you’re ready to get out, you don’t need an invitation to do some of the solo-date ideas I’m sharing below. So here are a few of my fave things (or things I’ve tried and enjoyed) that you can do on your own too. 

1. Visit an art gallery or museum– I discovered that I loved doing this solo by accident. I always went with another person but quickly discovered we’d inevitably get separated a little on these trips anyway. It’s rare that two people will want to look at the same pieces of art for the same amount of time. I’d find myself or my partner had wandered off. And while of course we’d meet back up sometimes I wanted to stay or leave a particular exhibit at a different time than my sidekick. I still enjoy doing this with a partner but I really enjoy the freedom to move around (or not) when I go alone. You’ll see lots of other solo viewers and you may even make a new friend if you happen to bond over the same piece too.
2. Antique/Vintage shopping– There are so many interesting pieces to discover. I particularly love the nostalgia of the things I stumble across that remind me of my childhood and I could spend hours combing the isles of some of the larger antique shops, though I rarely bring anything home. It’s always a feast for the eyes.
3. Dinner (or lunch) for one– speaking of feasts- it always surprises me that more people don’t do this alone. I’ve never been one to shy away from a solo meal. If I’m out and about and hungry I’ll definitely stop into one of my favorites and grab a seat. While I’ll admit it isn’t usually a planned date it’s still really enjoyable. If sitting at a table alone isn’t your thing, try bar seating (if you’re comfortable) you’ll find several other solo dinners there.
4. Walking Art or History Tour- A friend of mine does this alone all the time. A neighboring downtown area (hello Norfolk, Virginia) offers walking tours of art murals, historical homes, and local architecture. Technically you’re not really solo as the tours are guided and there will be other walkers but you can sign up on your own and just hop into the small crowd. She and I did an art mural tour together and I can see why she does these solo. The tour guide is entertaining and you’re usually learning anyway so there’s no need for a bunch of partner chatter. Just enjoy and go with the flow-literally!
5. Pottery or paint studio– I recently received an assignment through one of the organizations I belong to that asked that I make something for a gift exchange. I’m not a particularly crafty person but there was a paint/pottery studio in my neighborhood so I headed there for a little help. It was honestly a lot of fun and pretty therapeutic too. I got to choose my clay item, paint it and they fired it up for me and had it ready to go the next day. There were plenty of people there solo crafting and while this would be a fun thing to do with a friend too, I like the way I was able to fully concentrate on my own. I’m still no avid crafter. But it was enjoyable and I’d like to try it again soon.
6. Cooking Class– this one again is like the guided tour. You obviously won’t be alone unless it’s a private class, but you can go solo. I find these lots of fun and you can go as fancy or as casual as you’d like. Even our local Williams and Sonoma offers cooking classes that are more like demos but they’re fairly inexpensive (sometimes free) and you get to learn new recipes and meet new friends. There are a lot of solo learners at these events and because it’s so interactive even the partnered participants are pretty chatty and affable too.

I could probably extend this list much further but I’d love to hear from you! What are some of the solo date ideas you’d recommend too? I love to try new things! 

Until next post,

Xo Tonya parker 

P.S my daughter purchased a couples Adventure Challenge Book for Valentine’s Day and they have a solo version too. I’ve linked it here for you.