Hey friends,
Nicole here & I want to touch on the topic of doing things alone.
I am currently typing this in the cutest little coffee shop down the road from my apartment & guess what – I am here alone.
A year ago, if you would have asked me to go sit at a coffee shop alone – I honestly would have laughed in your face. I would have been uncomfortable & probably would have felt as if I was being judged by those surrounding me the entire time.
But when you decide to up & move to a state basically alone or if your boyfriend is in the MiLB & lives in a different state in season – then you basically have to get used to doing things on your own or else I’d be painfully bored all the time. So I had to choose – stay in my comfort zone bored as can be, or take baby steps outside of my zone & grow.
We live in a world filled with people living inside their comfort zone – which is okay if you’re happy with that. But I want to ask you – why not take a step outside your zone & explore new things that you might really end up enjoying & helping personal growth?
I mean – the worst thing that could happen is you try something new & you don’t like it. No big deal, at least you tried!
Benefits of doing things alone:
You get to do what YOU want, on YOUR own time – you decide what you want to do, where you want to go, how long you want to spend there, how long you want to spend doing it – YOU DECIDE
You promote self-growth – It’s what happens when you step outside of your comfort zone
You discover new interests – You’re alone, which means you get to decide what you go & do, try something new – you never know, you could find a new hobby
You don’t have to entertain anyone – it’s acceptable to sit in silence, no talking, just enjoying the peace & quiet
You can be productive – no surrounding distractions, just genuine time to focus on yourself & that to-do list
You gain a new perspective when you spend time with others – time spent alone is very beneficial personally & beyond – it opens up a new appreciation for the time in which you spend time with others
You can explore your own creativity – you finally have time for your mind to wander in every which direction, time to think of things on a whole different level & go with it
You improve your own mental health – it really does take someone with confidence & an eager mentality to do things on their own – you learn to be comfortable & happy with yourself, which leads to a less anxious mind
You learn more about you – being alone means you don’t have anyone on the outside influencing you & your decisions, so you solely decide things on your own opinion
Things you should try doing alone:
Mall / Window shopping – if you don’t have the money to spend, no sweat…just head to the mall/store & walk around looking at things – create that mental wishlist for when you do have the bank
Coffee Shop – go get you a donut, coffee or tea. Enjoy some quiet time, take a book to read, get some homework done, get ahead on studying, look at a magazine or even get to writing .
Happy Hour – nothing better than discounted drinks & appetizers, go sit up at the bar, catch up on emails/social media or just sit there & people watch – even try striking up a conversation with a stranger.
Beach – grab your beach towel & sunscreen, soak up some vitamin D, search for seashells, read your book, meditate or just sit & listen to the wind & the waves.
Walk – pick a street in your subdivision that you haven’t checked out yet, walk to your closest ice cream parlor, leash up your furry friend & get them exercising.
Pool – grab you sunscreen & bathing suit, book, headphones & music, your cute pool inflatable & a fun little cooler with your favorite beverage & snacks, enjoy relaxation
Late night appetizer – order online & pick it up, get it delivered or grab a comfy seat in the restaurant away from everyone, just make sure you are consuming GOOD MOOD FOOD, anything with chocolate, pizza sauce or deep fried.
Try a new workout class – whether it be yoga, spinning, pilates, or hip-hop cardio – new workouts probably focus on a muscle group you haven’t worked in a while, it’ll be good for your health, sleep & mind
Get my nails done – a good pamper day is always needed, go treat yourself to a good foot massage & get your favorite color painted on those toes & fingers – you deserve it
Go see a movie – remember that chick flick you’ve been wanting to see forever but your boyfriend/husband refused to see it with you? Well, get online & book that movie ticket! Grab your favorite snacks & a mountain dew slurpee at concessions, wear you comfiest sweatpants & sweatshirt & go watch it yourself!
Volunteer – check out your local nursing home, animal shelter, soup kitchen or whatever makes your heart smile – go give your time & help others
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As you can see, there are so many benefits of doing things on your own!
Once you can get past the awkwardness of doing things alone – I PROMISE YOU WILL LEARN TO LOVE EVERY PART OF IT!
So go for it, take a step outside of your comfort zone & grow.
XO – Nicole