41 Things to Do Alone At Least Once in Your 20s or 30s or 40s

41 Things to Do Alone At Least Once in Your 20s as a woman, best ideas to do alone at home at night, at home ideas for inside or outside during daytime or nighttime, activities for woman to do at home on weekends, at home fun on new years or after a break up or during fall or in winter or on your birthday just because! #selfcare #thingstodoalone

I think a lot of people view alone and loneliness as the same thing. When I was younger, the idea of being alone always felt lonely. So I filled my time going from one place to another, but inevitably felt lonely doing what everyone else wanted. I surrounded myself with toxic friendships just for the sake of having friends. Then I got serious about my mental health. In learning to recover from a lifelong battle of anxiety and depression, I slowly became more okay with the idea of being alone with my own thoughts. Growth comes from stillness. So here are 41 things to do alone at least once in your life, whether in your 20s, 30s, or 40s – or on the weekend or at nighttime – or at home or out in the world! Enjoy!

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41 Things to Do Alone At Least Once in Your 20s as a woman, best ideas to do alone at home at night, at home ideas for inside or outside during daytime or nighttime, activities for woman to do at home on weekends, at home fun on new years or after a break up or during fall or in winter or on your birthday just because! #selfcare #thingstodoalone, Personal Growth Tips Self Improvement, Self Help and Care, Self Improvement Personal Development, Health & Beauty, Mental Health + Wellbeing, adulting


41 Things to Do Alone At Least Once in Your 20s or 30s or 40s

1. Write a letter to yourself

One of the best things I ever did was write a letter to my future self in 5th grade. When I read it as an adult, I was amazed at how intuitive my younger self was. Later in life, I wrote a letter to my younger self during a hard time (read it here!) and it was so healing.

[RELATED] Letter of advice to my 18 year old self

2. Set intentions

Whether you already know why you're looking to spend time alone or you're being forced to because of the current state of 2020, write out some intentions for how you'd like to spend your time. What would you like to get from it? How can you bring more awareness and healing to what you're doing?

[RELATED] How To Set Intentions For Manifesting

3. Get clear and manifest your desires

With intentions set, it's a great time to manifest your desires! Here's a post that can help you get started: How to Get In The Right Mindset Before You Start Manifesting

4. Travel

Traveling alone provides the luxury of choosing everything you do, eat and see – and when. When you’re exploring a new place alone, you can choose what is important for you to experience (and at what pace!)– rather than compromising with any travel partner. You’ll create invaluable memories, on top of building confidence and a sense of achievement by solving challenges and overcoming obstacles on your own (because, they will inevitably come up when you travel). Whether you travel abroad or just take a simple staycation in a different part of town, experience a new place with memories you can cherish to yourself.

[RELATED] 7 Life Lessons From Traveling Alone As A Female

5. Redecorate a room

One of my favorite things to do is decorate! It's a great way to express yourself and you'll be shocked by how quickly your mood improves when you walk into a room that feels supportive and reflects you!

[RELATED] Our room by room home tour for inspo!

6. Listen to a podcast

I love going for a long walk and listening to a podcast. It's so relaxing and I have a list of great podcasts for millennials here!

7. Dance like noone is watching!

Dancing releases endorphins and feel good hormones! So pump up the jams my friends!

8. Live Alone

It’s nice to come home after a long day of work and unwind by yourself in a space that you designed, decorated and feel safe in. There’s never any arguments about cleaning, food or who can be over when. Have I mentioned you can be pantsless all the time without judgment? Yep, #winning! Plus, it forces you to learn how to fix household things on your own!

[RELATED] 8 Tips For Moving Out On Your Own On Your Own

9. DIY Something for your house

Whether it’s a full table, a simple painting or a knitted blanket, seeing something that you made – completely on your own – is exciting. Plus, it fosters creativity and gets you prepared to solve difficult challenges (if you aren’t traditionally crafty, that is).

[RELATED] How To DIY A Pom-Pom Lamp (Or Anything)!

10. Build a fort

Flex your creativity with a little fort building! It's way more fun than you remember!

11. Clean your home

A decluttered space leads to a decluttered mind. 

[RELATED] 5 Cleaning Hacks Using Bleach For Confused Millennials

12. Hike

Similar to traveling alone, completing an awesome hike will make you feel like a badass! Enjoy the time to think and be at peace in nature. It’s rejuvenating. But, be smart and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return to cell service!

13. Cook a new dish

Flex your culinary muscles and learn how to make a fancy new dish that caters to only your taste buds! Plus, when you nail the dish, you'll be able to impress friends with your culinary skills!

[RELATED] How To Eat Healthy During Pregnancy [+ What I Eat In A Day While Pregnant]

14. Have A Spa Day

A spa is typically a place to go alone, cleanse your body and mind and sit in silence. So, it’s definitely not weird to go alone and clear your mind. Show yourself that you’re your own best friend and treat it to some completely unplugged me-time.

[RELATED] 10 Cheap & Easy At Home Spa Hacks

15. Dine alone

I used to freak out about this – what if waiters question why I’m alone? Will everyone stare at me? The reality of the matter is that no one cares and the discomfort is good for you! Bring a book or simply people watch! Enjoy a glass of wine and dessert without judgment and enjoy your own company.

[RELATED] A Grown Man & His Cartoons

16. Read a book

A little quiet time has always meant a little reading time for me. Here's a list of my favorite self help and personal development books!

17. Go to a concert

Similar to my fears about going to a restaurant alone, I assumed that I would receive judgment and stares from people at a show if I was alone. Yet again, proven wrong. People are focused on the live music – and honestly may compliment you on your bravery! So dance the night away with your favorite band, rather than drag a friend who is less than interested in the band.

18. Make a Major Purchase

Save up for something major – a car, a house…even a new Macbook – and purchase it all on your own. You’ll feel responsible and incredibly independent! This teaches you how to save and the confirmation that you can be fine on your own.

19. People Watch

It's easy to feel like everyone is watching you when you're out alone, but once you take the time to people watch, you'll notice just how focused most people are on themselves. Notice people's expressions, imagine what their lives are like, and be present.

20. Meditate

Practicing meditation can allow you to return to the calmness of alone time in any situation. Starting alone is a great way to jump in, and you can even work your way up to meditating at a concert! 

[RELATED] The Beginner’s Guide To Meditation: 5 Tips To Get You Started

21. Fix up your resume

If 2007 and 2020 have taught us anything, it's just how quickly our economy and job market can change. Always keep your resume up to date because you never know when you'll ned

Doing things alone in your twenties, thirties, or really at any point in your life can give you a sense of independence and self worth that are harder to come by when you're always relying on other people. This is the time to date yourself and explore. Truly learn what you like and don't like in order to make you the best version of yourself!

Keep reading for more ideas of things to do alone in the list below!!

What are some of your favorite things to do alone?


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41 Things to Do Alone At Least Once in Your 20s as a woman, best ideas to do alone at home at night, at home ideas for inside or outside during daytime or nighttime, activities for woman to do at home on weekends, at home fun on new years or after a break up or during fall or in winter or on your birthday just because! #selfcare #thingstodoalone41 Things to Do Alone At Least Once in Your 20s as a woman, best ideas to do alone at home at night, at home ideas for inside or outside during daytime or nighttime, activities for woman to do at home on weekends, at home fun on new years or after a break up or during fall or in winter or on your birthday just because! #selfcare #thingstodoalone

List of 41 things to do alone in your 20s:

  1. Travel
  2. Dine Out
  3. Hike
  4. Live Alone
  5. Go to a concert
  6. DIY Something
  7. Teach Yourself To Cook
  8. Have A Spa Day
  9. Make a Major Purchase
  10. People Watch
  11. Paint a picture
  12. Take A Bath
  13. Nap
  14. Volunteer
  15. Plant A Garden
  16. Watch Your Favorite Movie
  17. Listen To Your Favorite Album
  18. Go For A Run or Walk
  19. Make Yourself Tea
  20. Enjoy The Falling Rain
  21. Meditate
  22. Visit A Museum
  23. Binge Watch A Show
  24. Dance
  25. Visit A New Place
  26. Go for a walk
  27. Paint your nails
  28. Fix your resume
  29. Explore your neighborhood
  30. Clean your home
  31. Read a book
  32. Set intentions
  33. Get clear and create a manifesting ritual
  34. Create a playlist
  35. Listen to a podcast
  36. Write a letter to yourself
  37. Watch a documentary
  38. Redecorate your room
  39. Make your own face mask
  40. Write a letter to someone
  41. Build a fort

Originally published on 8/25/17; Updated on 3/27/2020

33 thoughts on “41 Things to Do Alone At Least Once in Your 20s or 30s or 40s”

  1. YES, to all of these! I’d like to add “Do Something That Scares You” — because once you’re out of your 20s it can just be plain irresponsible to go shark-cage-diving or sky diving if you have kids or other people relying on you! …but that doesn’t mean you should’t try something a LITTLE scary while you’re still young and ‘dumb’ enough to enjoy it without over-thinking it!

  2. Yes! I agree with all of this. I still feel like people will judge me if I’m alone. But some probably won’t even look at me. It just make me feel so self conscious. My favorite things to do alone is bake and DIY something!

  3. I’ve always wanted to go to a bar by myself but have always been too afraid. I just want to take a good book, go to a local pub, have a drink, and read! I’ve dined out a lot of times (especially for lunch) and it feels so amazing. Going to the movies alone is also something I want to do 🙂

    1. It’s really intimidating, but I like to go to casual bars. You end up making friends or reading – whichever works!

  4. I’ve always thought it is better to be alone than to be surrounded with people you don’t really like. My mom was 50 when my parents divorced. She found herself doing most of these things alone for the first time in her life. One of the MANY things I love about my daughter is she isn’t afraid to be alone.

  5. Yes to all these, and I love Rachel’s comment to also do something that scares you like…shark-cage-diving! So many of my favorite memories were when I went off and did something by myself – usually because it was something I really wanted to do, and so I just worked up the courage and logistics and did it. Things like backpacking (like backcountry hiking “well hello there bear!” backpacking), and traveling, and…actually…shark cage diving! I took the bus around Oahu by myself, showed up at the North Shore and went shark cage diving (well, with a guide, duh) and it was amazing. It took me a while to get used to eating alone, but reading a book is awesome for that, and now I rather enjoy having a meal out by myself with a book or my journal with me. Great post!

  6. Kaitlyn Fickle Killebrew

    Omg a spa day sounds amazing! I’m not usually one to be alone but this list sounds pretty great!

  7. I’m naturally an introvert & honestly not a HUGE fan of people, so I love to do things on my own! These are all great ideas!

  8. I love love love this! As I get older, the more and more I actually enjoy doing things alone! When I was younger, I was one of those 14-15 year olds who HAD to have her friends with her 24/7 in public, haha! I’m dying to do a solo-travel trip!

  9. Elizabeth Johnson

    Love this! I lived by myself for about a year and it will teach you so much about yourself. When you live with others you don’t really focus on you. When no one else is in that space it is definitely eye opening!

  10. thesophiadiaries

    these are totally wonderful tips! I would add ‘watch a movie on your own – in a theater!’ that one always gets me xD it always feels like an adrendaline rush even though you’re just going to sit down in a dark room for 2 hours…

  11. I didn’t do much alone as I got married at 22! But these look awesome for those who are in that space in your life!

  12. Love this post. Living alone in my 20s has been a transformative experience. Without having another person’s opinion to consider, it has forced me to learn so much about myself.

    Such a great list – thank you for sharing!

  13. Trecee Hutchinson

    I agree with all of these! As I exit my twenties, I have been able to do all of these and I think its helped me to not be afraid of silence and alone time.

    Trecee

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