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 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?
Not ready to read & want even more ideas?
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List of 41 things to do alone in your 20s:
- Travel
- Dine Out
- Hike
- Live Alone
- Go to a concert
- DIY Something
- Teach Yourself To Cook
- Have A Spa Day
- Make a Major Purchase
- People Watch
- Paint a picture
- Take A Bath
- Nap
- Volunteer
- Plant A Garden
- Watch Your Favorite Movie
- Listen To Your Favorite Album
- Go For A Run or Walk
- Make Yourself Tea
- Enjoy The Falling Rain
- Meditate
- Visit A Museum
- Binge Watch A Show
- Dance
- Visit A New Place
- Go for a walk
- Paint your nails
- Fix your resume
- Explore your neighborhood
- Clean your home
- Read a book
- Set intentions
- Get clear and create a manifesting ritual
- Create a playlist
- Listen to a podcast
- Write a letter to yourself
- Watch a documentary
- Redecorate your room
- Make your own face mask
- Write a letter to someone
- Build a fort
Originally published on 8/25/17; Updated on 3/27/2020
I live for spa days! And it’s been a while since I’ve made a new dish, but it’s always fun to try some new recipes out!
Spa days are the best!!
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!
ahh I LOVE That idea Rachel!!
Love this – and adding it to my list right now!
This post gives me anxiety just reading it! I do actually really like eating at restaurants by myself, and I like to hike alone as well. I might do that today actually!
Yay! Tell me how it goes!
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!
Ooh! I plan on baking alone tonight! Love it!
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 🙂
It’s really intimidating, but I like to go to casual bars. You end up making friends or reading – whichever works!
Totally agree! And it’s okay to be selfish with travel plans!
Balance is key!
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.
I totally agree Beth! I was just talking to a friend about how I keep my friend circle small, I’m really okay with being alone, like you said it’s better than being with people I don’t particularly care for!
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!
ahhh that is so awesome Liz!! How was the shark cage diving experience?!? — also I’ll be visiting Hawaii (maui and Kauai) soon, have you been? any tips?
Omg a spa day sounds amazing! I’m not usually one to be alone but this list sounds pretty great!
These are great! I’ve lived by myself and would highly recommend it!
I loooove to people watch! I know that sounds a little creepy, but I find what other people do interesting!
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!
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!
Love this! I can happily say I’ve done most of these haha, but should probably treat myself to a spa day soon!
I’m no longer in my 20’s…. 🙁 but, I can still do these in my 30’s!
yes you can!
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!
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…
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!
I think I’ve done all of these things alone except hiking! I love taking solo trips to Disney World.
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!
Yes! And that’s what your 20s should be about – learning who you are without the noise of everyone telling you who they want you to be!
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
Yes, same for me! I really embrace that time now <3