28 Solo Date Ideas for Your “Put Myself First” Era

Last Updated on September 14, 2024

I don’t care if you have a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, are single, or anything in between. The truth of the matter is: every woman should be spending quality time with themselves. No matter your relationship status!

When’s the last time you really took the time to get to know yourself? To enjoy your own company? To savor a peaceful moment of solitude?

It’s time you enter your “put myself first” era. We tend to do so much for those we care about, which is great! But we can’t be neglecting ourselves in the process.

These solo date ideas will help you reconnect with yourself and release the need to feel like you must have somebody to do things with. Nah, you’re all you need! And there’s a ton of ways to have a blast all by yourself.

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What Does it Mean to Date Yourself?

Dating yourself means giving yourself some quality 1:1 time. This can be using your journal to self-reflect, taking a walk in nature alone, or heck, even going to Disneyland by yourself! The point is to grow comfortable with being in your own company.

Being alone can feel lonely and sometimes even intimidating! If you feel this way, I encourage you to explore those feelings further. Ask yourself why you feel like you need to be in the presence of others to feel happy, supported, and able to enjoy yourself.

Statistics show that 30% of adults report feeling lonely. But let’s make one thing clear: being alone ≠ being lonely.

When you date yourself, not only do you show yourself that you don’t need someone else around you to enjoy things, but you also prove to yourself that you are capable of independence. Being alone is not a sad or bad thing. In fact, quite the opposite!

This can be a huge challenge, especially in your early adulthood. But doing so will enhance your confidence, sense of self, and personal growth.

How to Plan a Solo Date

Step 1: Ask yourself, “in what ways do I feel limited?”

When you spend time with someone, there may be some things you love to do that they don’t. If your best friend hates the beach, you might find yourself spending less time at the beach as a result.

While it’s nice that you instead opt for activities both you and your friend like, you might be missing out if you never partake in these activities on your own time.

Jot down a list of all the things you’d like to do more often, but don’t due to the influence of others. Let this list guide your solo date planning!

Step 2: Identify the activities you only feel comfortable doing with others

Conversely, are there any activities you love to do with others, but break out into a cold sweat just thinking about doing them alone?

Sometimes, social anxiety or embarrassment can hold us back from living a full life too.

I know there’s been times where I wanted to go to an event, or to take a day trip, but decided not to because no one was available to do it with me.

But why did I feel like I needed someone’s company to feel comfortable? Why would I limit myself just because my friend’s schedule didn’t match up with mine?

I encourage you to identify some of these activities and make it a point to challenge those thoughts and feelings. Go out of your comfort zone and push yourself to try something, even if you’re unsure about doing it alone. It might be a worthwhile experience you don’t want to miss out on!

Step 3: Treat it like a real date

If you normally put on makeup, get all dressed up in a cute outfit, and do something pretty with your hair on traditional dates, do the same with yourself! You deserve to look and feel excited about it and romanticize the process. This is special, so treat it like it is!

28 Solo Date Ideas That Will Make You Fall In Love with Yourself

Are you ready for solo date ideas you can do at home? Are you longing for a cozy solo date night in? Or maybe you’re trying to treat yourself on a budget and you need solo date ideas that are cheap! I’ve got you covered with all of these in this post.

Don’t forget about these solo date ideas! Pin them to come back later!

Solo Date Ideas at Home

1. Re-create your favorite restaurant meal at home

Cooking for yourself can be so much more satisfying than overpaying at a restaurant. Pick your favorite restaurant meal, put on some cooking tunes (there’s literally curated playlists like “cooking in my NYC apartment” on Spotify), and make the process a magical one.

2. Do a DIY solo spa day

Grab those face masks, candles, robes, and a warm bubble bath ‘cuz you’re having a spa day! This is probably my favorite home alone activity, so pick a day where you’re home alone for the best, most peaceful results.

3. Do something artsy or creative

Choreograph a little dance number, get out some drawing and coloring supplies, design something cool on Canva, or anything else that strikes your creative fancy. Getting creative has also been shown to increase positive emotions and reduce depression and anxiety. Sounds like we could all use more of that!

4. Get your endorphins going with movement you enjoy

I’ll never forget the good old days of quarantine where I would search “dance party workouts” on YouTube to exercise in my living room and have fun doing it.

If that’s not your cup of tea, you can try yoga, strength train with dumbbells if you have them, or a HIIT workout! Taking a hot girl walk around your neighborhood is also a good one.

5. Redecorate part of your home

Give yourself a fun little project by gathering ideas for how to enhance your space! It doesn’t have to be anything outrageous costing you $1000 either.

I recently added a bunch of decor to my fireplace after realizing it was looking a little bland. This is much more affordable than doing a whole room, but still brought me a ton of satisfaction!

6. Find new music you love

Expand your musical horizons and try a new genre of music! Sometimes when I get tired of the same old top 40 hits, I’ll listen to music in foreign languages to spice things up and give me some variety. German and French pop are my faves! But you can also try other genres like indie, rock, R&B, EDM, etc.

7. Give mixology a try and create your own cocktails

This can be super fun and gives you the freedom to make your drink however you want! The sky’s the limit and you can even make yummy blended drinks if you have a blender too.

8. Do something nice for your inner child

We all seem to reach an age where adult life seems all-consuming. But your inner child is longing to experience the joy of play again! Reconnect with your inner child through activities like finger painting, building a blanket fort, eating a happy meal, and watching nostalgic cartoons.

The inner child is so often overlooked, but is actually a crucial part of our development, healing, and mental health as adults.

I highly recommend checking in with your inner child and assessing if there’s anything to process from your childhood, in addition to play and fun. My inner child workbook can help you do exactly this! Check it out below to learn more.

Feeling out of touch with your inner child? Been through a traumatic experience? My printable inner child journal PDF can help you give your inner child the love they deserve but didn’t get.

This workbook will help you:

Overcome negative feelings like fear, self-blame, insecurity, and a harsh inner critic.
Discover the link between your adult behaviors and the childhood roots they stem from.
Re-parent your inner child as you get back in touch with fun, play, and a solid self care plan.

GET THE INNER CHILD WORKBOOK

Cheap Solo Date Ideas

9. Try a DIY craft on Pinterest

Pinterest is always good for fun craft ideas on the cheap. There’s all sorts of crafts out there these days! I’m always searching for handmade card ideas around birthdays, so that could be a useful place to start!

10. Have a picnic with all your favorite snacks

Build yourself the best sandwiches, grab your fave snacks and a picnic blanket, and head to the park! Meals outdoors like this can be so relaxing. Having some peace and quiet to observe your surroundings is also a nice touch and will help you feel grounded.

11. Spend the afternoon browsing the library

Leisurely browsing through aisles upon aisles of books is one of the most underrated solo date ideas! It’s fun hopping around between different genres. Who knows, you might stumble upon a new genre of books you love!

12. Find some free or cheap community events

I’m always surprised by what is going on in my area that I never would’ve known about if I hadn’t gone out of my way to look! You can do a quick Google search, find a local blog for your area, or check Facebook events to see what’s up near you.

13. Go on a coffee shop date

Finding a local coffee shop and losing yourself in a good book is another peaceful solo date idea. Coffee shop dates also make for a good atmosphere for journaling. Rather than talking out loud to someone else, you’re self-reflecting through writing!

14. Take yourself out on a dinner date

While this may not be the cheapest on the list, it’s so very worth it to do at least once. Treat yourself to a nice cocktail, dinner, and dessert! You can also do a cocktail + dinner at one restaurant and grab something a little more casual for dessert to reduce the cost.

15. Start a creative project

Who doesn’t love a good creative project to put your heart and soul into? Having something to regularly work on like this can bring passion and excitement to your life. This is what brought me to start this blog! You’d also be surprised to learn that starting a blog is a pretty cheap project idea.

Here’s everything I learned in my first year blogging and how you can start a blog of your own!

16. Write heartfelt letters to loved ones

You don’t always have to spend time with people to show them you care about them! Writing letters to friends or family can make them feel so loved. It also offers you the chance to reflect on the good people in your life, which is great for feeling gratitude.

17. Attend a local farmer’s market

Even just browsing through the different booths can be a nice leisurely solo date! And usually, there’s at least a few affordable things you may want to treat yourself to. At the last farmer’s market I went to, I got some super unique cupcake flavors!

18. Hit up your local botanical garden or state park

Take a nice slow walking pace and explore all the beauty nature has to offer! If you’re lucky, you may even find a botanical garden with birds or other animals to look at too.

19. Go on your own self-guided tour of something specific

For example, if you have several coffee shops or donut shops in your area, how about hopping around to them all and taste-testing all the goodies? I did the donut hopping idea when I was in Seattle and it was so much fun!

20. Go thrifting

Thrift shopping can be quite the lengthy endeavor compared to regular shopping. You’ve gotta sift through many things before you find the gems. For this reason, you won’t feel rushed by anyone when you’re doing it alone, making it the perfect solo date idea!

Psst…make sure you pin these awesome solo date ideas so you have them handy!

Self-Care Date Night In Ideas

21. Have an ice cream sundaes and movies night

I mean, you can do a good ole pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Or you could make it even more special and get the ingredients to make the ultimate ice cream sundae! Paired with your fave movie that no one else has to agree on, of course.

22. Start a journal practice

If you don’t already journal, or maybe don’t do it as regularly as you wish, start now!

Journaling is so beneficial in so many ways. You can use your journal as an outlet to release emotions, work through challenges in your life, plan goals for the future, or learn more about yourself and the way you think. There’s endless possibilities!

I have a collection of all the journal prompts you could ever need, for basically any topic, right here!

I also have a journal that helps you create a personalized self-care plan unique to YOUR needs! With so many exercises to identify your needs, put them into action, and start a daily journaling habit, it’s got you covered. No matter HOW busy you are! That’s why it’s called The Busy Woman’s Self Care Journal, after all 🙂 Go grab it!

Life too hectic for self care? Not with The Busy Woman’s Self Care Journal!

Made by a busy woman, for busy women, the goal of this journal is simple: to make an effective self care plan that works for your unique needs. No matter how crazy life gets!

Get step-by-step guidance to create your personalized self care plan by…

Identifying which self care works best for you
Creating specific self care goals
Daily journaling to stay on top of your self care needs

GET THE SELF CARE JOURNAL

23. Make the ultimate charcuterie board

And of course, you get to put all your favorite things on it because you don’t have to accommodate anyone else’s tastes! There’s all sorts of things to choose from, like fancy cheese, salami, pepperoni, grapes, nuts, dried fruit, and pita chips with dip.

24. Create a vision board of all your goals

Having a visual representation of your goals is ridiculously motivating! Writing your goals down gets the job done, sure, but taking it to the next level by creating a vision board can really make your dreams come to life and get you excited for a little peak into your potential future. For inspiration, here’s some vision board ideas I absolutely love!

25. Have a cozy tea and reading night

If you want to keep it lowkey, there’s nothing more cozy than curling up under your softest blanket with a good book and a warm cup of tea (or hot chocolate, or any other warm drink you love!).

26. Try a new baking recipe

Honestly, since it’s just you, this can be as simple as making yourself a single-serve mug cake! That’s always my go-to when I know there’s no way I can get through an entire cake all by myself.

27. Give yourself a healing self care night

I’m talking 30 minute meditations, stretching, relaxing, rolling out your muscles…the whole nine yards! Make it a goal to truly relax and immerse yourself in the soothing present moment.

28. Puzzles and podcasts

When I just want a nice escape from life’s daily stresses, I love nothing more than to work on a puzzle while listening to podcasts! There’s just something about the combination of searching for puzzle pieces while listening to interesting topics.

How To Date Yourself When Single?

If you’re single, this is the prime time to focus on self-discovery. If you’re not sure how exactly to go about dating yourself, here are some of the best ways to do it!

Self care first – Checking in with yourself and identifying your needs is the first place you should look. I’d suggest starting off with planning activities that will replenish your physical, emotional, and mental wellness.
Explore hobbies – indulge in the hobbies you love, regardless of whether anyone in your life enjoys the same hobbies! Solo hobbies are good for the soul. Reconnect with some old hobbies you drifted away from or dabble in some new interests.
Plan solo dates out – we’ve all gotta get outta the house some time. Take yourself on the ultimate “put myself first” era solo picnic! Go out to dinner and dessert for one! Explore a new place you haven’t been to before! Best part of all: you get to do it at your own pace and on your own terms.
Self-reflect – grab your journal and don’t be afraid to go deep with yourself. Reflect on your life up to this point, your dreams, goals, plans, personality traits…honestly, anything about yourself. This will bring you so much self-awareness.

How Do You Not Feel Awkward On A Solo Date?

Okay, maybe these ideas are great and all, but what if you still feel awkward about going on a solo date?

First, know that this feeling of awkwardness is normal and will only get better with time.

Anything new in life is a little awkward until you get used to it. Remind yourself that in spite of the awkward hurdle, you are gifting yourself the opportunity of self-discovery. You get to do exactly what you want when you want.

And without the distraction of others, you might actually feel even more present in the activities you’re doing! The more you practice this, the more you will notice a difference in your self-confidence and abilities.

Start your “putting myself first” era by trying solo self care!

If you’re ready to step into the next chapter of your life (the one where you prioritize yourself for a change!), you’ve got to give these solo date ideas a try.

Getting comfortable with your own company is a valuable skill that will only make it easier to navigate adulthood and society! To feel like you don’t need to depend on anyone to have a good time is an incredibly liberating feeling.

The more you try out solo date ideas like these, the more you’ll recognize that the only person you really need by your side is yourself. Remember, you are your #1 supporter!