Since I live by myself I spend a lot of time doing things alone. If I’m being honest, living alone has probably made me a bit more antisocial than I should be (oops).

I typically spend my weeknights by myself because I’ve gotten into a routine of getting home from work, making dinner, taking the dogs to the dog park or out for a walk, working on my blog or other business tasks, catching up on Netflix, then getting ready for bed.

This used to really bother me - spending so much time alone.

I think a lot of people have this fear, of doing things by themselves, that they avoid it at all costs.

"What does this mean about me? Does this make me awkward or uncool? Do I not have friends? Does this mean I’m going to spend the rest of my life doing things alone?"

Doing things by yourself doesn’t mean any of those things.

Actually, doing things alone can have various benefits. A few of them being:

• Quiet time can help you sort through your problems
• There’s no pressure to be “perfect”
• You can get more done in solitude because there aren’t as many distractions
• Doing things by yourself gives you the opportunity to get to know yourself better.

Even though in my last post 6 Things My Anxiety Taught Me About Life I suggested you have hobbies that force you to interact with people, I’m also going to say that you should discover a balance between alone time and interaction time. Sound confusing?

There’s a difference between isolation and spending time with yourself. If you spend night after night enclosed in your house without doing anything that stimulates you mentally, physically, or creatively - that’s not productive. What I’m talking about is productive alone time. Alone time you can use to recharge, relax, or just do whatever the heck you want.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to spend time alone

Go to the Movies //
If Carrie Bradshaw can do it, then I can do it!

Going to the movies alone is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. There’s no debate over what movie to see and you don’t have to share your popcorn (my favorite perk)!

Travel Somewhere New //
There are so many benefits of traveling alone. Not only is it empowering to travel to a new destination solo but it’ll also guarantee that you get to spend your trip doing exactly what YOU want to. No boring museum tours for you. Unless of course that's what you love.

Travelling alone is also a great way to meet new people. Of course, you can meet new people if you’re travelling with others as well, but there’s something about travelling alone that makes greeting new people that much more exciting!

I haven’t gotten the courage to travel out of the city by myself but you don’t have to! Even just going somewhere in your hometown (or neighbouring town) where you’ve never been before is just as great.

There’s a Botanical Conservatory in my town that I’ve heard is beautiful but I’d never been before. One day I decided to take a solo trip to see it and I LOVED it. Going by myself really gave me the opportunity to take it all in and enjoy the beauty of it.

Take Yourself on a Dinner Date //
There’s no reason you should miss out on a nice meal just because you don’t have someone to share it with.

Get dressed up, order some wine, and have the shrimp cocktail!

Meal time should be something that’s enjoyed, not rushed over. Too often I’ll eat dinner while folding laundry, watching TV, or scrolling through social media.

We should be savouring every last bite instead. When you go out for dinner alone there’s nothing to concentrate on but your delicious meal.

Have a Spa Day //
You can do this at home or at a local spa. Pamper yourself - you deserve it.

Exfoliate, get a face mask, paint your nails. This is a great way to instantly feel better about yourself.

Even just taking a long bubble bath is a luxurious way to relax solo.

People Watch //
This is one of my favorite alone time activities. It’s not creepy, I swear, haha.

You can go to a local coffeeshop, sit on a restaurant patio, go to the park, sit on the bench at the mall, and just pay close attention to the people around you.

As a fiction writer, I love watching other people’s expressions as they interact with each other and then making up fictional stories about their lives and the adventures or struggles they may have. It’s a lot of fun!

Try a New Hobby //
I bet there are dozens of things you’d love to try but are worried you’ll be horrible at them. First off, I bet you’re better than you know and second, who’s going to judge if nobody else is around?

When you’re trying something new by yourself you don’t have to worry about feeling pressure from others. If you’re not good at it, then you’re not good at it. It’ll be fun anyways and nobody will know the difference!

Create a List of Life Goals //
This sounds super boring but trust me, it’ll be helpful for you in the long run.

When you have some time to reflect, alone, you’ll be better able to connect with want you really want out of life. Don’t be afraid of what other people might think - find out what your goals are and put them on paper. Nobody has a right to judge your goals. Chances are, you're the only one holding yourself back from achieving them because you haven't written them down yet!

Take a Long Drive //
Get in your car, turn the music up loud, and just drive.

Taking a drive by yourself can be so relaxing and really give you the opportunity to let your mind wander (while you’re still paying attention to the road of course).

Singing as loud as you can in the car by yourself can also help you work through a tough time - at least for me anyways!

Volunteer //
A great way to spend a day by yourself if by giving back. Find a cause that means something to you and volunteer your time.

If animals are your thing, spend a day at a local shelter walking dog and playing with kittens (seriously, this sounds like the best day ever).

Check your local newspaper or Facebook to find fundraising events near you that you can help out with. I bet there's dozens of bake sales, car washes, raffles, fun runs, that you can lend a hand with.

As someone who used to work at a non-profit organization - we ALWAYS appreciate when you help out, even if it’s just for a few hours one afternoon. It means the world to those running the organization and even more to those being helped by the organization!