Picture this...
It is Monday morning. From the time you wake up between 6 and 8 am, until your head hits the pillow at 10 or 11pm, life seems to be non-stop. All of the sudden the week has flown by but “TGIF!” because 5pm is finally here. You have plans with your best friends to go out for a few cocktails and some nosh down the street. You wake up to a beautiful Saturday morning and decide to go for a run but then your boyfriend or girlfriend just texted you saying, “My mom and dad are in town, guess who they want to spend the day with :)”. Saturday night is here and your crew is ready to hit the town but all you want to do is lay on your couch with your dog and watch reruns of The Office on Netflix until SNL comes on. Too bad, twenty minutes later you find yourself talked into it as you head out the door with keys and wallet in hand. Next thing you know it is Sunday morning. You are sitting at brunch sipping on a mimosa with a headache the size of Texas and an aching body. You were supposed to organize your closet, finish up some work, prep your dinners for the week and call your mother but here you are now at 6pm in bed having done none of it..
Sound familiar?
We are constantly surrounded by work, bills, plans, the news, social media, our studies, and sometimes it can all become too overwhelming. If one does too much for too long, eventually the stress creeps in. At one point it can all come crashing down even in set routines. It is so important for ourselves to take time out of the day for just that, ourselves. Here are a few things every 20 something year old (aka you) should remember to do alone now and then.. The best part? None of them require your phone..
- Go for a walk. It sounds simple but that is because it is. You might be thinking, I walk every day? Whether it is to work, the gym or running errands. It is not the same however. Take time out of the day when you have even five minutes. Breathe in the fresh air and let your mind wander and see where your feet take you. You may be pleasantly surprised. You will stop worrying about how Johnny broke the Keurig machine at work, what they will compare Trump's hair to next, whether you should get your dad sailing lessons or a personal brewery set for his birthday and so on. Explore and take in your surroundings. More beauty lies within your environment then you realize sometimes.
- See a movie. Is there one you have been dying to see? And you finally have a few hours one night to go? Even if you have invited someone and they cannot make it, take yourself. If you feel any sort of discomfort (totally normal) in going to a public place sans friends to keep you company or because you are a 28 year old dying to see the new Despicable Me movie, you are in luck! It is dark so no one can see you anyways.
- Attend your church, temple or mosque - that is if you practice or believe in a religion. To surround yourself in a place of worship and prayer allows your mind and soul to connect. You become more present and focused in your daily life if you make it a habit. Of course it is nice to go with family or friends who share the same beliefs but attending on your own creates an entirely new experience.
- Treat yourself to dinner. So your best friend, boyfriend, girlfriend or roommate's dog ate their homework and cancelled last minute. You still really want to go to that new seafood grill downtown, then why not? Go and do not just sit at the bar. Ask for a table for one and smile as big as you can when doing so. It may seem a little frightening at first. Usually when we see people by themselves out, they appear lonely. However that is not always the case. Do not be worried of what others will think when they see you alone. If someone keeps looking at you funny, raise your glass and wink so they know you are a happy millennial enjoying that fancy a** Pinot Noir. If someone is hardcore staring at you, you should probably inform your server... Do not be on your phone the entire time! Instead, put it on silent at the bottom of purse or pocket. Take that book you have been dying to read or one you want to reread. Enjoy a night out and cheers that glass of wine to yourself, you deserve it.
Last year was the first time I had ever gone to the movies alone. I asked many friends if they wanted to see the Age of Adeline with me but no one could make it. I decided to go anyways which was different but in a positive way. A few weeks later I wanted to see the new Cinderella movie badly, I did not bother to ask anyone and just went. It was weird at first but I loved it because I was taking time for myself to be and just enjoy. I did not feel an ounce of embarrassment when I saw people I knew sit in front of me, I embraced it. I love being out and about with people more than I should but I have realized the importance of doing such things on my own.
To take time out of our busy lives for ourselves to just be alone especially in a public place is empowering. I promise you, you do not always need to be with someone else. Learning to be independent or exercising that quality can be difficult but the more you do it, the better you will feel. Take the time to be by yourself enjoying things you normally do with others. Especially through all of the hustle and bustle in our day to day lives, why not spend a little one on one time with the person who needs you most? Yourself.
