As introverts, we have a definite need for solitude. Our alone time helps us to feel good and energized. Unfortunately, many of us waste too much of our precious alone time worrying that we should be more social.
We also might feel like certain activities we want to do are only meant for couples or groups. I know I certainly felt this way a lot throughout my teens and early 20s. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that many activities that I thought I needed a companion for are actually better done solo.
Here is my list of the top 5 activities that are better done alone:
Shopping
I’m so glad my adolescent years of shopping in groups with other girls are far behind me. It can be incredibly distracting and cumbersome to shop with other people.
First of all, you have those awkward moments when you really want to go in a store but you worry the other person doesn’t. On top of that you have to worry about pacing.
If you are a slow shopper, you end up feeling guilty if the other person wants to move more quickly. Conversely, if you are the swift shopper, boredom creeps in quite fast.
Time in nature
This is one that I’ve been embracing more and more as I get older (I’m 29, in case you were wondering). There are many people who would never even consider going for a solo hike or trip to the lake. They prefer to get big groups together, or at the very least invite one other friend.
This is unfortunate because being alone in nature is the sweetest form of solitude. It is incredibly rejuvenating. Nowadays, I hop on my bike and go to the lake by myself several times a week. During times when I’ve lived near hiking trails, I’ve relished morning solo hikes, where I can be completely alone with my own thoughts.
Me on a morning solo hike in Costa Rica.
Movie night
Quite frankly, I have no idea why going to the movies is categorized as a group activity. You don’t talk to each other during the movie – and if you do, well that’s just really freaking annoying – so why bother?
I absolutely LOVE going to the movies by myself, especially if it is a more thought-provoking flick. This allows me to reflect on the movie for a while before reentering the ‘real world’.
Travel
Travelling alone can be infinitely more enjoyable than travelling in pairs or groups. This is because don’t have to worry about constantly coordinating with other people or planning activities that everyone will like.
Those of you who’ve been following the blog for a while know that I have travelled extensively over the past few years and I have done it mostly solo. That doesn’t mean I was alone the whole time. I frequently met up with friends and other travelers, but I rarely actually traveled with them. This gave me the freedom to make my own itinerary and follow my bliss.
Romance
You might be scratching your head over this one, but hear me out. Many introverts love to daydream and fantasize. Those of us who are romantics might spend a lot of time fantasizing about our perfect lover and all the things we’ll do together.
But did you know that you can have romantic moments all by yourself? You can go for nighttime strolls, and let the starry sky kiss you, the warm breeze caress you. You can meander through the Sunday market and relish the time to daydream and move at your own pace. You can take yourself to dinner and have a much better time alone than if you were with a partner.
You can do pretty much anything all by your lonesome, and have a heart brimming with love and gratitude.
I <3 my innie alone time.
These are just a few of the things that can be better done alone. There are many more.
What are some of your favorite solo activities, innie friend?
Love,
I also prefer to go to the movies alone (I had some serious reflecting to do after seeing Inception. On the other hand there is an amazing series of theatrical events at a local theater where I live. When I attend, I almost always engage in serious in-depth conversations, that and sometimes the audience is encouraged to yell at the screen, for example the annual screening of “The Room”.
Totally agree with all your choices.
I do all of the things you’ve mentioned above alone, except for traveling which I’ve only done once. I enjoy “dating” myself too. It’s fun to go out and enjoying all the sights, soaking in everything. Great article!
I disagree with everything in the list and I love to spend lots of time by myself. My top activities would be reading, listening to music, exercising, cleaning the house and walking in the city.
Hi
I really liked the one about movie night. I’ve gone to a lot of movies by myself.. it’s nice to realize that I’m not the only one that feels that way.
Thanks, Justin! Yes, you’re definitely not the only one! 🙂
Oh id love to hike alone. <3 I love it most especially when I'm kinda lost and finding my way back, its like, oh that was cool, i wanna be lost again! 😀 Being alone is one of the sweetest thing ever plus you'll never have to worry that someone might tell you that he or she is bored.
I agree on the movie one. You can’t even talk to other person during the movie anyway, so why bother going with someone?
Definitely the movie one… I try to avoid watching a movie with other people AT ALL COSTS!!! Why are you watching a movie if you going to talk throughout the whole thing. -_-
Good to know I’m not the only one who feels this way! 🙂
Day trips, sightseeing, art galleries, museums, concerts sometimes, and yes most definitely shopping.
One of the definitions of romance is to carry on a love affair. I find the phrase love affair intriguing . I think that we should carry on a love affair with ourselves. We should have an love affair with life with everything we do we should do it with passion. I found myself dancing to a piece of music with passion all by myself, I have deep conversations with myself .its sad that we live in a world that having a love affair with self is weird. I find people that are able to be romantic (have a love affair with self, with life) intriguing .
I like doing these 5 things by myself:
1. shopping – I can buy, stay, and leave the store whenever I want
2. movie theater – I can relax on a seat, eat good food, and not be bothered with someone who talks too much
3. park or beach – I can relax, take a long walk, and enjoy nature
4. writing or blogging – I can think clearly, come up with good ideas, and organize my info
5. cooking – I cook what and how I want the food to turn out
5 things I do not like doing alone are going to church, working by myself, talking to strangers, going somewhere shady, and public speaking.
My innie alone time has changed from doing almost all of the above. About me I also have social anxiety. I have no problem talking to strangers provided they not more than an arms length from me. Any more than this and I get shy and anxious. Weird I know. I also get rashes from my neck upto my face w anxiety. So how am I overcoming this….I work in retail, it’s busy, I am forced to talk to collegeaues, strangers all day everyday. I am the top seller for my firm. I am having to find a balance of how to be alone in an extroverted work environment. I am doing this by taking a book w me to read during my lunch break to break into a fairytale world It Works, to calm me and to relax me. Also my extroverts see this and realize this is me relaxing and they don’t bother me. After work I draw into my shell it’s time to recharge and be alone, again grab a book or Quora on my phone read to stop my overthinking. Then I’m ready for socializing again I go to Zumba fitness w friends. I go to movie nights w friends. I enjoy doing trail runs in nature with friends. On days I have the whole day to myself I create key rings, cards, sew etc this gets my creative juices flowing. One thing I would not mind though is a few quiet innies over for board games on days you just want to be alone. If you too are struggling w being an innie then I hope this has helped you. Thank you Michaela your articles are excellent and I enjoy reading/receiving them.