Blog: Taking myself on a solo date to the Barber

Written by Student Content Shaper Natalie D’Allura

My first move onto campus was two years ago back in California. I was starting at a new university and prepared to dive headfirst into campus life. By the end of the first semester, there wasn’t a place on campus without someone I knew or a day of the week without an event to attend. But the following semester, I fell ill. It became all I could do to get through a single assignment, and I had to withdraw from school.

It was frustrating, but having so little energy to do anything else gave me the chance to reconnect with myself. The only way to get closer to someone is to spend time with them, and the same goes for your relationship with yourself. I was forced to spend a lot of time with myself, whether it be journaling or just sitting with my thoughts, which helped me get to know who I am as a person and get in touch with my values.

I learned how important it is to me to take care of both my mind and my body by allowing myself time to rest. When I was well enough to resume my studies, I made sure to incorporate time to myself and restorative activities into my schedule, discovering my love of the solo date.

A solo date on campus

A solo date is intentional time spent alone doing something which allows you to reconnect with yourself and rejuvenate your spirit. Though it may feel uncomfortable at first, there are so many benefits to learning how to be alone without feeling lonely. When you enjoy your own company, you can spend your time exactly how you choose, like visiting your favorite spot or trying a new hobby, without needing permission from others to do so.

Some of my favorite places to take myself on a solo date are galleries and museums. Fortunately, there is beautiful art to see right here on campus! The Barber Institute of Fine Arts has an impressive collection of works on display, and the galleries are free to visit. For this solo date, I decided to explore the Green Gallery, which houses artworks dated between 1280 and 1600.

Because I was alone, I could set my own pace, walking past paintings that didn’t call to me and spending time with those that did. Spending a few long moments with some of the paintings, getting up close and noticing the brushstrokes and details, really grounded me. Having decided that the two hours between my seminars were time to spend with myself, I knew that everything weighing on my mind could wait. For the first time this week, my ever-evolving ‘to-do’ list wasn’t running through my mind, and I felt at peace.

Solo dates aren’t just for introverts. No matter how social you are, everyone needs to spend time alone once in a while to slow down and reconnect with themselves. I encourage you to try taking yourself on a solo date this week.

Look out for my next blog to see what I get up to next on a solo date!