Image Credit: And God Created Woman (1956), Cocinor.

Imagine: 

You host a dinner party. You drink cheap wine and swirl pasta into spoons, laugh with old friends and reminisce on past mistakes. You dance to melodic jazz, watch a bad film, make brownies for dessert, and spill chocolate on your top. 

Now it’s midnight, and you’re all working tomorrow. One by one, your guests file out of the door, tupperware in one hand and your cheek in the other. They stumble down the hall, check back for a wave, then they turn the corner, and you’re really alone. 

What now? 

The room is a tip, full of dishes and scraps. You know, of course, that you should clean up straight away. You don’t. Instead, you run to the freezer and dig out a tub of ice cream, curl up beneath your duvet and eat in silence, resembling the darkest moments of your dearest Bridget Jones. 

Image Credit: Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001), Miramax.

We all feel the urge, when company leaves, to give up. We resign ourselves to boredom and solemnity, convinced somehow that fun is reserved for groups and not for us loners. But it doesn’t have to be this way, and I’m writing this piece to convince you of that. So, here’s my advice…

First of all, find something to do with your hands. Put the phone down and pick up a ball of yarn, a sketchbook, a puzzle. As hobbies become habits, alone time becomes exciting and productive; you might even end the night admiring your creation. 

To truly master alone time, though, you must venture outside. I’m not suggesting that you do so wine-drunk after a dinner party – but on those slow days, the ones devoid of plans or gatherings and fraught with mindless scrolling, I urge you to take this step. A walk is always a good idea, whether it’s through the brightness of a summer’s day or the fresh shock of winter wind. And it doesn’t have to be a walk: if you’re feeling bold, grab a coffee or a snack at your favourite local. Again, the fun of a little treat is not exclusive to groups and is just as enjoyable when alone.

Finally, a tip that may seem sentimental or too often repeated, but that strikes me as crucial, is to truly be present. It can be tempting, when alone, to bury yourself in easy distractions and instant gratification, to keep a podcast or an album playing at every given moment. As cheesy as it sounds, taking a break from content consumption and listening to your own thoughts can actually do a great deal of good – after all, are you truly alone with Alex G in your earbuds? It’s a no from me. And while the silence may be scary at first, it’s nonetheless a surefire way to become more comfortable in your own skin. 

If you take anything from this article, I hope it’s the knowledge that alone time is not inherently dull. You have the power to make it interesting; all you have to do is try.