No Date? No Problem—A Guide to Dating Yourself in 2025

If there’s something you really want to do, why wait for a date?

The term “dating yourself” gets a lot of flack. It brings to mind a single Bridget Jones singing into her hairbrush (which I’m totally on board with, by the way).

But dating yourself doesn’t have to be cheesy, awkward, embarrassing, or the myriad of other things you’re probably thinking. It’s about learning how to feel comfortable in your own company—and not waiting until you have a partner to do the things you love.

I have a boyfriend but I often choose to go on solo dates. Why? Because I like spending time alone. I like choosing what I do, where I eat, and where I go. In the past few months, I’ve arranged a day trip to a local city. I’ve watched a ballet. I’ve taken myself to the cinema to watch a new film. All by myself.

I’m a social person, but I make an active choice to do things alone all the time. And you can, too.

Related Posts:

• 5 New Things I Want to Do Alone This Year
• How to Get Over Yourself and Go to that Damn Wedding, Gloriously Solo
• Accepting Your Fate (Finding Acceptance Alone)

Why should you date yourself?

The idea of dating yourself isn’t a new one. For years, it’s been used to describe the self-improvement single people do before getting into a new relationship.

But in recent years, we’ve seen a boom in people literally taking themselves out for dates. In fact, as of this writing, #solodate has over 149K posts on Instagram.

We’re recognizing that solo dating is a fun, empowering, and exciting way to get to know yourself, whether you’re in a relationship or not.

Here’s why you should date yourself in 2025:

You can do what you want, when you want

Have you and your partner ever argued about where you want to eat? Or maybe you and your friend can’t decide on an activity? Guess what—that doesn’t happen when you date yourself.

You get to decide where you go, what you eat, how long you stay, and what you do next. Trust me, it’s freeing.

You don’t have to make plans with anyone else. You can be as structured or spontaneous as you like. It’s all up to you.

Tip: Create a rough plan for your solo date. It’ll help you make decisions while you’re out, especially if it’s your first time dating yourself.

You can get to know yourself better

I know, I know. I said I wouldn’t be cheesy. But spending time alone really can teach you about yourself.

What do you enjoy? What makes you tick? What triggers your anxiety? By spending time alone, you can start to answer these questions.

Life can get busy. Spend some mindful time with yourself to gain a greater awareness of who you are and what you want.

The more you date yourself, the more you’ll get used to spending time alone. You’ll feel more comfortable going to events solo—and you might even feel more confident in other areas of your life too.

Tip: Lean into self-improvement by reflecting on your solo date. Write down the things you enjoyed (and the things you didn’t) for next time.

You don’t have to worry about finding a date

If there’s something you really want to do, why wait for a date? Dating yourself means you’ll always have someone to take you out.

So what if you don’t have a partner (or even if you do)? Treat yourself to a nice lunch, go to your local public library, go for a walk, or book a pottery class. (Extra mindfulness points if your solo date involves analog activities</