a comfortable, nonjudgmental email challenge that helps you own the power of being alone
For 30-somethings, that number jumps to 34 missed experiences per year.*
It’s sad, isn’t it?
For so many of us, we don’t try the new restaurant, book the vacation, buy the concert ticket, or explore the art exhibit—not because the desire isn’t there. The desire is very much there to chase novel experiences, seek out as-yet-undiscovered pleasures, and discover new things about ourselves and the world.
But we hold back because we don’t know how to do things alone with anxiety. We’re worried about how to do things alone in public. (What if we embarrass ourselves?) And perhaps most tragic of all, we get stuck asking ourselves the question, “What to do when you are alone?”
We have lost the art of celebrating alone time.
In a world that praises scene-stealers, values the “most popular,” and rewards those who preen, pose, and post every thought, feeling, and outfit, choosing to do things alone has become a counterculture.
That doesn’t mean rejecting friends or being a recluse—but finding a gentle peace and comfort in being who you are, wherever you are.
Because when you can be happy by yourself, you can do anything.
A Merry Loner’s 7-Day Do Things Alone Challenge is a comfortable, nonjudgmental way to own the power of being alone so you can build confidence, reduce social anxiety, and stop waiting on others to enjoy your life.
I’m Merry, the blogger behind A Merry Loner, a lover of solo dates, and a frequent solo traveler.
Some of my favorite loner adventures include: treating myself to a two-week getaway in Québec after college graduation; traveling to Warsaw to go to The Eras Tour alone; and the many (many) hours I’ve spent reading and writing in cafés, bars, and restaurants.
I believe you are your own best company. While it can sometimes feel daunting or even embarrassing to do things alone, over the years, I’ve learned that it’s the secret to happiness. Because if you can be happy by yourself, you can do anything.
In this 7-Day Do Things Alone Challenge, I guide you through beginner-friendly solo activities to help you feel less anxious, more independent, and fully empowered to enjoy your own company.
Doing things alone helps you build confidence and get to know yourself better—without the pressure to conform to other people’s opinions. With curated daily solo activities and corresponding journal prompts, this challenge will help you not only learn how to do things alone but how to enjoy your own company (and your life).
This challenge gives you small, manageable steps to learn how to get comfortable doing things alone, even if you have anxiety. We start gentle and easy, and then work our way up to more daring solo activities. Plus, the daily journal prompts help you reflect, decompress, and process what you learned (and celebrate your progress).
Baby steps and consistency—that’s what this challenge is all about. If you’re nervous about starting to do things alone, choose low-pressure activities at first, like visiting a coffee shop or walking in the park. Bring headphones or a book for a comfortable distraction. And remind yourself that no one is paying any attention to you or judging you.
That’s the stereotype—and what I’m trying to change with A Merry Loner. Unfortunately, there’s a huge stigma around being single or doing things alone in public. But spending time alone doesn’t have to be lame, embarrassing, or scary. Actually, the more you do things alone, the more you build confidence, trust, and respect for yourself. This challenge helps you own the power of being alone so you can stop waiting on others and start enjoying your life on your own terms.
Even better! This challenge will help you discover new solo activities, take more time for yourself, and reflect on what you want and what makes you happy. Know a friend who could use a little help learning to do things alone? Send them this challenge, and share your progress with each other.
SOURCE: “This is the number of experiences people skip because of fear of being alone“