Today I have a guest post from Breanne. Breanne blogs over at Essential Moves to Wellness, where she blogs about health and wellness, and living a chemical free life. If you’d like to learn more about Breanne and her blog be sure to check out her author bio at the end of this post!
Here are some great ways to date yourself without having a panic attack in the process. Self-care is so important to our mental health, but the thought of dating yourself would make just about anyone run the other way. But if you want to be good to the people around you, you must first be good to yourself.
Here are some tips and tricks to date yourself with confidence.
Get Back to an Old Hobby
Part of dating is getting to know the other person, right?
Get to know yourself a bit more by jumping back to an old hobby you used to love. When I went to college, I had to stop ballet to save time and money. Huge mistake. I gained weight, lost all my confidence, and started to develop mild anxiety. After college, I went back into ballet full-force, and I’m so glad I did. I quickly learned 3 Ways the Challenges of Ballet Can Help You in Real Life.
Now I feel more like myself again, although I’ve still got a long way to go. But every night I dance I feel happy and at peace with myself.
Sweep Yourself Off Your Feet
Yes, I’m serious.
Buy yourself flowers or chocolates, or whatever your dream (or real) significant other would get you! Roses are my favorite flower, so I stopped waiting for an excuse to get them from other people. Now I get myself a bouquet every now and then when they’re on sale. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it makes you feel happy.
If you love food, make a special dish for yourself! Or make a delicious dessert to eat when you get home from work. You can check out my healthy Almond Joys, my easy apple crisp, or my creamy frozen yogurt pops! Don’t overthink this one. Just ask yourself, “What would make me swoon with happiness if someone did something for me right now?”
Go to Your Favorite Date Location When It’s Calm
If you’re able to, date yourself during the off hours of your favorite establishment.
I only say to go during off hours so that you’ll be (close to) the only one. Most people admit to not going to group places alone for fear of being judged. Depending on what your favorite location is, this will work great! This can be a movie on a weekday. Or you can take your lunch break a little later and go to your favorite restaurant.
The sky is the limit!
Or if being the only one in a certain place gives you anxiety, don’t worry about it! There are places where it might feel better to blend in with a crowd, like the zoo.
Treat Yourself with Respect
This is one of the hardest but most beneficial ways to date yourself.
I still struggle with it every day. The key with this idea is that you need to treat yourself like someone who cares about you would. This means that you don’t berate yourself for a mistake, or have thoughts like “I wish I was skinnier” or “Why are you so bad at making friends?”
Someone who cares for you would say, “you look great the way you are,” “you’re nice to talk to,” etc. This aligns with having a thankful mindset. So I would train yourself to be more grateful, and the self-respect will quickly follow. You can find out how to be grateful even when life seems to suck here.
Dress Up for Yourself
Don’t skimp out on dating yourself just because it’s you!
If you love to get all fancy and pretty before a date, then do that for you too. I go through phases when I want to wear foundation, eye shadow, the whole nine yards. But most of the time it’s a challenge just to draw my eyebrows. You can see all the natural and chemical-free makeup products I use here. You can use this tip at your own discretion, but the point is that you should make yourself look nicer than you usually do.
When you’re excited for a date or a big outing, you want to look your best right? Put yourself on that same pedestal!
Dating Yourself Doesn’t Have to Be Painful!
If you want to successfully date yourself, then you need to think much deeper than awkwardly going to a restaurant alone.
Think of how you would want a significant other to treat you, and go by that model, no exceptions! Your self-worth will fly through the roof, and the rest of the world will notice. And remember, self-care is only doing what you love! Eating alone in a restaurant gives me major anxiety, so I just don’t do it. But I absolutely love walking around a museum alone!
So be kind to yourself, sweep yourself off your feet, and do something that you would love.
About Breanne
Breanne is the writer and owner of Essential Moves to Wellness; a health and wellness blog dedicated to teaching people how to eliminate harsh chemicals from their lives while becoming the best version of themselves. Breanne has been living chemical-free for over 7 years, and loves to share her findings online. You can find her on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Or grab her simple beauty product swaps here.