What do single people do on Friday evenings and the weekend?

[Sunflowers2047]

I find Friday evenings really difficult because once again I'm alone and I imagine everyone else having lovely times with their families or out at pubs with friends. I have a handful of friends but they have young children or live too far away to meet up for an evening. I'm working all weekend which means all that faces me this weekend is just work stress and then Saturday evening alone again. Makes me feel crap and lonely.

I'm sorry to hear that you feel like this. I'm actually married but my husband suffers from serious mental health issues and I tend to be sat on my own at weekends as he's usually asleep or is in hospital. I treat myself to nice food and watch films on Prime and Netflix. Sometimes I go for a walk alone, there's usually people around to say hi to and you get that weekend "buzz" then come back and have a nice soak in the bath with a glass of wine and then have something extra special to eat and watch something good. Are there any clubs you could join? Even online ones? Where I live they have a group called Talking Tables which is held at various local cafes and bars throughout the week (might be handy if you have time off in the week in lieu of working weekends). Sometimes I just go on mumsnet, there are usually people around to talk to. I know, when you are alone, it feels like everyone else is doing exciting things with their families/friends but I really don't think that's the case for everyone.

You could look at local events - the cafe round the corner from me have discussion evenings on a Friday about books, culture, etc. You could consider a walking group, thats a good way to meet people and get out the house, maybe have a look on Facebook. I'm based near London and have used eventbrite before to find socials, which are mostly free.

I go to the cinema on my own sometimes. You're not alone :) x

I'm out for a glass of wine at my local pub with dermot o'leary Alternative 90s on headphones watching the world go by. It's just nice to leave the house and speak to people (should the occasion arise)😉

I go out for a people watch. I’m also doing an undergraduate course which really gives me a buzz. My weekend is spent mucking about withthat.

I am divorced and children now left home. I don’t yearn after the family life. I miss it. However having had the experience I know the grass isn’t greener on the other.

I think if you haven’t had that experience, the sense of missing out is a real challenge.

I don't do a lot, but i try and mark it in a tiny way by myself at home, eg having a pizza and a class of wine and seeing if I can find a film to watch.

P.S I think over about 30, friend meet-ups a more uncommon than common for all (as of course all the smug marrieds are at home together!).

(not literally all in one house, but in their couples :-D )

My kids are all away on holiday with their dad, so my friend is going to pop over for a quick drink. Then I'll make dinner and have an early night 😀 I quite being alone

Have you heard of Meet Up? It's an online thing you can join which has lots of groups which run events. These can be as simple as meeting for drinks or a walk or pub quiz, or more elaborate. You install it as an app on your phone.
I found it a life saver when I was newly single after 20+ years of marriage and I made a couple of lasting friends through it.

With all due respect this is totally different to the situation OP is in. You're not normally alone. You don't face every weekend by yourself. So of course you're liking having no one around this weekend.
But when you face every weekend alone, it can be miserable.
Comments like yours used to make me feel even more alone!

I suspect they plan to do something by themselves or with friends and family ahead of time?

That would make sense.

Drink heavily in front of horror films.

I agree, with hybrid working I can go days without talking to a human being (am getting fluent in cat though!) so just taking myself for a normal Friday night drink with everyone else reminds me of being social and just even have a mundane chat at least 🙃

I'm down at my allotment right now and will come down on Saturday and Sunday. I go to the theatre, cinema, gigs, comedy shows, sometimes with friends, sometimes on my own, sometimes my son will join me.
In short, I do what I want and if someone wants to tag along with me that's fine

When I was single it was always CrossFit

@Macaroni46 you've absolutely hit the nail on the head. And comments like that do make you feel more alone. Same as when a woman at work who has a husband and two girls was like oh I'd love to live alone. No you wouldn't. You're romanticising it. Try being alone every weekend while everyone else is with their families and friends and then tell me you'd love to live alone.

I sometimes go for a swim or a walk.

Potter around the house, have a bath, actually sit on the sofa and read or watch something that I often don't do in the week. Though I try to take Fridays off and do something with someone during the day (same at weekends) so the evenings I'm happy to just chill alone. I hardly ever go out on a Saturday night, but I've got used to it.

You have to plan stuff if you live alone, you can’t be spontaneous like people with flat mates and family. You have to make a fair bit more effort but it will come good if you do.

try some meet up groups and join some things locally that involve interaction like choirs, book clubs, park runs, walking groups, conservation groups, whatever appeals. There are usually things like gigs on in Sat night which are pretty fine to go to alone. Friday nights have less but if you have a proper yoga studio you might find a C’mas there, or just go to the gym.

You won’t fill your evenings immediately with friends but you can fill the days, and in 2 years you will have friends and full evenings.

I know it feels hard but you have to stop feeling sorry for yourself and get on with it.

I'm separated. My teen DD lives with me but she spends every second weekend with her Dad so I'm on my own every second weekend. My job is very busy and I interact with a lot of people at work, so I like having a quiet weekend to recharge my batteries. But it can be lonely at times.

On Friday evenings I'm generally tired after a week of work and I just veg. in front of the TV. Most weekends I need to do boring but essential jobs around the house and garden. Sometimes I meet up with family or friends. I'm a member of a local Meet up group so sometimes they organize a walk or a meal at the weekend. Sometimes I go to the garden centre. If I've too many quiet weekends where I don't meet up with people, I can get a bit lonely. But on the other hand, if I've too many busy weekends where I don't get any time to myself, I start to get a bit stressed. It's important to get the balance right.

I hear you. In the same boat. Also find comments from smug people who aren't alone much difficult. I sometimes have plans with friends on Friday evenings, not often. Even less so on Saturday evenings. I will go to the cinema and theatre on my own. During the weekend days, I will go to National Trust type places on my own. Have found a couple of monthly guided walks I like. Looking into joining a choir. Not really a social group type of person therefore can't summon up the courage for Meet-up. Other than that, I read a lot, take baths, get a takeaway.

I live alone. I'm scrolling mumsnet and cooking a baked potato.

my partner passed away7 months ago, I’m quite introverted so don’t mind being alone although I do have my dog for company. I’ve been keeping myself very busy working on house and clearing out etc but this has slowed right down now. Today after work I took a nap to pass some time, now tv, walk dog and bed.

my circle of friends is small but I do spend time with family on a Saturday. I’m not envious of people going out on a Friday as I like staying home but do miss human conversation

I was you, it can be miserable.
I used to go to the Cinema twice a month on a Friday night.
Then on Saturday I volunteered at the local cat rescue olace.
tbf come Saturday night I’d end up slugging too much wine to keep me company, so I’m not the best to offer advice.

@Macaroni46 Totally agree too. Easy to enjoy being alone when you're not normally.

Bottle of wine & pizza in the oven here. Suspect I'll fill my weekend with household jobs

Not all of them.I often spend Friday nights alone drinking in front of netflix.No card game for a month.My best friend moved five hours away.My wife out with her mates as usual.Social anxiety means I can't join clubs.Cheers.