I went to the cinema by myself last night

[TeaAndCakeFTW]

And didn't self combust with embarrassment!

I always thought, yeah right, when people said they loved going by themselves, but I'm a bloody convert!

Really didn't feel self conscious or care that I looked like I was the only one on my own. Although I did sit right at the back. Next time I'll sit centre row, a few rows in, I think I didn't get the best effect from the sound where I sat yesterday.

But I'll definitely be going again.

What else is great to do by yourself/can I discover?

I love going to the cinema by myself!

One of my favourite things to do. Sit in the dark, consume popcorn and d get lost in a film!

Last time I took DH all he did was ask questions through the whole thing! Totally ruins the experience for me!

Oh and to answer your question, I usually take myself for a meal afterwards and enjoy the quiet-take a book with me to read in a booth while enjoying good food and a glass of something!

I do quite a bit on my own! Cinema and theatre aren't particularly social anyway so I never feel like I stand out there. Of course it's nice to chat about the thing you've seen after but not essential. I go to lunch and spa days solo too, I like not having to worry about others and can please myself time-wise.

I did recently too. I’m glad I didn’t miss out on seeing something just because I had nobody to go with. I will be doing that again!

I prefer to go to the theatre on my own.

I like to absorb and process the content of the play and let it unfold without someone else’s thoughts at the interval. Or the interruption of ‘chat’ at the interval of a play. (I usually go to plays, not musicals)

I go on hikes alone.

Camping.

Days to the sea for sea swimming and a potter.

Galleries

Pubs

I love doing things with friends and family too but this whole thing about women feeling self conscious or afraid to do things alone makes me realise that the world is not equal. Men don’t fret about any of these things. Let’s not restrict ourselves!

I love it! DH and I don't tend to like the same kind of films and cos I'm retired and he's not, I go in the afternoons. Well done, lots of people say they couldn't do it.

yes! Love a solo cinema trip, esp afternoon showings where is quieter.
I actually managed to get proper VIP treatment once when I was the only person in the whole place!😆

Love solo theatre/cinema trips. Also lunch, museums etc. I don’t like going to the pub solo, but there are one or two quieter bars near me that I like to take a book to and enjoy a glass of wine.

glad you had a good time!

What else is great to do by yourself/can I discover?
Anything.

Dinner, gallery, concert, weekend away (or longer), theatre.

I do all these alone regularly and never realised it was something anyone worried about doing until I saw some MN threads.

I have done solo trips to

The Cinema
Theatre, comedy, opera, plays
Meals
Trips to, well just in the 'A's Argentina and Australia
UK weekend breaks

I'm a fairly self sufficient person.

I have a ranking of:

Things I actually prefer to do alone- shopping, exercising like gym/classes/swimming ( I thought the second was obvious but have since met quite a lot of people who refuse to go to the gym or pool unless a friend goes with them!)

Things I'm equally happy to do alone or with someone - museum, cinema, travelling, go for a walk

Things I'd ideally prefer to go with someone but will and have done alone - eating out/going for a drink, going to a gig or to the theatre, theme park, more adventurous exercises like paddleboarding/climbing etc (the latter as much from a safety perspective but it is also more fun)
The restaurant/pubs thing is because I'm not really a foodie so the main reason to go out is for the interaction - otherwise I'd just save money and the effort of makinglmyself look presentable and just have a drink/food at home in my sweats!

Yeah well done OP!! I love going to the cinema by myself, it's such a treat.

Went to the theatre solo this year, which was okay, but actually think I'd have preferred company for that one. Guess maybe it depends on the play! Museums is a good solo one. Another thing I like to do alone is brunch. I find a sunny spot in a cafe, take a book/newspaper, get a coffee and something delicious to eat and people watch. I come from a large family, always house shared and now have young children. Sometimes time on my own is just really needed.

I don't think id like to go to the theatre on my own. Or eat in a proper restaurant. I do cafes/coffee shops/McDonald's etc, food on the go but I don't think I could go in a nice restaurant and eat on my own.

I definitely can take a book to a park or beach, but not sure I'd go in the water at the beach. But I would go to the gym/swim/exercise by myself. I love a swim/sauna by myself. Prefer it actually. As well as a good dog walk on my own. Nature, preferably a forest, and peace and quiet is so grounding/resetting.

I don't think id like to go to the theatre on my own. Or eat in a proper restaurant. I do cafes/coffee shops/McDonald's etc, food on the go but I don't think I could go in a nice restaurant and eat on my own.
Why on earth not? I don't get this at all. Do you think people will be judging you or something? I just assume nobody has even noticed me dining alone or going to the theatre alone. If they have I can't imagine what their thoughts on it might be that would in the least bit significant to me.

This!

No idea at all - until reading MN posts - that other people don’t do things on their own.

I don’t need to ‘take a book’ or develop strategies, or do anything at all to apologise for my solo existence in any space - it never occurs to me that I’m doing anything unusual or noticeable. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Well yes. I'd feel self conscious, so I wouldn't enjoy my food, and like the staff would think I'm a sad case/feel sorry for me. I'd rather get it to take away.

That is a bit silly. The staff almost certainly won't care in the least and even if they do why does it matter? Seems very sad to me to restrict your life so much because you think there's a possibility a stranger might secretly think something about you.

When was the last time you saw someone eating, shopping, at the cinema, theatre, gallery or wherever else and thought “Oh my god, what a saddo! There must be something very wrong with them” ?
I'm guessing never. We really don’t notice or care much about the others around us.

People would care less about what others think of them if they only realised how rarely anyone else thinks about them.

I used to take the dogs out every Saturday morning for a massive walk, pop into the shop for a copy of The Times and then go to a little coffee shop in the local village for long breakfast and read of the newspaper whilst the dogs crashed on the floor (on the fleece blankets that the coffee shop provided 😣)

I still do all of this now but with DP (which is equally as enjoyable!) but used to love doing it on my own 😍

I actually love seeing people eating alone - especially in fancier places!

There used to be a restaurant in Manchester called the French (very fancy, Michelin starred place) and the few times I ate in there (for special occasions or work meetings) there would always be a couple of tables with solo diners and I would think "Wow - imagine being able to just pop to a Michelin starred restaurant for dinner on your own on a Friday lunchtime / Wednesday evening!"

Living the dream!!!

Why wouldn't you go to the theatre alone, OP?
I often do it, including big shows in London - it's one of my main treats.
You see lots of people solo at the theatre and it really isn't an issue.
You can also visit galleries, sports events, cafes, restaurants - so much choice out there!

I would say that this would be the last thing that I would be thinking about someone. Who knows why that person, I may, or may not even notice, is alone. Life, and experiences are there for a short space in time. Simply, life is short.

I felt like that the first time I went on my own!

I have an unlimited card and am sat on the front row of where the seats start to rise every week. I love it!

What else is good to do alone?

Everything! Living. Going for walks. Travel, concerts, holidays, museums and galleries. Sex.

I've never really understood going to the cinema with other people, tbh - you're sat in the dark watching the film the whole time, you can't talk like at home... what's the point? I think I last went with someone who wasn't my DP about 20 years ago, on a date... and decided not to bother again 😂

I love doing things on my own - everything really. I've never had a fancy meal on my own but have certainly done chains while on work trips or if I just needed a meal while out. I go away for the weekend on my own twice a year for a bit of peace and quiet. I'd happily go on holiday alone if I could afford it! Last time I was on holiday with my family I went off for a few hours to explore the scenery on my own, and had a lovely fantasy of being a mysterious single middle-aged woman who spends a week in various beautiful Spanish towns before moving on. Oh for the money and lack of responsibilities!

Museums and art galleries on my own is literally my favourite thing to do, my proper treat activity for a day off.