There are probably a dozen things you've wanted to do this year that still haven't happened.

Maybe you've been meaning to see a movie that looked interesting, try the new Pilates studio across town, spend an afternoon at the art museum, or drive to that nearby town everyone keeps recommending.

Maybe you've thought about renting a paddleboard, taking a pottery class, hiking a new trail, or finally buying tickets to an outdoor concert. You weren't waiting because you didn't want to go—you were waiting for someone to go with you.

Most of us do it without even realizing it.

We text a friend to see if they're interested. We ask our partner if they'd like to come. We wait until our sister has a free weekend or our coworker finally follows through on the plans you've been talking about for months. When no one is available, we tell ourselves we'll do it another time.

The problem is that "another time" has a way of quietly disappearing.

The concert comes and goes. The movie leaves theaters. Summer ends before you ever rent the paddleboard. Another Saturday fills up with errands, laundry, and catching up around the house—not because that's how you wanted to spend it, but because the plans you were excited about never made it onto your calendar.

This article isn't about convincing you to become fearless or independent overnight. It's about questioning one small rule that many of us follow without thinking: that a good experience somehow becomes less worthwhile if we experience it alone. That belief may feel harmless, but it has a surprising way of keeping life on hold.

The Short Version

• Stop putting experiences on hold just because no one else is available.

• Start with one small solo activity instead of waiting until everyone's schedules line up.

• Remember that confidence usually comes after you do something—not before.

• Let invitations become a bonus, not a requirement for living your life.

• This week, choose one thing you've been waiting to do and put it on your calendar.

Is It Okay To Do Things By Yourself?

Absolutely. Going to a movie, trying a new fitness class, visiting a museum, hiking a trail, or eating at a restaurant by yourself isn't something to feel self-conscious about—it's simply another way to enjoy your life. While it's wonderful to share experiences with other people, waiting for someone else's schedule to line up can mean missing opportunities you'd genuinely enjoy. Learning to do some things on your own gives you more freedom, more flexibility, and ultimately, more life.

Want to follow along?

Download the free Start Living It Page: Go Anyway and use it as you read. You'll choose one thing you've been waiting to do, make it feel like an occasion, and discover what happens when you stop waiting for someone else's schedule to start enjoying your life.

→ Download the free Start Living It Page

The Hidden Cost of Waiting

Waiting rarely feels like a decision. Most of the time, it feels practical.

You'd rather see the movie with a friend. The new brewery looks more fun with your partner. That outdoor concert would be better with a group. Before you know it, you're checking everyone else's schedule before deciding whether you're allowed to enjoy something yourself.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to share experiences with people you love. Some of life's best memories are made that way. The problem is when every experience becomes dependent on someone else's availability.

Over time, this creates a life where your calendar reflects everyone else's priorities more than your own. The hiking weather changes. The festival ends. The pottery class fills up. Another season passes, and the things you were excited about quietly move to next year's list.

The hidden cost isn't that you occasionally stay home. It's that you slowly teach yourself your life can wait.

Confidence Doesn't Come First

One of the biggest misconceptions about doing things alone is that confident people simply aren't nervous.

The truth is, most people feel a little awkward the first time they walk into a restaurant alone, take a fitness class without knowing anyone, or sit down at a movie by themselves. That feeling isn't a sign you're doing something wrong. It's simply something unfamiliar.

Confidence isn't what gets you through the door. It's what develops after you've walked through it a few times.

Think about the first day at a new job, the first time you drove somewhere unfamiliar, or the first workout after months away from the gym. None of those experiences felt comfortable immediately, but they became easier because you kept showing up.

The same thing happens here. You stop noticing that you're alone because you're too busy enjoying what you came to do.

Start Smaller Than You Think

Doing things by yourself doesn't have to begin with a solo vacation across Europe.

It can be as simple as buying a ticket to the movie you've been wanting to see instead of waiting another month. It might mean signing up for the Saturday morning yoga class you've been considering, visiting a museum on your day off, or taking yourself out for breakfast before running errands.

As your comfort grows, your list naturally gets bigger. Maybe you spend an afternoon renting a paddleboard at the lake. Maybe you drive to a nearby town you've never explored, take a photography walk through downtown, or attend a local comedy show because it sounded fun.

None of those experiences require extraordinary confidence. They simply require deciding that your life doesn't have to pause while everyone else figures out their schedule.

The Freedom You Didn't Expect

Something interesting happens when you stop waiting.

You become more flexible. More spontaneous. More willing to say yes when something sounds interesting because you no longer need to coordinate three calendars before making a plan.

Ironically, your relationships often become healthier too. Friends become people you enjoy sharing experiences with instead of people responsible for creating your experiences. Invitations become a bonus instead of a requirement.

Most importantly, your weeks begin to feel fuller. Not because you're busier, but because you're actually living them.

That's what freedom often looks like in everyday life. It's not quitting your job or moving across the country. Sometimes it's simply realizing you can still have a wonderful Saturday even if no one else is available.

Your Elevated Standard This Week

Choose one thing you've been putting off because you were waiting for someone else.

Maybe that's:

• Buy a ticket to the movie you've been wanting to see.

• Try the yoga or Pilates studio you've been curious about.

• Visit a museum or historical site for an afternoon.

• Rent a paddleboard or kayak at a nearby lake.

• Drive to a neighboring town and spend a few hours exploring.

• Take yourself out for breakfast before starting your weekend.

• Attend a local concert, baseball game, or comedy show.

• Sign up for the pottery class you've been saving for "someday."

You don't have to stop inviting people. Just stop making their availability the deciding factor in whether you get to enjoy your own life.

Final Thoughts

It's easy to believe we're waiting for the right weekend or the right person. More often than not, we're simply waiting because we've never questioned the assumption that good experiences should always be shared.

Of course they're wonderful when they are. But they're still worth having when they aren't.

Life has a quiet way of moving forward whether we're participating or not. Movies leave theaters. Seasons change. Festivals end. New opportunities replace old ones. The goal isn't to experience everything—it’s simply to stop postponing the things that genuinely matter to you.

The next time you catch yourself thinking, "I'll do it when someone can come with me," ask a different question instead:

"Would I still want to do this if no one else was available?"

If the answer is yes, you've got your plan.

Life isn't waiting.

You don't have to either.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it weird to go places by yourself?

Not at all. Most people are far more focused on their own plans than on who came with whom. Whether you're at a movie, museum, restaurant, fitness class, or concert, you'll almost always find other people there on their own as well.

How do I become more confident doing things alone?

Start with something that feels only slightly outside your comfort zone. Seeing a movie, taking a class, or exploring a nearby town are great first steps. Confidence grows through experience, not before it.

What are some fun things to do alone?

Great options include seeing a movie, visiting a museum, hiking a new trail, trying a yoga or Pilates class, renting a paddleboard, attending a comedy show, taking a day trip, browsing a record store, exploring a new neighborhood, or spending an afternoon at a local festival.

Is it healthy to spend time alone?

Yes. Spending time by yourself can increase independence, reduce the habit of waiting on others, and help you discover what you genuinely enjoy. It doesn't replace friendships or relationships—it simply gives you more freedom to live your life between those shared experiences.

Ready To Stop Waiting?

If you've realized there are a dozen things you've been putting off until someone else is available, here's a simple place to start.

Download the free guide, The Do Something Different List: 75 Small Ways To Start Living Now Instead Of Later.

Inside, you'll find realistic ideas to help you break out of autopilot, try something new, and make your weekends—and your everyday life—feel more memorable. No expensive vacations. No complete life overhaul. Just simple experiences that remind you life is happening right now.

Download your free copy and choose one thing to do this week.