Going Solo: The Ultimate Flex
When I tell others how much solo travel I do, the majority provide the same response.
“I could never do that!”
And my response is always, “Yes, you CAN!”.
If I had waited for someone to travel with me, I would have missed 90% of the places I’ve seen. This would have been a waste of my intellectual curiosity and passion. I have always been obsessed with maps and history, and I cannot sit with the regret that I could have seen these places, if only someone had gone with me.
If you don’t need the pep talk, get started now.
Why Do People Balk at Solo Travel?
Humans overall are social creatures. This, plus societal conditioning, can scare us from doing certain things alone, such as eating in a restaurant or seeing a movie alone. Some feel self-conscious or judged when seen alone. For others, having that human interaction does heighten the experience.
The good news is we can transcend these fears and live a more fearless life that may include traveling alone if you wish. They really are just fears. As a woman who has spent a lot of time in theaters, restaurants, and tourist attractions by herself, I can assure you no one will look at you with judgment. Plus, it’s becoming more common.
Benefits of Being and Traveling Alone
Because I have spent my adult life entertaining myself and solving problems on my own, honing these skills over decades makes solo travel easy and my preference. Through it all, I have learned being comfortable in your own company is the ultimate flex:
You do what you want, when you want, which means you become comfortable accepting the rewards and consequences of your decisions but can change your mind nimbly.
You become comfortable with your thoughts because you have more time and space to process them or channel the ones that don’t make you feel good into something positive.
You master problem-solving on your own utilizing a wide variety of resources because nothing gets done without you.
Knowing the buck stops with you is empowering and makes you a better decision-maker.
You do not have to tolerate bad behavior, disrespect, or relationships held together by fear because you’ve learned that being alone is far better than being treated badly.
Solo travel has benefits that mirror those of living alone:
See what you are interested in without needing to consider what others want.
You have the time and space to reflect on your visit and make the experience totally yours.
You flex problem-solving and adaptability muscles necessary for travel setbacks and obstacles.
You are empowered to decide where to go without fear paralyzing you.
You can enjoy your trip without having to deal with the negative actions or emotions of others.
Where Do I Start?
All of us climb Mount Everest one step at a time. Depending on how fast you want to progress, you can hang out a base camp or go for the summit.
Depending on your tolerances, there are several places you can start from:
If you have little experience being by yourself or need to start in a less stressful place, try going to a movie, restaurant, or tourist attraction by yourself.
If you have some experience doing things on your own (or find yourself recently living alone because of life transition) but have never traveled solo, planning a long weekend within two to three hours driving distance from home is a great start.
If you are an experienced traveler but have no or little experience doing it solo, you already have the knowledge to dive in!
Ready? Get Started!
A great resource is Women on the Road, which covers solo female travel, travel planning, budgeting, staying safe, and other travel resources.
As Annie All Around evolves, I’ll start including more travel resources you can use for planning your solo trip. Enjoy my travel stories as inspiration. And if you need a pep talk or support, contact me!