1. Buy yourself flowers
Miley Cyrus is right: you don't have to wait for someone else to get you flowers, you can just buy them yourself! Turn this into a real outing by going to the market, flower shop or even a picking garden and choosing your favourite flowers and colours. A beautiful bouquet will certainly brighten up your room, as well as your mood ;).
2. Wellness
Are you feeling overwhelmed with student life? Then treat yourself to a well-deserved wellness moment. Spend a day at the sauna or organise your own (budgetproof) wellness night at home. Take a warm shower, put on a face mask and light your favourite scented candles. Don't forget to put on a comfy outfit, grab a book or start a series, and you are guaranteed to unwind.
3. Visit a museum
Going to a museum on your own is not a bad idea at all. After all, you can choose where to go and walk around at your own pace. Pay a visit to De Museumfabriek or Rijksmuseum Twenthe, for example, or go to a museum in another city and turn it into a fun day out.
4. Go (thrift) shopping
Who doesn't like new clothes or something nice for their room? Solo shopping is the perfect form of self-care. Head into the city centre and visit your favourite shops, or browse around thrift stores like Het Goed or Appel & Ei.
5. Cook or eat out
Eating on your own doesn’t always have to mean heating up a basic frozen pizza. Treat yourself to your favourite meal, whether you dive into the kitchen to cook something special yourself, or you prefer to order from your favourite restaurant. Or even take yourself out for dinner! It might sound a bit scary, but you will quickly find out that no one really cares.
6. Visit a lunch spot or café
Is eating out alone still a bit too far out of your comfort zone? Then start with going to a nice lunch spot or café on your own. Here, you won't be the only one visiting without company, which might make it less intimidating. Bring a book, your journal or something else to keep you entertained, order your favourite drink, and enjoy the calm.
7. Go to the cinema
Going to the cinema alone might seem weird, but it is actually the ideal solo activity. After all, you don't talk during a film, so you might as well go there by yourself! Plus, you won't have to share your popcorn either ;).
8. Go for a stroll
Is the weather nice? Then head outside to take a walk through the forest, across campus or in the Volkspark, and put on a nice podcast if you like. Also fun: bring a blanket, a magazine and some snacks and have a picnic along the way.
9. Host a DIY evening
Getting creative is a fun, approachable way to practise self-care. Make a vision board, bake a cake, or follow a Bob Ross tutorial, for example. In Enschede, you can also take various culinary and creative workshops (articles in Dutch). Who knows, you may even discover a new hobby!
10. Explore Enschede
How well do you actually know Enschede? There are probably plenty of parks, cafés and shops you have not yet discovered. Try the city escape game to discover Enschede in a new way. Or explore the city on your own, by bike or on foot, and find some hidden gems!
11. Upgrade your room
There are probably a few things in your room that you've been wanting to fix for ages. Whether it's buying a new lamp, repairing a loose cabinet door or repotting your plants, take some time to give your room a little love. Bonus: it’s the perfect excuse for a trip to Ikea ;).
12. Go on a city trip
Do you have a whole day or even a whole weekend off? Then plan a city trip on your own! The best part about exploring a new city alone is that you don't have to consider anyone else’s needs and wishes. Choose a city you've never been to before and plan some fun stops. Chances are, you will find out that going out alone is actually quite liberating.
13. Go to a concert
Let’s be honest, it might take some courage to go to a concert alone. But once you're there, singing along to the songs of your favourite artist, it's probably not so scary anymore. Plus, you are much more likely to score a ticket when you’re only looking for one!
