I love solo dates. As much as I enjoy staying home as a homebody and spending time out with my besties, there’s something especially fulfilling about going out alone. Of course, it comes with a few personal criteria. It has to be quieter, less crowded places, and spots where I can indulge in my hobbies.
Over time, I’ve realised there are so many benefits to taking myself out on solo dates and here are a few reasons why I love them.
Move at my own pace
On solo dates, there’s no pressure to keep up with anyone else’s energy, schedule, or preferences. I can linger in a cafe longer than planned, leave a place early if it feels overwhelming, or spend an entire afternoon on one activity without feeling guilty. Everything happens on my terms, and that freedom feels incredibly grounding.
Make my own decisions
Once again, when I’m out with people, I have to make compromises. While I enjoy shared moments, there are times when I simply want to do my own thing without adjusting to anyone else. Solo dates give me that freedom. I get to explore life my way, making choices for myself.
Understand my preferences and boundaries
When I make my own decisions, I start to understand myself better. I get to know what I genuinely enjoy, what drains me, and what I’m simply not interested in. Without external influence or the need to accommodate others, my likes and dislikes become clearer. I learn how much social interaction I’m comfortable with, the environments I thrive in, and when I need to step back and recharge.
Be more intentional with my time
Going out on solo dates encourages me to be more mindful about how I spend my time. Instead of defaulting to doomscrolling or oversleeping, I intentionally plan outings that feel nourishing and purposeful. Whether it’s just going out for lunch, visiting a cafe, or spending time on my hobbies, I’m choosing experiences that add value to my day, making it more balanced and fulfilled.
Indulge in my hobbies without judgement
I can sit quietly in a cafe with my favourite games and word searches, or just wander around and soak in the ambience. There is no pressure from being self conscious, since there are no judgements and expectations. It’s just me and the things that make me happy.
So those are a few benefits of going on solo dates, that fit into my slow and simple lifestyle. Some days, I’m intentional and productive at home, but on unmotivated days, my subconscious mind might fall back into doomscrolling, oversleeping, or drift through the day on autopilot. On those days, going on a solo date pulls me back, reminding me to slow down and be present.
I’ve been trying to improve my health for a long time, but I feel I haven’t made any progress. Every habit I tried to build or change never lasts. It wasn’t until I fell sick recently, and especially because I was sick just two months earlier, I reflected on it again.
I realised the main problem was accountability. Improving my health had always lived in my head as a good intention, not a real commitment. When I decided to drink more water, I’ll keep it up for a few days, but once life got busy, it quietly slipped out of my mind.
As I continue embracing a slow and simple life, and after seeing how much my hobbies have helped my physical and mental wellbeing as shared in my previous post on why hobbies are important, I feel I should really commit to improve my other issues as well.
I shared a post on Instagram as a way to create some accountability, but I also want to document this journey here, since that is what this blog is about. So here are my health goals for 2026.
Switching to black coffee
I’ve always been a milk coffee person. In my head, black coffee was something bitter and I wouldn’t enjoy. The problem is milk tends to worsen my phlegm, yet I never thought much about it. On some days, I’ll have two cups of milk coffee and still drink a cup of milk at night. That’s three servings of milk in a single day, all added in almost unconsciously.
When phlegm builds up, my body naturally tries to clear it by coughing. Frequent throat clearing and coughing weakens my immune system and makes me fall sick more easily.
Drink more water
Drinking enough water has always been a struggle for me. On most days, I barely manage one glass, and as a caffeinated, I know this isn’t doing my body any favours.
As I’m writing this, I’m reminded of a moment from a group tour overseas. We were taken to a popular local cafe to try their native coffee, and the person sitting next to me asked for a cup of water along with her order. After finishing her coffee, she drank the water and casually mentioned that it is important to drink water after coffee. I didn’t think much of it then, but now I understand why.
Coffee is dehydrating, and drinking water helps restore some of that lost hydration. Still, one cup of water after coffee isn’t enough, since the general recommendation is eight glasses a day, but going from one glass to eight is unrealistic and unsustainable.
Instead, I’m approaching this slowly by starting small. My goal is to drink three to four glasses of water a day, and once that feels natural, I’ll increase it to four or five.
Sleep earlier
I’ve always been a night owl, and sleeping early has never come naturally to me. The lack of hobbies had a part, since I used to spend a lot of time lying in bed or resting without structure on my free days.
Since picking up hobbies, my sleep quality has improved. Being more engaged during the day helps me feel naturally tired at night, and I fall asleep more easily. Although I’m sleeping better, and slightly earlier, it’s still not ideal.
I am not aiming to go to bed extremely early or become a morning person. As long as I can feel an improvement in my health and wellbeing, that’s enough.
Walks around my area
I’ll admit that I never enjoyed exercising. I’ve tried many times over the past few years to be more active, but none of those attempts ever lasted. Each time, I would keep feeling overwhelmed and falling off. I think structured workouts, gym sessions, or exercise classes might be too much for me.
This time, I want to approach movement in an easier way, by just going for walks around my area, especially on days when I don’t have a need to go out. It may not look like “proper exercise,” but it’s a start. By taking things slowly, I give my body the time it needs to adapt and build stamina naturally.
I think what made me feel overwhelmed was going all in too quickly and eventually causing me to give up altogether. If walking can help me stay consistent, feel better in my body, and avoid that cycle of feeling overwhelmed, then it’s more than enough.
Eat healthier
Another thing I have to admit is that I love chips and fried food. I also don’t enjoy cooking, mainly because I dislike the chores that come after. As a homebody who spends most of my time at home, I usually reach for processed food to fill me up.
I’ve started to realise how this might be affecting my health. Chips and fried food seem to worsen my phlegm, and relying heavily on processed food means my body isn’t getting the nutrients it needs.
So I have started cooking, mainly porridge. It’s easy to prepare and creates minimal mess. It’s also comforting for my throat, as the steam helps soothe it and loosens the phlegm. It is a simple meal that’s nourishing and manageable.
Instead of snacking on chips, I’m trying to snack on fruits instead. As for fried food, I’m not planning to cut it out completely. I know that strict restrictions usually backfire for me. Instead, I want to consume it less often and be more mindful about my consumption.
So those are my health goals for this year. Of course, I hope these changes will stay with me in the long run, but my main focus this year is cultivating the habits and building consistency.
If I can show up for these habits more often and feel an improvement in my health, that’s already a big win. As I’ve always mentioned, life is an ongoing journey of figuring things out.
Through this reflection, I’ve also learned more about what I enjoy, what I dislike, and how to make the things I dislike more manageable and beneficial for myself.
To stay accountable, as mentioned at the beginning, is main problem, I’m planning to do check-ins throughout the year. I’ll share a few updates here on this blog, but I’ll probably post more frequently on Instagram and YouTube. So if you would like to follow along with this journey, I would love to see you there too.
I have many hobbies, though I’m focusing on just two at the moment, the main AU2 dance game and word search as my secondary hobby. As a freelancer and homebody living a slow and simple life, hobbies make the day more enjoyable and easier to get through.
Even when I go on cruise, my hobbies come with me. As much as I try to enjoy the entertainment onboard, I need quiet moments of solitude which means spending a few hours tucked away in my cabin with my hobbies.
So hobbies have become an important aspect of my life, but how did they change my day-to-day life and improve my wellbeing?
Prevents doomscrolling
Around the middle of last year, when I began embracing a simpler life, I made a conscious effort to cut down on social media. I tried deleting a few apps and be more intentional with how I used the rest, but none of it really lasted. The problem wasn’t the lack of discipline, it was that it wasn’t being replaced with something else.
I still keep all my social media apps, but I no longer scroll endlessly. I go into them a few times a day, usually for just a couple of minutes, and move on. The bulk of my day is now occupied by my hobbies.
This shift has made my time feel more intentional. Rather than losing hours to mindless scrolling, I’m spending that same time doing things that actually relaxes me and brings me joy. My days feel more fulfilled and productive.
Prevents oversleeping
Going hand in hand with doomscrolling, I also struggled with oversleeping. I would spend most of my day in bed scrolling through social media until I eventually drifted off, and wake up doing the same thing. This cycle made me feel groggy, caused headaches, and sometimes even led to insomnia at night.
The problem wasn’t just wasting my day but it disrupted my body’s natural rhythm. I was constantly exhausted during the day and had no motivation to do anything,
Keeping my day occupied with hobbies helped break this cycle. It improved my sleep patterns, reduced headaches, and helped me feel more in control of my days.
Boosts motivation
By not feeling tired all the time, it boosts my motivation. With consistent energy, I have the mental clarity to focus and the stamina to see things through.
Hobbies reinforce it further. The enjoyment and satisfaction gives me an extra push to stay motivated. They make the effort feel worthwhile, encouraging me to take on tasks I would normally procrastinate and tackle responsibilities with lesser resistance, which leads to my next point on how hobbies help reduce procrastination.
Reduce procrastination
It’s not just my improved energy levels and motivation that help reduce procrastination. Hobbies are a big part as well.
I’ll admit it that I hate doing household chores. Even cleaning my room feels overwhelming, but knowing that I get to play my dance game or do a word search after, gives me something to look forward to. That anticipation motivates me to tackle chores more quickly and efficiently.
It’s not just household chores, but other daunting tasks too. It’s like a reward system, and completing my responsibilities rewards me with more time for something I love doing and to enjoy my hobbies guilt free. It turns productivity into something that feels rewarding rather than forced.
Me time on a busy day
On busy days, such as when I have to go out for work, hobbies are my personal me time. It gives the day something that’s just for me. By doing things I love, it brings comfort and joy, making the day feel more balanced.
This short moment of me time also helps me reset mentally and emotionally, especially after having to socialise and meet certain expectations. As mentioned at the beginning, I need quiet moments of solitude. So this is the time I tuck myself in my room to decompress and return to myself.
That is how hobbies changed my day-to-day life and improved my wellbeing, both physically and mentally. I’m no longer wasting my free days oversleeping and doomscrolling. Even my busiest days feel less exhausting and overwhelming. Instead, I move through both free and busy days with more calm, balance and happiness, grounded by the comfort my hobbies bring.
I am still living a slow and simple lifestyle, but over the past few months, I’ve given my attention to three main focus, instead of trying to do a little of everything.
Cruise
I know this seems contradictory to an intention I set earlier this year to reduce travel, but I’ve found myself genuinely enjoying short cruises. There’s something about being out in the open sea that instantly quiets my mind and creates a mental reset. Each time I return home, I feel clearer, more grounded, and unexpectedly more motivated.
Work
I’m still doing freelance work, but I’ve been taking on more shifts to fund the cruises. Having a tangible goal has changed how I approach work. It no longer feels like something I’m simply pushing through, but a means to something I genuinely look forward to. Knowing there’s time at sea ahead makes it easier to stay motivated, focused, and appreciative of the effort I put in.
Au2 Dance
I know I’ve written before about MapleStory being my forever game, but I actually haven’t played it since I started focusing on these three areas. Instead, the dance game has naturally taken its place. I can spend an entire day immersed in it when I have the time, or play in short bursts on busy days. Since my best friends are playing it too, we often play together, which makes the experience feel more shared and lively. With MapleStory, I was mostly playing alone, and while there was comfort in that solitude, it doesn’t quite compare to the sense of connection I get now.
None of these were planned. They unfolded naturally, one after another. As I’ve always mentioned, life is an ongoing journey of figuring things out. What feels right now may shift again in a few months, and I may find myself focusing on something entirely different. Perhaps that proves the point that everything in life is temporary, and we should allow things to evolve without resistance.
Since beginning slow living a few years ago, I’ve definitely felt happier. However, after taking things a step further this year by simplifying my life, I discovered a deeper, steadier and more lasting kind of happiness.
So here’s how simplicity transformed my life and brought me even more happiness.
Creating My Space
When I decluttered my space, I didn’t just free up shelves, I freed my mind. Since I wanted to embrace being a homebody, I started with the place I spend most of my time, my desk. Clearing it out and keeping only the things I love and actually use made a huge difference. Now my desk feels like a space that supports me instead of overwhelming me.
From there, I began reducing visible clutter around the rest of my room. I still own plenty of things, because change doesn’t happen overnight and simplicity isn’t about abandoning everything. The difference is that now, most of what I keep has meaning or purpose. When I look around my room, I’m no longer surrounded by clutter, and that brings me a sense of calm.
Freedom of Time
One of the greatest luxuries in life isn’t money, possessions, or status, it’s time. The freedom to choose how I spend my hours has brought me more happiness than anything material ever could, which is why I chose to do freelance work.
Choosing time over money comes with its own responsibilities. I have to budget carefully and live within my means. It might seem pressurising, but to me, it feels empowering. It’s more than just a way of making sure my choices support the life I want to live. It also happens to bring me joy because I get to use tools I love, stationery, planners, and notebooks.
Not Conforming to Society’s Expectations
For much of my life, I felt the weight of society’s way of living. Get a stable job, earn a certain income, buy a house, find a partner, get married, start a family and achieving these milestones means success.
For the introverted and shy person that I am, those expectations felt suffocating. They demanded a lifestyle centered on social interaction, competition, and comparison, which are things that makes me feel anxious rather than fulfilled.
When I stopped measuring myself against society’s standards, I redefined success in my own terms. It meant living in alignment with my values, even if that looked different from what is expected. That shift alone brought me a tremendous sense of happiness and peace.
Embracing my Introversion
As mentioned above, society’s expectations is extroverted, which is overwhelming for me. By being a homebody and embracing my introversion, I discovered I had more energy for what really mattered.
Instead of forcing myself to fit into an overwhelming world, I am now filling my time with things that makes me feel alive. That authenticity has been one of the biggest sources of happiness in my life.
Living True to Myself
In my previous post on 5 ways to embrace simplicity, one of the ways is to live in alignment with your values. Happiness is one of my values and simplifying my life helped me live in alignment with that value.
Another value of mine is health, and I’ve come to see how closely it’s connected to happiness. When I take care of my body, I notice a difference in my mood and mindset. Any progress towards better health, no matter how small, brings me satisfaction and happiness.
So that’s how simplifying my life brought me more happiness. Every step helped me feel lighter and more at ease, but the biggest contributor is allowing myself to fully embrace being introverted.
Simplifying my life isn’t just about having less, it’s about making room for who I truly am. By embracing my introversion instead of fighting it, I’m building a life that feels authentic, sustainable, and deeply joyful.
