By Brittany Christopoulos

When you’re single, you feel constantly reminded of your sad reality.

Big events like weddings, group outings, holidays, and even family functions often highlight your relationship status (or lack thereof).

One constant, recurring part of singledom that often goes unnoticed, though, is navigating weekends. 

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During the work or school week, we constantly remain active.

After we get home, we’ll work out, grocery shop, catch up with friends, or squeeze in appointments that we can’t make during the day.

On the weekends, though, everyone has dates or plans with their partners, and if you don’t, the weekend is painful to endure. 

That loneliness and lack of plans hits hard once Saturday rolls around.

You go back to an empty home after you run a few errands. Your friends quickly reject your attempt to make plans.

So, you settle for another night in, watching movies and eating a small meal for one.

You look at the other side of the couch, wishing for a body next to yours.

You snuggle up with your favorite blanket that only you’ll ever love, and you leave your place a mess because no one will ever see it anyway.

It’s a repetitive cycle that feels like forever before it passes.

But weekends don’t always have to be this way. 

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1. Try going outside and appreciating your community

Walking through the neighbourhood will help you become more aware of your surroundings, find new adventure spots, and learn about the area.

Plus, it will provide the perfect opportunity to create a local bucket list.

2. Craving something more exotic? Look into that dream vacation you’ve been dying to take 

Research hotels or hostels; look into local eateries and attractions.

Maybe even investigate flights. You don’t have to take this trip alone, either: invite some friends!

Researching your destination will provide you with a better understanding of pricing and a game plan, which will entice all of your pals to tag along.

3. When you’re craving some social contact, call friends or family who live far away and really catch up 

If weekends aren’t a great time for them, schedule a FaceTime date for a weekday evening when you’re both free.

This may, in turn, cause you to move a typical weeknight ritual to the weekend, which will simply give you more to do on your days off.

Catching up can be incredibly therapeutic and relaxing, especially when it’s with someone who lives far away and misses out on the day-to-day.

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4. Consider shopping for yourself to boost your mood 

Hit your favourite mall or shop online; you can get lost in a pit of adorable clothes either way.

Trying to find the perfect accessory for your new outfit or hitting that magic number to qualify for free shipping will distract you so much that you’ll forget all about sulking on a Sunday afternoon.

5. Heck, you could even try your hand at a new craft or whip up that recipe idea you’ve been dying to try 

Handmade items make the best little gifts, even if it’s “just because.”

Or, when you have your friends or family over, you’ll dazzle them with your culinary mastery.

Never underestimate the benefit of learning something new.

You may use your weekends to catch up on laundry and sleep, but that doesn’t mean they have to stink.

When you’re alone on the weekend, simply finding activities to distract you will help you quickly forget how lonely you feel.

There are so many ways to pass the time; it’s just a matter of finding the energy to get up and do something. 

When was the last time you did nothing? Probably last weekend. 

When was the last time you tried something new and broke out of your normal routine? Do you even know? Exactly. 

So, you can still enjoy your bubble baths and wear your pajamas all day, but try adding in some of these new activities while you’re in the comfort of your home.

I promise that any of these ideas will fill the void that’s been leaving you feeling funky and lonely.

I’m even willing to bet that after a weekend or two of trying new things, you won’t crave someone else’s body quite so much.

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Brittany Christopoulos is a writer who focuses on self-care and self-love. You can find more of her self-care content by visiting her author profile on Unwritten.

This article was originally published at Unwritten. Reprinted with permission from the author.