20 Have a meal out by yourself

Eating at a restaurant is usually a group activity, but believe it or not, getting a table for one isn’t unheard of. It may seem awkward or strange at first, but eating at a restaurant by yourself—not a bagel place, not a Dunkin’ Donuts, but a sit-down restaurant—can be a fun social challenge. You can have a nice meal in peace, read a book, and not have to bother with sharing your French fries. And there won’t be any negotiating over the tip at the end of the meal. You’ll probably find that eating solo isn’t a challenge at all, but a well-earned respite.

What can you do?

Remember that the idea is to relax far away from your cares and worries, so leave the textbooks at home and consider turning off your phone. There are plenty of other ways to keep yourself entertained on a solo restaurant trip.

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Image HOW TO DO IT

Pick a restaurant you enjoy—like that place your friends never want to go to or the one that looks really, really cozy. The rest of the steps are pretty much the same as they would be any other time you go to a restaurant. Go up to the host and ask for a table for one. As self-conscious as you might feel being alone, brave through it. People are usually too engaged in their own conversations to judge you, and no professional waiter or hostess will look at you sideways if you eat alone, especially if you tip well at the end of the meal. So, sit back, relax, and bon appétit, solo style!