Before getting married and becoming a mama, if you had asked me if I wanted to go out by myself intentionally, I would have probably laughed. However, after the physical, mental, and emotional changes that have happened throughout the first few years of motherhood, I literally will go anywhere and do anything to get some solo time.  Oil change? An hour and a half sitting in a waiting room with a book? Sounds amazing.  Car Wash?  10 minutes to myself with a podcast? Blissful.

Get me out the door.

Often as busy moms, we think we don’t deserve a break or that they are only be “allowed” for a special occasion like a vacation or Mother’s Day. In reality though, we should be prioritizing solo time as self-care often and dating ourselves. It doesn’t have to be a weekend trip to the spa (although I’m always down for that) or a $1000 shopping spree (also down for this too) but it need to be intentional and frequent. Dating yourself gives you the opportunity to get to know yourself–what do you like? What do you not like? What fills your cup?  What relaxes you? What sets your heart on fire?  Who are you outside of motherhood and marriage? Not only does it keep you in touch with your inner knowing but it also gives you dedicated time for a break– which every mom in every situation deserves a break.

Whether you sit at a coffee shop by yourself for an hour or check out that new exhibit at the art museum, here are some fun solo date ideas for mamas:

1. Explore a Bookstore

I made this one number one because when I do have a free hour, one of my favorite things is to grab coffee from the coffee place by my house and wander the aisles of a bookstore.  When was the last time you walked down the aisles of a bookstore and checked out the latest releases? If you’re looking to get back into reading and enjoy some solo time, taking a trip to your local bookstore, enjoying a cup of coffee (treat yourself!), and picking out one or two books that peek your interest is a great way to reconnect with yourself and explore genres you’re interested in.

2. Go for a Hike in Nature 

Oftentimes, we forget just how much beauty and calm resides in nature. If you love the outdoors and don’t want to worry about strollers, snacks, soccer games, or your toddler eating sand at the playground, taking a hike at your favorite park or trail is a great way to find silence and peace and reconnect with the simple things in life.  Bonus points if you truly disconnect (no ear buds!) and allow yourself some time to think!

3. Enjoy a Cooking Class

Why not learn to cook your favorite dish from an expert? One of my “fun” goals for 2025 was to become a better cook so I immediately resonated with this idea.  There are so many unique cooking classes offered by various companies, small business owners, and food influencers. I’m eyeing one that’s at my local Sur La Table store.  Find one that’s local to you, put on that apron, and don’t be afraid to get messy while learning new culinary skills!

4. Go Thrifting for a New Outfit or Home Decor

I’ll be honest, sometimes thrifting overwhelms me.  But, I’ve gotten a bit more into it especially after I’ve dipped my toe into online thrifting (World of Books is fab, love Poshmark, and I’ve found some great finds on ebay!)  But I’ve found that sometimes, when you go thrifting looking for a particular thing and don’t find it, it can make the trip seem unsuccessful. However, some of the best thrift shop trips are when you aren’t looking for anything in particular. If you go in with an open mind, you can have a solo date that involves creativity and some new items.

Visiting a botanical garden in early spring or early fall is one of the best times to go (not too hot or cold!). As far as solo date ideas for moms go, it can feel like you’re in a completely different world and is a great way to escape the busyness of everyday life. It frees up time to think about what brings you peace and joy while being surrounded by beauty.

6. Do a “Three Course” Crawl

I saw this idea online and immediately penciled it in for my next solo date. A Three-Course Crawl is simply where you get your appetizer, entree, and dessert from three different places. Do some research on places you’ve wanted to try and spend this time exploring different food options.

7. Spend the Morning at the Farmers Market 

Going to the farmers market by yourself is a top-tier experience.  Pick up fresh flowers, that yummy tea you’ve been wanting to try, fresh fruits and veggies, and treat yourself to that natural tallow lotion you’ve been eyeing.  Cheers to a fun and healthy solo date!

Have you always wanted to visit that contemporary art museum downtown, or maybe there’s a local exhibit at a small gallery? A perfect solo date is getting to explore the history, art, music, etc., on your own time. I love that this date incorporates creativity and I think it’s a great way to reinvigorate that artistic expression a lot of us lose as we get older. You can take your time, stop when you want to learn more, or just sit and admire the atmosphere.

9. Take a Class for a Hobby You Used to Like or Want to Explore

When I became a mama, it was easy to forget what I actually liked to do outside of work, marriage, and motherhood. Another good solo-date idea is to take a class for a hobby you used to enjoy or just want to try out. Whether it’s painting, running, barre, guitar, salsa dancing, pottery, cooking decorating, or one of the hundreds of other hobbies out there, it’s a great time to rediscover your love for things outside of motherhood.

10. Do Something You’re Afraid to Do

Hear me out.  This one’s the wild card.  When was the last time you did something that you’ve been afraid to try?  When you do something scary–something that you’ve told yourself people like you don’t do–I think it rewires something in your brain.  Moms like me don’t have tattoos.  Moms like me don’t salsa dance.  Moms like me don’t wear crop tops.  Moms like me don’t go to karaoke bars and belt out “I’m a Slave 4U”….so on and so on.  But what if you do that scary thing?  Suddenly, you’ve reframed your mind to believe that you are anything you want to be and you’ve taught yourself that you can do big, scary, audacious, and uncharacteristic things.  So go jump out of an airplane, make that appointment with the financial advisor, go drive a go-cart, go line dancing, pierce your belly button, and do something scary.

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