Ever dreamed of a romantic evening watching your favorite movie, attending a fancy dinner or watching the stars all without the task of presenting your best self to another person in hopes they’ll become yours forever?
Well, you can fulfill all this and more if you go on a date with yourself. Imagine the quiet sound of your own thoughts and experiencing a place you know you can always return to without the thought of a potential ex forever tainting the memory.
Despite the rising number of students using dating apps like Tinder and Bumble to find a match, being one with your thoughts is something treasured by many students as they embark on self-dates. In fact, for Tisch junior Misha Mullany, going on a self-date is a crucial part of her routine.
“I always take myself out on dates. I like to go see a movie I’ve been dying to see or take myself out to a fancy dinner because I deserve it. It’s a good form of self-care,” Mullany said.
Gallatin sophomore Will Haberkorn also finds peace in a bit of romantic solitude.
“I go on dates alone all the damn time. Like going to lunch just by yourself and really letting yourself be at peace with being alone and going to a museum alone or bringing a book to the park and finding a bench for a couple hours are things I like to do,” Haberkorn said.
These sorts of dates aren’t hard to come by either. Simply make your way down to the heart of campus, Washington Square Park, and snuggle up with your favorite book, or make use of the many free New York City museums for some quality time alone.
Though taking the time to treat oneself may seem obvious, with the overwhelming sounds of the city and constant fidgeting with technology, the thought of a solo date never even occurred to some students.
“I’ve never taken myself on a date before. And not for any like sad reason, I just never thought to do it. I feel like I treat myself a lot, probably to the point that it’s like too much because I’m always broke, but like if I wanna indulge I do that,” Gallatin sophomore Eden Goncalves said.
Yet, when asked about self-dates, Goncalves had a moment of gradual realization that she too has made space in her schedule for self-love — in more subtle ways.
“If I wanna eat out even if I have food I’ll eat out or one of my favorite things is buying lingerie or trying it on because like it’s a look and it makes me feel good about myself to look cute and know I have cute underwear ya know? Does that count? It’s not like a date but, sometimes if I have the free time I will just go window shopping and try on clothes and like look cute and like that I look cute,” she said. “Wow, I guess that’s a self date.”
Whether self-dates have long been a part of your routine, or you need a moment of reflection to realize the many ways self-care can fit into your life, don’t let the stress of midterms stop you from making a little time for the person you know best — yourself.
Email Tianne Johnson at [email protected].
