I am not crazy; I promise.

Self dates are a real thing that more people should be aware of. The idea of dating yourself is not as uncommon as you would think. Many people have reaped the benefits of taking themselves out on dates. It is important to treat yourself every once in a while. Dating yourself does not mean that you have to neglect your significant other – it means that you take time to do things that you love and enjoy.

The beauty of taking yourself on a date is that you do not have any of the first date jitters or  experience any nervousness. You already know everything about yourself and have already established some level of comfort so there is no need to be stressed out. The outcome of going on a date with yourself is that you can get your mind off of stress.

The whole experience is supposed to be relaxing; after the date you are meant to feel rejuvenated.

Many first dates can end with a feeling of self doubt and inadequacy, but going on a self date, you never feel that anxiety. To be able to just chill on the sofa eating a gourmet meal that you cooked (in my case, probably pizza rolls) and watching your favorite show is a simple way to treat yourself after a long week.

An added bonus of the self date is that you never have that nagging pressure to look and dress nice in order to impress anyone. You could wear sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt and be completely comfortable. Self-dating is the alone time you need to reflect on life. Taking the time to think about your goals and aspirations while indulging in a fine meal sounds like heaven.

Loving yourself is the most important decision that you will ever make, so why not start by taking the first step and asking yourself on a date? What is the worst that can happen?

Dating yourself first not only lets you become comfortable with yourself, but it allows you to get to know yourself better. Being able to know who you are will help you when you do want to start a relationship with another person. It sounds strange and it is at first, but the benefits are endless. Plus, the number one benefit is treating yourself. Splurging on something that brings you joy every now and again is okay; it is healthy even.

Getting to know oneself is a huge part of life, so why not start now? It can be uncomfortable at times and you can feel really silly, but taking the time for yourself is crucial. With the end of the semester drawing to a close and finals lurking around the corner, it is easy to forget to take time for yourself once in a while. I am guilty of it too.

So today is the perfect time to try something new, maybe something for yourself. Maybe try a date…