Solo Activities You Can Turn To When Your Social Battery Is Low
Everyone has a social battery. This is a term most often used to describe the energy we bring to situations we share with other people, whether we’re out with friends, mingling with coworkers in the workplace, or going on a date with someone we’ve only spoken to over text before.
Some people have a large social battery, some people have quite a fast depleting one, and some people seem to never run out of energy for being around other people! Then there are those who have a social battery that’s great whilst it lasts, but takes an age to recharge. You could need a couple days to feel like you can face your friends again, or you may even need to take a week to yourself after going on a work outing with everyone from the office.
If that’s the kind of social battery you have, we’re here to suggest some wonderful solo activities you can take part in whilst you wait for your energy levels to fill up again. Whether you prefer to be indoors or out during this time, or you don’t really mind as long as you don’t have to interact with others, our list is the one for you.
Nature Walks
Nature walking gets you outside without any of the pressure of social interaction. You can go for a nice, pleasant stroll in any area you like, and the only times you may have to talk to people are when they pass by and say hello. That’s all! Plus, being out in nature is quite healing. You can soak up the sun, feel the breeze, and enjoy being in the outdoor world as it truly exists. Whether you’re going for a full hike through the forest or just following a public footpath round your own neighbourhood, you’re likely to feel your energy come back to you before you’ve even got home again.
Gaming
Gaming offers a very in depth solo experience for anyone who doesn’t have the energy to head outside right now. You can sit down with a console or your computer, boot up a single player game that focuses on creating a narrative just for you, and play through for a couple hours at a time. Of course, if you get lost in the game, you might just play it for four to six hours in total – but you weren’t bored or exhausted at any point throughout!
If you’re not really a gamer, you don’t have to suddenly become one to enjoy playing some games. Indeed, gaming also includes playing puzzles or cards, which often tend to be great strategy games that get you thinking. A few rounds of freecell could kick your brain back into that optimal functioning, and you may feel your energy levels tick up over the next few rounds.
That could make it much easier to meet up with your friends the day after, when originally you were thinking of telling them you wouldn’t be able to make it. After all, games can be a good recharge for you as they’re low effort, but still give your brain something to focus on and draw from.
Model Building
Building models can help you refocus your energy. Whether you like creating army miniatures or you like putting together wooden vehicle sets, or you even like creating mini house dioramas, there’s a model building kit out there for everyone. Model building can have a strong social element to it, especially if you’re building and painting game pieces for tabletop battles with friends, but the actual creation of these pieces is a fantastic solo activity.
If you’re the kind of person who loves having hobbies that let you embrace both ends of your social battery, we would certainly recommend looking into miniatures like these. You could spend two days creating your pieces, one day playing them with friends, and then the cycle resets. That should keep your social battery consistent!
Birdwatching
Another great nature hobby, birdwatching is very peaceful, very mindful, and very private. It’s the kind of activity you can spend hours doing whilst it’s sunny outside, and it’s encouraged to keep as quiet as possible throughout. After all, you’re trying to spot birds as they go about their own business. You don’t want to scare them away with incessant noise! Make sure you pack yourself a good lunch to eat whilst you’re out birdwatching. You may want to take a flask with you as well, just in case you’re heading out in the early morning and it’s a bit chilly.
Go to the Cinema
You don’t need to have a friend to watch a movie, whether you’re putting one on in your own home or you’re going out to the cinema. Whilst it can feel like a mandatory social activity, you’re more than allowed to buy a movie ticket and a large popcorn just for yourself. And if there’s a movie showing in your local cinema that you’ve been dying to see – and you’ve also tried to arrange a group outing for it to no avail – turn this into a solo activity that’s just for you!
Head to a Museum
Much like going to the cinema on your own, it’s perfectly fine to visit museums and galleries on your own too. Heading to a museum in the middle of the day can be a good use of your lunch hour, as making your way through exhibits and quietly contemplating them can be a real refresher. It’s encouraged for museums to be quieter places – even the biggest ones that receive thousands of visitors per day. You’re not going to need to be loud, energetic, and ready for a good time when you’re within museum walls. You could even just find a spare seat on one of the benches and take a pew for a bit; that’ll let you draw away from the world even as you watch it go by.
Baking
Lastly, unless you’re going to whip up a massive cake that takes two pairs of hands to manoeuvre, you’re never going to need other people to be around when you bake! They may want to be, as you’re making delicious baked goods they don’t want to miss out on, but this is traditionally a one person activity. Baking is also a great way to destress. It’s a hands-on hobby that leaves with you a tangible result at the end, and better still, it’s the kind you can eat! That always makes a person feel pretty good in themself, and that could help you to wash away any socialisation woes you’ve been carrying for the last 24 hours.
Do You Need Some New Solo Activities?
They’re the kind of thing we don’t think about all that much until we really need them! And one of those desperate times is when your social battery prevents you from taking part. If you haven’t got the energy for a night out with friends, or you really can’t face going to your book club this week, you don’t have to. Send a message instead to explain, apologise if need be, and then do something on your own instead.
Needing to spend time alone shouldn’t mean you’re bored, understimulated, or lonely. It shouldn’t mean you need to force yourself out amongst others either. But it does mean you should think about filling the gaps with fun things that’ll fill the hours, as well as help you to recharge and reset at the same time.
