Doing things by yourself can be intimidating and with the wrong attitude, even lonely. But with the right state of mind, it can be challenging in a good way and also very liberating. Whatever type of person you are — social or antisocial, popular or a wallflower, and all the different variations in between, trying things by yourself allows you to get to know that self a little better. Here are 9 things you should try alone:

1. Go to a bar

To some people, going to a bar alone is their version of hell but I promise you it is not as bad as you think it is. Going to a bar alone is a good way to practice getting out of your comfort zone and you’ll probably learn that people don’t always suck. You will also likely meet a few people who were brave enough to fly solo too. Tip: Smile and say hi. And if that doesn’t work, well, bartenders are some of the best people I know as long as they’re not too busy and you’re not a stingy tipper.

2. Cook a fancy meal

If you live by yourself as I do, when you do cook, most of your meals probably take 30 – 45 minutes because you have no one to impress and could not be bothered by the random combinations of things that make up dinner. I don’t particularly enjoy eating alone but there is something rewarding about taking the time to make a meal that you put your heart into. Not to mention, you and you alone, can have as many helpings as you want and all of the leftovers. Winning.

3. Go shopping

Shopping can be a relaxing experience especially when you’re not on a time crunch or have to be considerate of someone else’s whims. You get to decide how long you’re out, and which stores you want to visit, and try on as many clothes as you want. Plus, if the sales person has some downtime, you can make their day by having them style you…unless of course he or she is not into that.

4. See a movie

This is another one that might give some people major anxiety but as someone who started seeing movies by myself a year ago, it is truly one of the most awesome things I do on my own. In fact, it is my preferred way to go to the movies. I never realized how distracting it is to see movies with people. Try it once, and then try it again, you’ll learn to appreciate it.

5. Go on a long walk

Living close to the lake, one of my favorite things to do when it get’s warm is to take a long, relaxing walk on Sunday evenings. I don’t even have my headphones in. I just walk and soak up life. The peace of mind that you get from going on a walk by yourself is good for the mind, body and spirit. You really will appreciate the world around you, and just be in the moment or maybe have a moment to do some much needed thinking.

6. Eat at a restaurant

I will say you should try this once but if you never try it again, I completely understand. As I mentioned earlier, eating alone is not my prerogative but there are certain things you do just to prove to yourself that you can survive them. This was one of them for me. You’ll survive, I promise. (And I don’t make a lot of promises.)

7. Go on a weekend getaway

As great as your city is, you might get an urge to leave for the weekend every once in a while, just to get out of your routine. Visit the nearest city or town or take a day trip somewhere and do touristy things by yourself. Getting away can feel so good and just being in a different place with different people can give you of a lot of perspective and also makes you grateful to return to the familiar when you do.

8. See a live show

If you’re seeing a live show, you’re probably going to be around people who share some of your interests so it’s a really easy way to meet new people. Yes, it is intimidating to fly solo in this scene and if it really does start to feel lonely, you can always skip out. But then again, the show can be so good that you don’t even notice that you’re by yourself.

9. Travel

I am eagerly awaiting my next opportunity to just escape my routine and get as far away from everything I know as possible for a week or two. And yes, I want to do it alone. If getting out of your comfort zone is the point, few things will turn your world upside down more than going to a foreign country by yourself. Of course, safety considerations are extremely important here but making new friends in a new place and exploring a culture all by yourself will make you feel like a boss, guaranteed.