You get to do whatever you want, leave whenever you want, and don't have to spend 45 minutes convincing your friends to go somewhere other than the same three bars you always haunt. But figuring out how to go out alone and actually meet people? That's where things get a little more complicated.
Because apparently you're supposed to put your phone away, make eye contact with strangers, smile, and initiate conversations with actual human beings. As a proud member of the socially awkward community, I personally find this whole concept deeply upsetting. I'm someone who's been known to struggle with “making friends” and “social interaction” and “not automatically assuming everyone hates me and thinks I'm a loser until proven otherwise.” When Olivia Rodrigo said, “Searchin' ‘how to start a conversation’ on a website,” I felt that.
And sure, dating apps exist for a reason. There's something deeply comforting about knowing someone is at least theoretically interested in you before you have to say actual words to them. But between dating app burnout, conversations that go absolutely nowhere, and the general desire to have a meet-cute that doesn't involve analyzing someone's Hinge prompts, the idea of meeting people IRL is looking pretty appealing.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that going out alone has benefits beyond potentially meeting someone cute, says Julie Nguyen, a certified dating coach at Hily Dating App. Actually striking up a conversation with a stranger you find attractive? Entirely different situation.
So we asked dating experts how to go out alone, meet new people, and maybe even score a date without making the whole experience feel like an elaborate exercise in public humiliation. While the goal of going out alone might be to meet potential romantic partners, the reality is that bumping into the love of your life while minding your own business is…not particularly likely—and that's okay! Unlike dating apps, where you generally know there's at least some mutual interest before you start chatting, approaching someone IRL comes with a little more uncertainty.
And yes, that means rejection is part of the deal. You might try to start a conversation with someone, get turned down, and feel bad about it! All completely normal parts of interacting with actual human beings, unfortunately.
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