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What I Wish I Knew Before I Took My First Solo Trip

ByNatalie Rushing

Ahh, my first solo trip. It was to Los Angeles a few years ago, and if I knew then what I know now, I would have been a lot less stressed. I was convinced I was supposed to be social all the time and never take nights off from doing things, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Here’s what I wish I knew before I took my first solo trip.

A winding mountain road curves through a forest of pine trees with distant mountain peaks visible under a cloudy sky. The landscape is lush and green, creating a peaceful and scenic view.

I Wish I Knew Awkwardness Was Temporary

Or at least that it gets less awkward with time.

The first few meals alone will feel weird, and there’s no way around that. You don’t suddenly become fearless, but you do learn how to sit with the discomfort, and eventually it will start to feel normal.

I Wish I Knew I Didn’t Need to See Everything

When I first started traveling solo, I can’t count the number of times I asked myself “When am I going to be here again?” or told myself “Might as well, I won’t be here forever.”

I was obsessed with making each trip “worth it,” but that ended up adding more stress than it was worth. Some days, it’s okay to skip the must-see sights and do nothing at all. You don’t need to earn rest by exhausting yourself first.

I Wish I Knew I didn’t Have to Plan Everything First

Early on, I would try to plan everything out, down to the hour at times, leaving no room to change my mind. But this ended up being incredibly limiting.

Some of the best travel moments happen when you give yourself permission to change your plans–to stay longer, leave early, or scrap plans altogether. Flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of solo travel: there’s no one else’s schedule you have to worry about, and you’re free to change your own.

A group of people sits in a hot air balloon basket on the ground, next to a white van and trailer. Another inflated hot air balloon is visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

I Wish I Knew I Didn’t Need to Be “Good” at Solo Travel

I worried that I didn’t know what I was doing or that I wasn’t doing it “right,” but really, it’s different for everyone.

Solo travel isn’t a skill you master, it’s something you figure out as you go. Ready, fire, aim.

I Wish I Knew No One Was Judging me

Honestly, no one cares if you’re in public doing things alone. Everyone is far too wrapped up in their own lives to be keeping track of yours.

The open trunk of a car is packed with various items, including bags, a neck pillow, a yoga mat, a foam roller, a suitcase, and a rolled-up newspaper.

This is ridiculous…

I wish I Knew That I NEeded to Pack Fewer Things

This is a big one for me. I am a chronic over-packer who loves fashion, but let me tell ya, you don’t need all that. As a digital nomad, the more “stuff” I bring, the more stressed out I am about having to move it all later. Same goes for short trips too–if in doubt, leave it at home.

I Wish I Knew That It’s Okay to Have Bad Days

I used to let bad days derail me–canceled plans, off moods, things not being perfect, etc. But bad days happen everywhere, not just when you’re traveling. They don’t mean you’re doing solo travel wrong. It’s just part of being human.

I Wish I Knew That It’s Okay not to Be Social

As an introvert, I felt pressure early on to “make the most of it” by being more social. But it’s perfectly okay to eat takeout in your room and watch your comfort show instead of sitting alone in a restaurant if that’s what you want that night. Solo travel doesn’t have to look any particular way to be valid.

Final Thoughts: What I Wish I Knew Before Traveling Solo

Solo travel didn’t magically make me braver or more confident overnight. What it did was teach me how to trust myself a little more each time and really listen to my own preferences and dislikes. If you’re thinking about taking your first solo trip and feeling unsure, don’t worry–it’s not the end of the world if it doesn’t go according to plan, but you might end up enjoying it anyway.

Traveling solo? Here’s my solo travel survival kit:

How to Eat Alone in Restaurants Without Feeling Awkward
Guide to Making Friends When Traveling Solo
Traveling Solo as an Introvert
What I Wish I Knew Before Taking My First Solo Trip
Solo Hiking Tips Every Beginner Should Know

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