As you may have gathered from our blog and our Instagram posts (@bythecompassrose), I read a lot. One of the things I don’t see are articles dealing with the flipside of this crazy airline life. That is, the part where the spouse and family members are left alone for a good chunk of the month. So today, I bring you the article that I would have liked to see two years ago when we started this crazy, always in limbo, lifestyle.

Growing up as an only child in a working parent household, I was already used to spending time by myself. I was able to entertain myself after school or work for several hours at a time, but not for the long stretches of days that I now spend alone. On average, I spend three days with and four days without Don each week. This is a lot of time to be alone and it is also a complicated schedule to get used to, since it isn’t consistent. So, I’ve had to come up with a bunch of ideas to entertain myself throughout the month. Here are a few suggestions that come from my experiences.

1. Get Invested in a Book or TV Show

As stated before, I spend a lot of time reading. For me, being able to sit down and enjoy a book without distractions is one of the most relaxing things I can do. Depending on what it is, I can easily get through a book in the time that Don is gone. If I’m not into reading at the time, I watch a lot of anime and shows on Netflix. My current obsessions are My Hero Academia and Queer Eye. This may not seem like a productive activity, but it is one that can kill a lot of time. Plus, if you get enjoyment from either activity, that is plenty of reason to continue doing it.

2. Join A Club

As an introverted person, this was one of the lower priorities on my list. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t even see it as a real option until I was truly running out of ideas. Last month, I joined our local park district’s Eco-Lit Book Club. I’m very glad that I did! I’ve been able to explore new books that I wouldn’t have picked on my own. I enjoy sharing my ideas and listening to the ideas of the other members. It’s a lot like being in my literature classes again, without the added stress or fear of coming up with the wrong interpretation. As a bonus, there are sweets at every meeting, and I can’t turn down a cookie or piece of cake!

3. Try A New Hobby

As adults, I don’t think we are really pushed to try new things. In part, that is due to the crazy busy lives we all have. However, I think trying something new on your own can be rewarding. Since Don has been flying I’ve taken up (and dropped—not everything sticks) a handful of hobbies. My friend Nick taught me how to knit, and I’ve been slowly working on the same project for over a year now. I’m a huge Passion Planner fan, so after following a lot of beautiful weekly spreads on Instagram, I started fancy planning. This is decorating your already expensive planner with stickers, colorful pens, and washi tape. Mine aren’t as fancy as many of the ones I’ve seen, but it gives me something to look forward to each week. The longest lasting hobby that I’ve added to my collection is meditation, and even though it sounds super boring, it is actually the most rewarding. So, if there is something you would like to try, go for it! Worst case scenario, you are out a few dollars and a little bit of time if things don’t go well.

4. Exercise

Let me start out by saying that I am not an athletic person. Yes, I can carry a 35 lbs pack over 15 miles in a day, but that’s pretty much it. I can’t run, I don’t swim well, I’m not into sports or anything super complicated. PiYo is the most complicated exercise I have ever done. Yet, I still find its important to get my exercise in. It is healthy for me and it does take up some of my free time. When the weather is less desirable, I go to the gym and use the machines. Otherwise, I spend a lot of time walking around my neighborhood or my local park. To make it more interesting, I play Pokemon Go. Other options could be biking, kayaking, dancing, kickboxing, and others. You do whatever makes you feel good!

5. Spend Time With Loved Ones

I try to take advantage of this whenever I can. For example, my friend Chy and I get together almost every week to have a girls night and watch The Handmaid’s Tale. This is something I really look forward to every week, and it helps get me through the rest of the alone time. Otherwise, I fill in my time with coffee, movies, or anything else that my friends suggest. This makes me feel much less lonely. However, if you are someone who lives far away from your friends or family, I’d still suggest texting, calling, or FaceTiming them whenever possible. Firstly, this makes you a great friend for keeping in touch, but secondly, it gives you a way to connect with someone else. I have several friends that live throughout the state and this really helps us when we can’t get together. I’ve also used Don’s work time as time to go see my friends, since I already know there won’t be a conflict in our personal schedule.

Some trips will feel longer or shorter than others, and that is okay. There are chunks of time that I am super busy with work or other commitments that I don’t notice being alone so much. Other times, it feels like the trip is never going to end and I’m going to be alone forever. But in the end, I utilize this list as much as possible to make my time as fun and relaxing as possible. With this, remember that it is okay to take care of yourself and do things for you during the alone time. There is never a bad time to practice self care, whether it comes in one of the forms I’ve listed or if you have your own. You’re flying solo, so you might as well do whatever is best for you.

If you have any other ideas or suggestions, please leave them in the comments below. Until next time!