Go on a vacation by yourself, even if you’re feeling nervous about it.

“Last week I was preparing for my first solo trip to a big European city. I booked it a little impulsive, so a few days before my flight I became suuuuper nervous. Like I don't want to go anymore nervous. At the airport I almost had a panic attack, just kept thinking 'why am I doing this' and 'I still can go back' and so on. When I arrived at my destination and the hotel I felt very displaced. The city was just overwhelming and I didn't felt comfortable in my room at all. [...] After one day I already felt so happy and peaceful here, strolling through the beautiful streets and doing whatever I want, without others nagging me about wanting to go somewhere specific, needing to go to the bathroom etc or just wanting to talk alllll the time. Of course there were still the overwhelming feelings sometimes, but they subsided after two full days I think.”

“I was a nervous mess in the week leading up to it, mainly just out of anxiety that I wouldn’t be able to fill my time and I’d end up sat in the hotel room, bored and lonely. Primarily as I’m used to travelling with others which means I can’t hammer through activities as quickly. As this was a solo trip to work on my photography, I knew I’d be spending the vast majority of it alone. I shouldn’t have worried, I filled out the entire first day walking around taking photos of Stockholm. I had to make sure I stopped to eat/drink and actually savour my downtime as opposed to eating as quickly as I could and carrying on. My watch says that I walked 16 miles overall, just across the breadth of the city from morning to sunset taking photos. It was probably one of the most rewarding days of photography I’ve ever had.”

“This was my first solo trip! I've traveled by myself a decent amount of times to go visit family members or friends, but not to a new place where I didn't know anyone. I knew the trip was going to be outside of my comfort zone, but I wanted to have this new experience. [...] When going to my first class I did have a racing heart. I was quite nervous to put myself is so many new situations. Every day I'd go to new classes on new topics with new people. It was a lot of new things for someone with anxiety, but it was all good things.”