How to Have Fun by Yourself on a Saturday Night

Write in a journal.^[6] Journaling is an amazing way to gain insight into your feelings and to record moments from your daily life. Date your entry and write about how you're feeling, what you're seeing and what you're thinking about. Journaling is most effective if it becomes a habit, so try to write in your journal more often than just Saturday nights.^[7]

Write a short story. Writing a short story often seems daunting, and you may be worried that you don't have enough creativity. However, if you just start typing, you may be surprised at the ideas that come out. If you already have an idea, map it out by creating an outline or a plot arc. Then get to work writing your story. It could be comedy, funny and even sad. Pick any type you want.^[8]

Write poetry. Poetry is a great way to put your ideas on paper, and it can be even more fun than writing prose. Poetry lets you describe objects and events in creative ways, and the sky is the limit with the amount of creativity you bring. Decide what to write about, and then practice putting your poetic thoughts on paper. Remember, poetry doesn't have to rhyme: it can be as free form as you like.^[9]

Go to a nature preserve or park. If the weather is nice, go for a walk. Connecting with nature is a great way to relax and enjoy yourself, so drive or walk over to the nearest park or nature reserve. If it's cold, you can still take a walk: snowy or wintry weather can be just as beautiful as summer weather. Just make sure to bundle up.

Walk in a city. Walking in an urban area can be just as interesting as walking in nature, and you're sure to see a lot of interesting shops and people along the way. If you live in or near a city, wander a bit downtown and explore the parks, boulevards and unique sights.^[10]

Go star-gazing. Stargazing can be aided by telescopes or binoculars, but you don't need any special equipment to enjoy the stars. Simply find a quiet, dark place and look up. Try and identify constellations and planets, and break out the telescope if you have one. If you live in a densely populated area, you might have to take a drive to find an area with less light pollution.^[11]

Write lyrics for a song. If you're musically inclined, try your hand at writing a song and lyrics to go with it. Writing a song is much like writing poetry, but you'll have have to fit the lyrics to a melody. Grab a pen and paper, then write about how you're feeling or about a situation you were in recently.^[12]

Play an instrument. Many people have an instrument gathering dust in a corner or a closet. Quiet Saturday nights are the perfect time to put the instrument to use and learn how to play. Start slow, and use internet tutorials or music books to learn the basics. If you don't already have an instrument, buy an inexpensive instrument like a ukulele or melodica with a basic songbook.^[13]

Sing.^[14] One of the best things about being home alone is that you can sing as loud as you want, and no one will be annoyed. Put some jams on with your phone, computer or radio and sing along at the top of your lungs. For even more fun, pull up karaoke tracks of your favorite songs on youtube and practice your star power.^[15]

Watch a movie. There are many ways to stream movies on demand nowadays, and it's pretty inexpensive: try Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Media. If you don't have the internet, make a trip to a Redbox or rewatch a movie you've already seen. If you've got a long night alone, watch more than one movie.^[16]

• Make some popcorn or other snacks for extra fun. Movie night isn't the same without some popcorn and movie theater candy, so make a trip to the grocery store for some inexpensive snacks.
• Watch a classic. If you've got a list of movies you've been meaning to watch, check a couple off of your list. Watch an old Marilyn Monroe movie, or watch back to back John Wayne westerns.
• Watch a series. Watching all three original Star Wars movies or all three Lord of the Rings films might take a while, but you'll be able to fully immerse yourself in the story. Check out other series like Star Trek, The Hunger Games, or Indiana Jones.

Watch a movie in a different language. If you understand another language, it can be fun to watch a foreign film without subtitles. If you don't understand any other languages, make up your own comical dialog for the film. Try the foreign film sections of your local film rental shop or Netflix to find an interesting foreign movie.

Make your own movie. Using a video camera, a Webcam, or even your phone, make your own movie. Write a simple script and then ad lib your lines to make a comedy, a drama, or a horror film. At the end of the night, make popcorn and hold a "screening" of your film.

Knit. Not only is knitting relaxing, but you end up with a useful product at the end of your hard work. Knitting requires a little practice and some supplies, so head to your local craft shop and pick up needles, yarn, and an instruction book. Practice simple patterns and items first, like scarves.

Make decorations for your house. Using materials you already have around the house, make small models, wreathes or wall hangings. Look around for craft supplies you may already have, like clay, glue, pipe cleaners or cardboard, then let your imagination run wild. Make a model of your favorite cartoon character with clay and paints, or make a small flag with some fabric and paints.

Stain glass. Making your own stained glass is easy and fun. All you need are pieces of glass, a brush and special glass paint from your local craft store. Choose colors you like, then apply them to your pieces of glass with the brush. Be sure to let them dry for a few hours. Then use your glass pieces to make jewelry, a sculpture or filling for an accent bowl.^[17]

Go for a bike ride. If you have a bike and good path for cycling, go out for a bike ride. Cycling is a great form of exercise because you burn a lot of calories without as much high impact as running. Cycle around your area to get some exercise, and time your laps if you want to compete with yourself. Bike riding will depend a lot on the weather, so don't go out if it's too wet or cold and be careful on busy streets, as cars often don't see cyclists.^[18]

Jog. Whether you have a treadmill or the weather is nice, get a little jogging in. Jogging will give you more energy for your activities later, and burn off some calories from any unhealthy food you may have eaten over the weekend. Make sure you have a good pair of running shoes and some comfortable workout clothes. Don't take it too fast if you don't run often, and make sure to stretch before and after you jog.^[19]

Go swimming. If the weather allows, go for a swim. Whether you have access to a pool, a lake or the ocean, swimming is a great way to get some exercise. Swimming is even easier on your body than cycling or running, because it's even lower-impact than other cardio exercise. Grab a swimsuit and do some laps: time your laps for competitive fun.^[20]

Do some weight-lifting. Weight lifting is great for your body, and helps you look good too. Keep in mind that one night of lifting weights won't do much for your physique. You'll have to keep it up and continue lifting weights several types a week. However, quiet Saturday nights are a great time to start. Go to a nearby gym or invest in a weight set for your house, then learn the basics. The types of exercises you need to do will depend on your goals, so talk to a trainer or consult weightlifting books for more information that's tailored to you.^[21]

Play games online. There are many websites devoted entirely to games. Whether you like to play simple games like Solitaire or complex video games, you're bound to find something you love. Start by typing the name of the game you want to play into a search engine, then look for a version that you like.

• For more complex or multiplayer video games, try downloading a game store browser. Browsers like Steam let you search for video games by genre, and many are inexpensive or even free.^[22]

Go on a site to chat with strangers.^[23] If you're over 18, there are many fun sites that you can use to chat with strangers from around the world. Talk to people your age from South America, Europe and Asia using chat clients like Omegle or ChatRoulette.^[24] Stay safe and be careful when chatting online: remember never give out any personal information.

Edit online articles. Sites like WikiHow and Wikipedia allow you to edit articles and contribute to the site. Editing these articles is especially fun if you have knowledge on a particular topic and like to write. Check out online encyclopedias and learn how their articles are formatted, then begin contributing your knowledge.

Watch funny videos. Comedy videos come in all varieties, and you can find plenty on Youtube, Vimeo and Vine. Search for "funny videos" and then branch out to related videos, picking other links that seem even funnier. Look to see if your friends have posted any of their own videos on social media, and check them out.