You don’t have to go to the mall with the intention of window shopping, but it can turn into that when you don’t have friends pressuring or urging you to purchase something.
You can also go as fast as you’d like. If you walk into a store and don’t like what you see, walk right back out! You do not have to wait around for someone else to finish browsing.
Do not visit stores you are not permitted to. Shopping alone is a time to experience freedom from others’ timetables and wants, not a time to behave inappropriately or disobey a parent’s request.
Although some sales staff will not have answers for you, they will likely find someone who does. If you are nervous buying new clothes or are unsure what to purchase for an event, get the input of an impartial third party. A friend is likely to sugarcoat opinions to spare your feelings.
If you play music yourself, watching amateurs perform can help you cultivate your stage presence. If possible, bring a few dollars along to tip the musician, if you like what you hear.
Book and poetry readings can expose you to authors you’d not heard of previously, or can inspire you to create your own work. Make sure you are kind and respectful of others at a book reading. Be quiet, and try to stay seated until the reading has finished.
People watching is great for people who like to draw or write, as you can glean ideas for personalities, characters, and faces to recreate. Even if you are not artistically inclined, people watching can be entertaining and provide insight into how people work.
Enjoy the silence inherent in watching a movie alone. No chatting during interesting parts, or noisy slurping–you can be fully immersed in the film.
Make sure you mention any medical conditions or injuries you have before booking a spa appointment. Broken skin, for instance, might disqualify you from getting a facial.
This is a great option if you are looking for a makeup product to do a specific job, such as reduce under eye circles or make your lips pop.
Use this opportunity to try something new. You can ask to see any new candy or specials, or you can ask the clerks what their favorites are.
Many malls have coffee shops in them, as well, so you may even be able to cozy up in an armchair and sip a latté as you read.
Sizing is particularly important for bras, so if you wear a bra, use your time alone to find out what size you should actually be wearing.
Some of these can be dangerous for existing medical conditions or pregnancy. Make sure you talk to the vendor or operator about any possible risk factors before you partake.