It’s almost February! Have you started checking things off the list for 2018 yet? You still have plenty of time to make your resolutions happen this year. Start by taking small steps everyday.

If one of your resolutions is to travel solo, festivals are the perfect place to try it out. In this article, we answer some of the more difficult questions about solo adventures. Our goal is to help you see it from a new perspective and find the confidence to embark on a life-changing experience.

How can I prepare to go solo?

Read about it and watch videos. If you’ve never been to Lucidity before and you’re traveling solo, you probably don’t know what to expect when you get there. Lucidity has been around for six years, going on seven. With an established backstory, the Lucidity community came together to create the Lucidity core values. Reading these values can help you understand our culture. Another great way to get a taste before you go is by checking out this year’s Lucidity Preview on YouTube.

Let go of expectations. Now that you’ve seen and read about what to expect, practice letting go. Prepare your mind by imagining situations where things don’t work out as you imagined. Be open to a variety of activities, and practice saying “Yes!” If you find yourself doing something you don’t want to do, stop and do something different. This is one of the benefits of traveling solo; you don’t have to cater to anyone but yourself.

What should I bring?

Treat yo’ self! Pack all of your favorite foods and drinks. Find that outfit you’ve always wanted to wear. Bring things that make you happy. This will help you have a good time, even when you’re alone and missing the comforts of home.

Bring gifts. These can be as small as a piece of gum. Some people go all out and bring jewelry or drinks to share. Think of something you would love to receive at a festival and bring 5 of them. That’s 5 opportunities to meet new people.

Once I’m there, what should I do?

Follow your heart, and your ears! Do you hear that bass around the corner from your tent? Want to go check it out but aren’t sure if you’ll like it? Tell yourself it’s a stop on the way to fill your water bottle. If you don’t end up liking it, you can always continue to your next destination. But let’s be real, you’ll probably like it.

Commit to exploring. Look at the music and workshop schedules (coming soon!) and pick 5 things that interest you. Make a commitment to yourself to go to each of those things for at least 5 minutes. This gives you enough time to get to the location, check out the vibe, and see if you like it. If you don’t, walk around the area and see if something else piques your interest.

Let go of judgement. Don’t worry about people judging you for traveling solo. Most people will be super impressed you traveled alone and will want to hear your story. Share it! We need more solo travelers to fill our community with new and interesting stories.

Please, be safe. This should go without saying, but don’t put yourself into a situation where you can’t take care of yourself. No one else knows your situation and they may not realize you don’t have a buddy to help you back to your tent. Take care of your mental state and stay alert to your surroundings.

How can I meet people?

Smile! The best way to draw in a stranger is by enjoying yourself and showing other people that you’re having a good time. Go dance or attend a workshop. You are most likely to make connections with people when you’re doing something you enjoy. Need help starting a conversation? Check out our conversation starter tips.

 

How will this change me?

Reconnect with yourself. You may find that you needed alone time more than you realized. Spending time with yourself is a great opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with you. This can help you understand your wants and needs, and in turn be able to express them to other people.

Empower your future self. Many people say they feel empowered after traveling alone. There’s something about being able to take care of yourself in a new situation that can make you feel like a low-key badass. You don’t need anyone but you. That puts you in the perfect situation to allow people into your life and truly enjoy relationships without the pressure of needing something from them.

Make new friends. You might just come out of it with a new friend, or three! If you don’t find your new festy besty, you’re still a badass. There’s no judgement. Our community is full of all kinds of people, introverts and extroverts. You don’t have to be a certain type of person to go to Lucidity and be accepted. You just have to be open-minded and curious.

Feel the cosmic connection. If you start to feel lonely on your solo adventure, remember this: You are always connected, even when you’re alone. We are all citizens of Earth. We were all given the gift of life. So let’s enjoy it together and lift each other up.