Sunday Edition: How I’m Romanticizing Spring
These are the solo dates I’m looking forward to most
Solo Spring Dates That Feel Like Coming Home to Yourself
Because your most important relationship is the one you’re having with you.
Spring always feels like an exhale. The sun lingers a little longer, the flowers show off, and suddenly, the air feels full of possibility again. And while I love a date night with my boyfriend and lazy weekend adventures with the kids, I’ve come to crave the kind of time that’s just mine. The kind that doesn’t require planning around a nap schedule or coordinating who’s watching basketball practice.
Spring reminds me to take myself on a date. To remember who I am outside of the group chat, the calendar, the to-do list. Here are a few of my favorite ways to step back into myself—small rituals and solo outings that make the season feel like a soft reset:
1. Make your own farmer’s market bouquet
There’s a reason I always have flowers in my house—they change everything. Pick up a bundle of whatever’s in season (peonies, ranunculus, or even herbs), grab your favorite vase, and spend a few minutes arranging them slowly. No rush. No reason other than joy.
2. Watch the sunrise with a pastry in hand
Set an early alarm, grab a coffee and something sweet, and find a quiet spot to watch the sky change colors. Mornings feel different when you meet them with intention. (Local tip: La Boulangerie has the best almond croissants.)
3. Bake something just because
Lately I’ve been on a lemon cake kick. But any spring-inspired bake will do. Play music, wear an apron if you’re feeling cute, and enjoy making something with your hands. You don’t have to share it—but you probably will.
4. Romanticize your trip to the farmer’s market
The Vineyard Market on Saturday morning? A whole vibe. Grab a coffee, toss your canvas bag over your shoulder, and linger. Even if you only come home with strawberries and a loaf of bread, it still counts. (Local favorite: The Vineyard Farmer's Market)
5. Make a spring playlist and drive with the windows down
Not everything has to be productive. Some days, the most healing thing is a solo drive, a good playlist (Spring Softness and Songs That Smell Like Fresh Laundry are two of mine), and no real destination.
6. Revisit your spring vision
You don’t need a New Year to make a new vision board. Pull out your magazine stack, fire up Canva, or make a note on your phone. What do you want spring to feel like? Name it. Then let yourself move toward it, gently.
7. Visit a local garden and bring your journal
The Shinzen Japanese Garden in Fresno is magic this time of year. I like to sit by the water with a notebook and no agenda. Sometimes I write. Sometimes I just listen. Being surrounded by blooming things reminds me I can grow slowly, too.
8. Plan a solo picnic, just for you
Pack the snacks you actually want. A fizzy drink in a glass bottle. Something salty, something sweet. Bring a book. Or don’t. Let yourself sprawl out on a blanket and do absolutely nothing without explaining it to anyone.
9. Refresh your space with a spring reset
This is the kind of “cleaning” I actually love. Swapping heavy blankets for lighter ones. Washing the windows. Putting fresh flowers in every room. It’s less about chores and more about making your space feel like it’s waking up, too.
10. Take a slow bike ride with no destination
Just movement for the sake of it. No calorie count. No step goal. Just air on your skin and music in your ears. Try a new route. Stop to smell things. It counts.
11. Give yourself a home facial and a slow evening in
You don’t need a spa appointment to reset your nervous system. Light a candle, put your phone away, and do the whole thing—steam, mask, oils, moisturizer. Bonus points if you put on a robe and cue up a comfort show.
12. Tend to something living
Start a little herb garden, even if it’s just one pot of basil on your windowsill. There’s something tender about watering something small and watching it grow. It’s quiet joy. And you deserve that.
The Second Act is an entirely reader-supported publication. Click here to subscribe or gift a friend a subscription here (if a friend sent you this —tell them thanks!). Anything you want covered? Questions? Reply with a comment below! You can also find me on Instagram. Please come say hi!
Can you do me a favor? If you like this, will you hit the heart ❤️ on the bottom of your email? I promise it helps!