Self-Discovery Through Me Dates

Self-Discovery Through Me DatesSelf-Discovery Through Me DatesThe urban dictionary defines me dates as an enjoyable evening spent alone where one treats themselves as if they were their own date. I heard about the concept of me dates only a few months ago. During ur first date, my girlfriend told me she does them every now and then as a way to reconnect with herself. As she was telling me how shed take herself to a gallery or a dinner, I realized it wasnt something I do and I was feeling uncomfortable to do. I wanted to overcome this fear. I challenged myself to do me dates regularly and use them as a tool for my weekly self-discovery. Why I do me datesI go on a me date to slow down, mind myself, and listen to myself. That helps me to regain my sense of myself and to feel content. Ive done it to celebrate a professional win, such as fruitful discussions on lessons learned on our past hiring. Ive done it when I had moved to my new apartment and wasnt quite settled there yet. I do me d ates when I recognize a situation that requires time and space to reflect on the concerns, thoughts, or emotions it brings. When I look after myself, I also have the energy and focus to deliver at work, as well as the compassion and patience to help or mentor others on the team. BackgroundIts been a few crazy months now personally and professionally separating with my long term ex after 8 years togethermeeting my girlfriend and madly falling in love with herhaving a 4-day overlap between the previous and new personal chapters in my lifescreening for naming agencies to work on our rebranding launching a new products beta exploring Lisbon for a month with Volen, our co-founder, and COOcoming back to Dublin, moving to a new place introducing our co-founder CEO Georgi to the Dublin startup scene during his 3 weeks here What my last me date was likeLast week, both the post-breakup shock and the madly-in-love adrenaline were gone for the first time and it felt like a low point. All of th at had been taking a lot of my energy, like a full-time job, yet on the side of my real full-time job. On Friday I went home early, just after 4 pm and slept for a couple of hours. Then, I reviewed the summary of the first round of company name proposals as part of our ongoing rebranding. At 7 pm I was starving and wanted to focus on myself. I felt hungry for a me date, a solo experience, personal adventure, whatever you want to call it and I dressed up. I put a couple of things in my tote bag. My notebook where I put down my thoughts. My current read, a red book called What I Know about Running Coffee Shops by 3fes creator Colin Harmon.I love reads about businesses that have nothing or almost nothing to do with tech. They are not prescriptive, yet I find them insightful and inspirational. They allow me to draw parallels between existing challenges at work and how others solved them in the non-tech environment so I can come up with an alternative solution to the challenge Im tackli ng. My long term favorite is Let My People Go Surfing by Patagonias founder Yvon Chouinard.My plan for the me date was to go to the off license in Stoneybatter to discover a few new craft beers, then have a fresh nutritious salad with gorgeous saucy sweet tomatoes for dinner, and then chill at home. 30min later I sent the following to the team in our facebook inc group chat After the casual dinner and some reading at Cotto, I walked down to Smithfield and towards Capel street to rest at home. I didnt do anything extraordinary, but it felt extraordinary to enjoy the sunshine, discover new craft beers, read, take myself out for a walk, and treat myself as if I was my own date. The me date finished with a glass of Founders Frootwood beer as a dessert. What did I discover or realize that day? It was a reminder to myself that before you help others, you must first help yourself. After the me date I felt content. I had created and dedicated time and space to myself, to my thoughts and emo tions. I can only compare the feeling to the way a meditation restarts the body, the mind, and the soul to prepare them for the next adventures and challenges.Related articlesThe 11 tools you should use to create your personal brandFrom uninspired to proud. My self discovery with What stops us from changing careers?Tell me about your me datesWhat are they like? Do you call them a solo experience, a personal adventure or something else? Why and when do you do them? Feel free to post them as comments or email me directly at vessy.com. Im based in Dublin, so shout out if you are around for a coffee. Also, Im currently hiring here for a few roles