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"august sipped away like a bottle of wine"

The first weekend in September may already be behind us, but my mind is still on summer sun, breezy linen skirts, and travel plans.

August was a packed month for me!

After enjoying the first weekend home in Paris with coffee dates and a stroll in my local community garden, I've spent the last three weekends living out of my beloeved, beaten-up leather duffel bag: a trip to Jarosławki, Poland for a wedding; a long weekend in Saint Louis, with river-swimming and hiking over the border in Switzerland; and another brief séjor in Bordeaux, waltzing through vineyards and wasting the weekend away with wine.

But I'm not ready to welcome the darker days just yet. On Thursday, I depart for a 10-day stay in Cyprus. At last! After foregoing a summer vacation last year (that time and money was, instead, spent on renting a moving van and briefly paying double rent while managing the move to Paris), it's time for an extended respite of sun and sea.

Even better, while my husband and I usually favor more adventurous, educational excursions with plenty of sightseeing and museum-hopping, this year, we have one objective and one objective only: doing nothing.

I bought three books and a new bikini, and I intend to do nothing but swim, read, and lounge (and yoga) for the next 10 days.

And because I'm a big propponent of taking healthy breaks away from the screen and keeping your inbox lean and purposeful, I'm also taking a brief pause on new A Merry Loner posts.

Don't despair, though! I have lots in store for the fall that I'm looking forward to sharing with you.

Until then: to remembering to pause, unwind, and refresh whenever you need,

Merry

NEW THIS MONTH

​Scared of Traveling Alone: How to Deal with Solo Travel Anxiety​

GUEST POST ALERT! This month, I share words from Daniel John, a freelance copywriter from the UK who writes about travel and mental health.

In a bubbly but informative (and damn funny) post, John shares strategies that help him keep the anxious thoughts at bay while he's traveling by himself. From spiraling over all the what-ifs to navigating the hostel scene and and dealing with decision fatigue, these tips will help you take the fear out of solo travel—and get ready (and excited) to book your first solo trip. READ​

​What To Do Instead of Social Media​

I am overwhelmed by the positive feedback I've gotten about this post. I hear you loud and clear: We are all emotionally drained, physically exhausted, and, honestly, just disappointed by the constant pressure to scroll, follow, and like everything that comes at us every day from just about everyone.

After almost two decades of smartphones and social media, it's like we're starting to collectively wring our hands and shout, "Enough is enough!" But giving up social media—even when you want to—isn't easy.

Instead of pressuring yourself to go cold turkey (and then hating on yourself when you slip up), try this:

The next time you get the urge to scroll (whether that's in the morning, during your commute, before bed, or anywhere in between), look to these ideas for what to do instead of social media. You'll save your phone's battery and re-charge your own. And over time, you'll return to the jaws of Zuckerberg less and less, without even trying. READ​

​Things To Do Alone in the Summer​

GUEST POST ALERT! This month, I'm bringing you more words from different writers—this time, from Maja Krasnicka, a freelance writer based in London.

August may already be in the rearview, but for many of us, the days are still warm and sultry. (And btw, the first day of fall doesn't arrive in the Northern Hemisphere until September 22.)

In this guide, Krasnicka opens up about her solor summer and how she's been spending the days while her friends are on holiday with their partners and/or chilren. And though many of these activites were planned with summer days in mind, I think they'll be equally delicious with a cozy turtlneck in the crisp fall air... READ​

Missed issue No. 007 of A Merry Loner’s Digest?

You’re not too late. Last month, I wrote about where to buy books besides Amazon, how to get better at doing things alone, and ethical tea companies that don't destroy the environment or their workers' lives.

I also shared a guest post from Janine Canillas: Feeling Alone in a Relationship: It's Not Always About the Other Person.

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK

📚 5 Alternatives to Amazon for Books (and why I no longer buy books from Amazon)​

As I mentioned, preparing for my Cyprus vacation meant stocking up on a few beach reads. My picks?

• Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
• The Café with No Name by Robert Seethaler
• The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing

If I get through all of these in 10 days, I'll be more than halfway through the 9 books on my 2025 reading list. And because I'm trying to support local bookstores and not Jeff Bezos's wedding fund, I did my shopping at my favorite online bookshops that AREN'T Amazon. If you're curious, you can check them out here: READ​

🏠 Moving to a New City in Your 30s—Feeling Lonely in Your "Prime"​

As summer ends and fall nears our doorstep, I've been thinking about endings and new beginnings—as is the case when one decides to leave their current home in search of a new one. That search isn't always easy—and, somewhat counterintuitively, it seems to get harder as you get older.

The further we are from college, the further we are from a built-in network of (at least mostly) like-minded peers who are both within our age range and our geographic vicinity. Yes, there are literally millions of people living in cities, but unlike their dogs, most strangers you run into in the park or in a coffe shop don't see you as a potential new friend. You are the reason the line is slow. You are blocking their access to the outlet. You are not even noticeable.

In an honest, uplifting essay, Gavin Williams, a freelance health & wellness writer, reflects on his experience of moving to a new city in his 30s, facing the loneliness of starting over, and learning to create his own joy. No matter your age, this one is worth the read. READ​

NOW GO ON YOUR MERRY WAY...

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