by Matt Bird

Created on: August 14, 2010   Last Updated: March 01, 2012

For some eating alone is just another day. Indeed, it may even be pleasurable. For others, however, it's a social faux pas, a sign of unpopularity and desperation, and they'll do anything to avoid such an event. (These people are odd.)

But they are fairly prolific, and if you don't enjoy eating alone you're going to have to reconcile yourself to the fact that it will happen every now and then. Here are some tips for managing yourself when you're flying solo.

In many cases the problem with eating alone stems from the concept that doing so makes one look like some sort of loner. If such is the case then you're best off eating in a really crowded place, near lots of other people, so you limit the attention you draw to yourself. This knocks out most fancy restaurants, true, but it helps ease that feeling of social anxiety.

-Or, if you simply MUST choose a fancier restaurant where you'll wind up in a booth or table by yourself, bring along a cell phone so you can chat with someone else while you dine. (Or pretend you're chatting. Gotta wonder how many people just sit and talk to themselves.)

Keep checking your watch impatiently, and ask the waiter if they've seen somebody of a particular description. In short, act as though your dining partner is late, and eventually that they never showed up. You'll have to keep up a displeased facade the entire time, true, but it's better than facing reality.

Bring along a book. It's something to do, and even though you'll still look hopelessly alone you'll also look a lot less awkward. Indeed, bringing ANYTHING along for you to do is ideal, as someone who's left to just stare at other tables will immediately arouse some curiosity and suspicion from the watched.

Limit the amount of food you buy and pick something that won't take long to make, like a salad. Indeed you can get away with just buying several starters and then fleeing once they've been consumed. The less time you spend by yourself the better, right?

If you're particularly social and you think another group nearby is, try to horn in on their conversation. Look for an 'in' during their talking where you can leap in and join the table. This will be treated as rather rude by most people, but every now and then you may be able to get away with it.

Otherwise, just sit back, enjoy your meal and recognize that eating out alone is a perfectly acceptable way of spending your time. There's no shame in the doing, and most people around you probably won't care. And if boredom is the problem more than anything? Locate a TV in the restaurant or, again, simply bring a book.

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