Absolutely very important to create time for yourself, spend time with your own friends, or by yourself doing things you love to do. That's called personal freedom.
A healthy relationship allows for both parties to have this.
A relationship is not about giving up who you are and what you do and make the partner/relationship the centre of your universe. Possibly to please the partner even. That would be changing yourself which isn't healthy.
A good relationship exists between 2 people who both are themselves and add to each other's lives.
I can understand that in the old model of seeing relationships this is regarded as odd.
In that model I suppose some tend to think that personal freedom is about sex. It's got nothing to do with that though.
It's about being able to stand on your own two feet, not leaning on the other, trusting each other, supporting one another to be themselves and to grow and evolve and to be happy in life.
I need a lot of personal freedom. If I cannot have that with a partner things won't work out.
Yes, I agree with you, time with your friends or on your own is essential in a healthy relationship.
The new trend I was referring to is actually going on a date with yourself. Involving exactly the same preparations you would do on going on a date with someone new ( or a partner say), to the cinema, theatre, a meal, but entirely on your own. This is different from a night out with the girls, or the boys, or just time out on your own.
Would you prefer those kind of dates on your own sometimes, or always with someone, your partner if in a relationship, do you think it may cause friction in going on that kind of date alone when in a relationship.
Yes, I understood it that way.
And my answer is what I already said.
That can go further than going to the cinema or a date, it can also be going on holiday by yourself, a weekend away etc.
Nothing wrong with that and also healthy.
My ex went on a brief holiday to go fishing in Denmark. Many with old-fashioned ideas were rather shocked I wasn't going with him while I wasn't phased in the slightest.
He loved fishing, for hours on end, I really don't like that. Should he then give up on something he likes and makes him happy because of me?
THAT would create discord & friction.
I kind of grew into that when I was in Australia where I met people that were in a relationship and travelling around without their spouse.
One woman was going to travel for a year, by herself, and she was married, her husband was at home.
Another couple I know love each other a lot, but she needs to be out and about while he prefers to stay home. So she goes by herself, he stays home by himself with the kids.
Eventually she became a singer in a band -still is to date- meaning she's off regularly.
He sometimes comes to see the gig as he's so proud of her, then goes home again.
It doesn't matter whether it's dinner, cinema, or holidaying or with other friends. It all comes down to the same thing: giving your partner the freedom to do what they need in life to be happy.
As long as there a healthy balance between alone & together it's perfectly fine. And this balance can vary per couple.