Going to the movies by myself has been one of my favorite luxuries for a long time, but now that I'm a parent I seem to savor the time even more. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy taking my six-year-old son to the movies so much. We have such a blast every time we go.

But going by myself... there truly is nothing like it.

This summer, I saw Trainwreck and was furious that nobody warned me how much it would make me cry. It checked the rom-com box off, it even checked the gross-out humor box off, but I wasn't expecting the heartfelt emotional moments. It was a nice surprise. I also just took myself to see American Ultra last week and felt like a freshman in college watching my first Tarantino. So fantastic.

As much as I love movies (and I do, I really, really do), I used to feel guilty about going by myself. Surely there was something more important I could be doing at home: laundry, miscellaneous cleaning or sorting. But going to the movies is something that recharges and invigorates me. It’s actually made me more productive because I manage my time more efficiently to find a way to include it.

There are a lot of things that go into having a successful movie date with yourself. If you are new to this, don’t be intimidated. Feel free to learn from my experiences:

See comedies with a crowd: I wait for the weekend when there's more likely to be a packed house. It's more fun that way. Laughter is contagious and more permissible when everyone around you is involved. I’ll make an effort to see a comedy at the first showing on a Saturday, and usually during the film’s opening weekend. Thankfully my mom will often offer to babysit on a Saturday so I can have a movie escape.

Buy your ticket in advance online: As soon as you have identified the time you can make a solo movie trip happen pick your movie. Once you pick your movie go ahead and purchase your ticket. Yes, days in advance. In the past I have scheduled movie time for myself but unless I had a ticket it became easy for me to not make it a priority.

Go early: If the movie starts at 11:00 a.m., go at 10:30 a.m. Use that extra time to decompress and shake off your morning. We always have a million things on our minds, right? Well, for the next two hours we can put those worries aside.

Get to know the movie-theater staff: I have a neighborhood movie theater that I frequent. It’s been nice to get to know the people who take my ticket and the people behind the snack counter. It’s always the same woman who sells me my popcorn and we often talk about what movie I am going to see and what movies are doing well. As much as I enjoy being by myself, it feels nice to be a “regular."

Tell your friends: I think more moms would take themselves to the movies if they realized the rest of us were doing it. Usually when I go, I talk about it beforehand on social media. Just a simple, “Going to see ______ movie this morning!” It’s fun to log in after the movie is over to see conversations and questions about the film.

You don’t have to eat: I’m usually one of those rut moviegoers who will always connect eating popcorn with watching a film on the big screen. But sometimes a 9:00 a.m. showing doesn’t really speak “popcorn” to me. Just in case you needed to be reminded, you can go to the movies without getting snacks.

Unplug as best as you can: As moms we truly can never be disconnected, but we can set the phone aside and put it on vibrate. Before a film starts I make sure all my app notifications and text message notifications are turned off or to “do not disturb." The one thing I cannot do is turn my phone off. If my son’s school needs to reach me I need to be, well, reachable. I have seen some annoying cell phone behavior at early shows when people assume with less people in the audience no one will mind texting or status updating. Don’t be that gal.

The trailers have ended, the lights have dimmed, and your film is about to start. Who needs a spa? Give me a reclining movie seat and two hours with a newly released film and I am 100% recharged.

Dresden Shumaker is a writer, advocate and appreciator of movie popcorn. She chronicles her adventures in single parenting on CreatingMotherhood.