Whether you're starting college or a new job abroad, one of the most enriching life experiences is living alone. By moving to a new space by yourself, you will see that being independent means much more than making money and spending it on the whims of a weekend or a life scripted by someone else. Living alone will give you the opportunity to proclaim your independence and bootstrap yourself into a journey of self-discovery that helps you form into the person you want to be.
This article is made for those of you who are embarking on this journey of solitude... and to those of you who already live alone: we are here to remind you why you made the right choice! Read on to find out all the benefits of living on your own:
1. Personal space
There are no fights for invasions of personal space and pants are always optional. “Peace and quiet” is no longer a request but the default of your habitat. You can invite friends and family over without having the need to notify someone first. You don’t need to label the Tupperware that belongs to you because guess what… they’re all yours! And most importantly, you don’t need to worry about someone finishing off your favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream. It takes the 'ME' in 'home' to another level.
2. Freedom
Honestly speaking, this alone could be the sole reason to live by yourself. Living alone gives you the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. You won't need to compromise your lifestyle depending on someone else’s schedules or preferences. Feel like adopting a pet? No need to ask your roommate, partner, or parents. Feel like having breakfast in underwear while blasting some reggaeton? No need to worry about someone waking up or walking in. Have a movie in mind? No need to run it by anyone first. The world is your oyster… in your home!
3. Growth
I initially titled this section: ‘mistakes’, because one thing is a given, you will make mistakes. Many of them! You’ll forget to turn off the lights and spike up the electricity bill. You’ll forget to take out the trash and wait another few days in your stinking home for the garbage truck to come by. You’ll forget to water the plants and question your ability to take care of others. You’ll face your mistakes head-on, without someone begging or belittling you. You will grow on your terms and it will be so much more gratifying than shrinking on someone else's.
4. Management
When there’s no one around to wake you up with some breakfast, walk your dog, stock up the kitchen, or take out the trash.. you’ll realize the importance of managing your time, money, and efforts at the home front. You’ll soon realize how much you have depended on others in the past. Sure, you may hire external help such as a maid or a gardener, but you’ll come to value and respect their work even more. What’s more, you will be the orchestrator planning, organizing, and directing the home you want to come back to every day.
5. Self-reliance
You quickly learn one of the main lessons in life- you are all you really have. Family, friends, and partners will come or go whether by choice or cycles of life... but they should not bear the costs of the life you choose to live. As told by Baz Luhrman “Don't expect anyone else to support you, maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse but you never know when either one might run out”. The first week will be fun, whether you spend them on weekly parties and or daily takeouts, but the last week of the month will remind you just how to live within your means.
Living alone does not mean you are lonely. If you are, ask yourself “would someone be happy in my company if I'm not on my own?” Make the necessary changes in your life to enjoy being with yourself and what keeps your well-being in check. By no means are we advocating going into a lifetime of reclusion, but we do believe that by having lived alone once, you will learn things about yourself that you never realized before. Once you start appreciating your own company, personal space, and lifestyle choices, you’ll also start respecting those of others when you finally decide to move in with someone else.