The Benefits Of Living Alone & How To Make It Work For You

Living alone can be challenging if you grew up in a large family or have just always come home to other people. Whether you're a recent empty-nester, breaking up with a live-in partner, moving out of your parents' house, or leaving your roommate days behind, adjusting to an empty abode can be a challenge or a welcome change. Either way, the circumstance takes some getting used to—but the transition can definitely be worthwhile.

Give yourself some time to sit with the decision if your situation allows. No need to be hasty if you're in healthy surroundings. If you want to test the waters just a little bit, stay in a hotel room or an Airbnb apartment by yourself for a few days to see how you like the solitude.

However, there are also many benefits of living alone:

"Living alone doesn't mean you are lonely," psychologist Fiana Andrews, EdS, CPsych, assures us. "You can enjoy your own company and enjoy the company of others. The difference between you and someone who lives with others is that you can choose the times you want to have company."

You're no longer confined to a bedroom for privacy and storage. When you live alone, the entire place is your personal bubble. You can do whatever you want, wherever you want. You're free to place items anywhere you choose and decorate to your heart's content. Want to put a craft table in the kitchen or an extra clothing rack in the living room? Go for it. The space is all yours.

You're the boss of your domain. All of your decisions are final. When you live alone, you take on added responsibility. You may have to become proficient at tasks someone else in your household used to manage—like budgeting, cooking, and making minor repairs. This can be an ideal situation for life skill development and learning to trust yourself.

Living alone allows you to spend time with yourself that is absent of outside influence. This is when you really have an opportunity to pay attention to where you are, what you need, and what brings you joy. McCoy calls it "checking in with yourself."

There are pros and cons to both solo occupancy and sharing your space with others. Choose the living situation that best supports your well-being. Having your own spot may not be for you, and that's OK so long as you're not staying in a detrimental relationship or environment to avoid being alone. A few signs that you may not enjoy the experience, at least not right now, include:

Even if you enjoy your newfound personal space and living alone overall, you may still get lonely sometimes. Everyone does. You just don't want it to consume you. Here are some living-alone tips that will help keep loneliness from lingering:

As far as your nighttime ritual, it should help you maintain some structure and prepare for a good night's sleep. McCoy likes aromatherapy for its soothing effects. You could also journal or even practice a nightly skin care routine.

"Replace that time with other activities such as reading, listening to a podcast, or doing something for yourself," McCoy recommends. "This gets you out of your head and into the present moment, which is learning to be comfortable on your own."

Just because you no longer live with roommates or loved ones doesn't mean you should detach from them. "Although we want to be comfortable with our solitude, it is still healthy to connect with your support system," McCoy points out. "Stay connected with people who bring you joy and support you. This includes family and friends."

Both Andrews and McCoy recommend using apps like Meetup and Eventbrite to gather (online or in person) with like-minded people. Whatever you enjoy doing, there are other people who enjoy doing it too. Getting together with them can help curb loneliness.

There's a difference between loneliness and being alone. It's crucial to your psyche to make that distinction and not believe that because you live alone, you're on an island and no one cares about you. Learn how to cope with living alone and what you need to thrive in the environment. Things like making your place feel like home and indulging in self-care can go a long way. Soon, you probably won't remember how you managed without your own space.