Tips for Singletons Living Alone
Anyone who has lived with a roommate will tell you that there’s something special about living alone. You might have luck and find the roommate of your dreams, but it’s more likely that you’ll have a falling out.
Little, innocent behaviors build up into larger problems that are difficult to address. You can cut out the entire issue by living alone. There’s something to be said about having your own bathroom, being able to sleep comfortably whenever you want, and not having to consider another person as you go about your day.
With that said, you are on your own. Being in an apartment by yourself is more dangerous than living with others, though. It’s important to take precautions and make sure that you’re as safe as possible.
Tips for Living Alone
We’re going to go over some ideas that you can use as you settle into your own apartment or home. It’s important to establish some healthy personal habits as well as security measures.
We’ll cover both of those ideas, hopefully giving you the tools to a happy, safe life on your own!
Personal Habits for Living Alone
One good thing about living with someone else is that you have a reason to keep things tidy.
When you don’t have anyone to impress or keep happy, you have very little outward incentive to clean your place regularly. Sure, you might spruce things up when you have company, but it’s hard to find motivation outside of those instances.
At the same time, an orderly place is conducive to a happy brain. If you start to live in filth, you’re going to feel like it. We recommend having one day every week or two that you use to clean your place.
Take time to deep clean the bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms, and more. Whatever your chores might be, take care of them on this day. It might be wise to do these things more regularly, but you should have one day every other week set aside at the very least.
Don’t Isolate Yourself
Whatever your feelings toward roommates are, you can’t deny that they provide company. If you’re a person who tends to isolate and you want to maintain a healthy social life, you should set some rules for yourself.
Living alone might have been the necessary choice for your mental health, but having people in your life is also a necessity. Set the intention of inviting people over, spending time out when you’re free, and getting out and about when you can.
Keeping Safe While Living Alone
Staying safe in your apartment requires some preparation. More than anything, you’ll need to maintain a degree of vigilance and be consistent with how you operate.
Here are a few steps to take:
1. Know Your Building
Memorize your building like the back of your hand. Fire escapes, hallways, basements, and staircases are all things to remember. Should you ever feel like you’re being followed, knowing the terrain will give you a much better chance of getting away.
This also goes for the area around your building. Neighboring streets, back alleys, and people who live in the area are all valuable in times of stress. Get a good feel for the people and places situated around where you live.
2. Plan Ahead
If you’re concerned about living alone and remaining safe, do your best to move into an area that is low in crime. You can’t always be sure, and instances of crime occur in all communities, but doing some research can help you to feel a little more secure.
Communicate with landlords, do research, speak with people in the community, and make a decision based on the information you get.
3. Carry Defensive Items
You should attach a bottle of pepper spray to your keychain or purse in the case that you should need to defend yourself. Pepper spray, whistles, and other defensive tactics should be considered.
Only carry something you’re comfortable using. You might need to go as far as getting a conceal and carry license and gun, but you should if you feel it’s necessary.
Further, you can go to self-defense classes to prepare. These classes are a great source of exercise and will teach you how to eliminate the threat of another person. Tools are excellent ways to diminish danger, but you’re the only factor that is entirely controllable.
4. Safeguard Your Home
Another piece of safety lies right in the home. Make sure that your security measures are top-notch. If you feel like your landlord hasn’t done a proper job setting up your locks and alarms, take it upon yourself to do so.
You can work with independent businesses like this locksmith to ensure that your home is in a condition you consider safe.
5. Use Technology to Your Advantage
When living alone, make sure that your phone is always charged if you go out. Having a cell phone is something we take for granted until we actually need one.
Your cell phone can be the first line of defense if an attacker approaches you. The fact that you’re calling the police might be enough to deter someone from moving forward with an attack.
Additionally, you can look around for safety apps that track your location and put you directly in touch with the authorities should you need them. Further, know where your local security cameras are.
If someone is threatening you in any way, you can confront moving to an area with a security camera and making it clear that it’s there. This is another choice that could prevent an attack from happening.
Need More Advice?
If this is your first time living alone, you could definitely use a tip or two to get you by. We aren’t born with the knowledge needed to live a happy and healthy life — we learn along the way.
Visit our other sections for more life hacks to keep you feeling amazing!
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