If you told me 10 years ago I'd be living alone today, I wouldn't have believed you. I was the one always hiding under the covers during scary movies that couldn't understand why people would choose to live alone when houses already make so many creepy noises. Yet here we are. Life never fails to surprise me.
Now that I've been living alone for quite some time, people ask me: do I like it? As with anything, there are good days and bad days, but for the most part YES. Here's my take on what you should consider if you're on the fence about this living arrangement for yourself.
Pros
- You can literally walk around in whatever you want (or nothing at all) as often as you please. I do less laundry now because I re-wear a ton of clothes when I'm just lounging by myself.
- Having one of those days where you feel like making a mess? Go right ahead. No one is going to nag about what needs to be picked up or cleaned.
- You. don't. have. to. share. anything. More closet, pantry, fridge, counter, you-name-it, space for just you and your stuff.
- Going hand in hand with this, you don't have to worry about any kleptos stealing things that belong to you while you're out and about (or even in the shower).
- Your life can revolve completely around your own schedule. No one will ever be in the shower when you need to use it, no matter what time it is. No waiting to use the stove either. And the real bonus: no having to ask permission to have people over.
- "Me time" is automatically built into your routine. For all you fellow introverts out there, you know how this is such a blessing.
Cons
- The obvious one is that you're alone, so unless you make plans in advance and your crew also has a free schedule, you're on your own. I've spent entire weekends without social time and it can be tough.
- You're sacrificing a chance to save more money. That rent check is all yours and same goes for cable, utilities, the works. It can add up, so make sure you can budget for all that.
- You will get accustomed to this lifestyle, and it will be harder to tolerate shared spaces, even just for a little while. Having an overnight guest for even just a few hours can really mess with my week. Prepare to become even more nit-picky and selfishly protective of your own time and space.
- You miss out on those small moments or just-before-bed convos that you could be having with roommates. Your time with others is pretty limited to meeting up elsewhere or having people over every once in a while. If you crave companionship on the reg, this might not be for you.
For me, the pros outweighed the cons here. I have my days when loneliness kicks in, but with technology, a good friend or family member is usually just a phone call or text away. Living alone really teaches you what self-sufficiency is all about and I recommend it as a temporary lifestyle if you can afford it and want to get to know yourself better.