Living Alone: The Perils, the Pleasures & the Pitfalls

According to the US Census Bureau, an estimated 28 million people live alone. The numbers reflect what is becoming a growing American norm: More people seeking privacy. Some states that are on the loners list are Manhattan, Washington D.C., St. Louis, Denver and San Francisco. Reasons for people choosing to live alone range from, divorce, loss of a spouse, or just being able to afford it.

Living Alone: The Reality
For many living alone may seem to be ideal. Come and go as you please, never have to clean up after yourself, or the best one being able to stroll around naked. For those who live alone, the reality can sometimes be much different than what one may have expected. For one, the ability to come and go as you please is granted. However, it can quickly turn into a routine of work-home-school. Being financially ready to live alone, involves good planning and one must stick to a budget. Be ready for the unexpected should you not have a loophole in case things don't go as planned.

Certainly, you will find that cleaning up after yourself is a necessity. When there are no utensils to eat with or you suddenly get a call that family is on their way to visit, you will quickly go into cleaning mode. Also, there's that unfortunate reality that no matter how many underwear you have, you will need to do laundry eventually.

Living Alone: Take Advantage of the Time
How many times, have you heard people lament over their lives claiming that they would have done things differently. Living alone, gives you the option of pursuing things that one who is married or committed may not have been able to consider. Learning who you are is an investment. Enjoy, the things that you love to do alone, it may be as simple are reading a book. Use your time alone wisely, seek to understand and enrich your life. Some things that I found out about myself included my natural ability to put things together, my love of cooking, or just taking up freelance writing.

Living alone does not mean isolating yourself. It's good to have a group of supportive family or friends that you can rely on when the going gets tough. This may mean stepping up on communication and making sure that they're not the only ones calling. Joining a religious organization or finding local community hangouts can help if you don't have family or friends to rely on.

Living Alone: Take Steps to Protect Yourself
If you're new to living alone, it can feel very uncomfortable at first. Perhaps, you can't sleep because of the new sounds, or maybe you just feel insecure. Be assured, that these feelings are normal and can quickly pass with some effort on your part. Try to take a walk around the area where you live, create a familiarity with your new surroundings. It may involve getting to know your neighbors and exchanging numbers. It is not shocking to hear that someone died in their apartment for three weeks and no one noticed. Remember, if you take the extra time to say hello, it can make a big difference to that neighbor who may not have otherwise cared.

Investing in a quality locking device on your door can make you feel more secure than just having one lock. Make sure to ask a landlord for permission if you're renting. Try to change your routine up every now and then. No one should be able to have a full reading of your day without you knowing it. This will help if someone is tracing your steps.

Living Alone: The Pitfalls
It can be very overwhelming to suddenly find freedom if you're new to living alone. Some may find it difficult to create a needed balance. If you find yourself constantly needing to be around people, you may have deeper issues to deal with. For some, it can take an even worse turn and affect their overall health. You may find yourself, eating foods that can contribute to being overweight, turning to alcohol to deal with loneliness, or becoming promiscuous in order to have someone near. Depression can set in and cause you lose your overall love of life. Do not let these feelings destroy your happiness. Try to seek counseling if things don't seem to get better.

In facing life alone, recognize the benefits which include privacy, time to develop yourself, freedom to make good decisions and opportunities to broaden your friendships. Of course, your life will not be problem-free. Yet you can step up, remain positive and counter any challenges that come your way.