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Living alone is apparently on the rise, especially among young ladies. Around 43% of women between the ages of 25 and 34 are choosing to stay solo. This could be due to the fact that they might want more freedom and independence. Whatever their idea may be, it’s clear that it’s proving to be a fun and comfortable option for many people.
To understand more about staying solo, Bored Panda reached out to Jennifer Chalmers, a 50-something woman who started the YouTube channel ‘silverandsolo’ to document her experiences and share her expertise.
She told us that “for me, living alone means that I don't have another human sharing my space in my home; that I don't have to make the little (and big) compromises people in coupledom have to make in day-to-day life. I don't have to ask, explain, justify, or consider another person's opinion, taste, or preferences, only my own, and I love it.”
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Many of the folks on this list love the idea of living alone and find it to be a comfortable experience, but there are many people who struggle with the loneliness that comes with the choice. Social isolation can affect people’s mental health and make them feel like they have no support.
Jennifer explained that “for some people, living alone is more of an emotional vacuum. The absence of love, companionship, connection, and purpose. So, although they experience the same benefits of independence that I love about living alone, they don't enjoy them because they're lonely.”
She added that “living solo is a matter of routines and a smarter-not-harder mind-set in my experience. There are household tasks that need to be completed in a specific time frame, some are more flexible, and others that I impose deadlines on myself because they matter to me.”
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Also don't use those toilet tank drop ins , the chemicals eat away at the toilet parts and can mess with the flush mechanism, ask me how I know 😬.
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Some people cannot handle the pressure of living alone because they also find many of the household tasks overwhelming. Since all of the responsibilities are on one person’s shoulders, it might end up straining them and expending too much of their energy.
Jennifer said, “I keep a house journal for seasonal and maintenance items. It's just a notebook that I write down reminders about warranties and repairs in. When you live alone, everything is your responsibility. Nothing is shared. This is where routines help.”
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I spent a long time trying to have my home set up to make other people more comfortable when they come over and it never works for me when they're not.
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ETA: also if you have a bat put a sock on the end.
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When a person decides to live alone, apart from the aspect of safety and day-to-day routines, it is important that they find joy in being by themselves. When loneliness starts creeping in, it might discourage people from wanting to stay solo.
Jennifer assured people that “no one is an expert at everything, and just because you've never changed a sprinkler head on an irrigation system before, doesn't mean that you're incapable of it. There's a lot of learning and DIY'ing, but everyone can become capable.”
She also mentioned that it’s important to “lessen the likelihood of surprises by planning and keeping good records so that you'll feel more in control. Have a safety routine, learn how to install, work, and use cameras, lights, and alarms, and keep up maintenance and repair schedules to ensure you're always on top of things.”
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Change your name on food delivery apps to a man’s name.
Also, fire extinguishers. I painted mine so they look cool now and I keep one in every room 😅.
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Even if you're expecting someone, use the peephole or Ring camera to confirm the person is who they say they are before opening the door.
Get a Ring doorbell (or similar). .
Staying solo doesn’t have to be a big and scary experience; it is actually a lot of fun. All of the tips in this list will help you stay safe and on top of all the chores you need to do. It’s also important to understand that people like Jennifer or the women in this list have been living alone for a while, which is why they are so comfortable with the idea. It’s okay to take your time and make it happen at your own pace.
If you have any useful tips for people living alone, do share them with us as well!
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Also, pay attention to which way your blinds are tilted. If you live on 2nd floor, make sure they're tilted up, not down. Sheer privacy curtains also helped me worry less about people being able to see in during the day. At dusk,, make sure you close your blinds or curtains before you turn your lights on. Use light timers on lamps to make sure you never come home to a dark apartment, and make sure you adjust them as sunset changes throughout the year. The old manual kind are usually $3-5.
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I also kept a glass jar of Ragu by my bed so that I’d have something to throw at and stun an intruder if they ever got in 😅.
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Oh, and for what you described, wear a smartwatch so you can make phone calls from it and not have your phone with you.
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