I’m approaching the two year mark of moving out on my own. Obviously, there have been ups and downs (particularly financially). Overall though, the experience has been a positive one. Which has me thinking about all the benefits of living alone that I think aren’t talked about enough. And I thought I’d share my list with you all. Just in case you’re considering living alone, or even feeling bad about your solo living situation!
It will teach you to be independent…
Having strong relationships (whether they be friendly, familial, or romantic) is undoubtedly an important part of life and maintaining our mental health. But at the same time, it’s also important to build independence and trust with yourself. And living alone can help you do just that.
Because, although you still have the people who love you in your life, they can’t drop everything just to come over and help you. You have to learn to take care of yourself, to regulate yourself, and to make yourself happy. These are valuable things to learn, and they also help you become more secure in the fact that you’ll be ok regardless of who comes in and out of your life. Because at the end of the day… you’ve got your own back!
It provides you with freedom…
Many of us will end up living alone, with partners, kids, friends, or even family again, at various points in our lives. Each of those stages come with their own pros and cons, but one of the biggest pros of living alone is honestly the amount of freedom you have! And although this opportunity for freedom may present itself again, your twenties are one of the easiest/best times to enjoy it.
You can…
- Decorate your place however you want
- Switch up your routine whenever it suits you
- And do what you want to do, without permission from anyone else!
Your only responsibility is yourself, and that’s a type of freedom that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
You’ll get to know yourself on a whole new level…
One of the most underrated benefits of living alone in my opinion is that it’ll allow you to get to know yourself on a deeper level. Many people make the mistake of thinking they already know everything there is to know about themselves… But actually, there are so many aspects of yourself that you may never take the time to explore unless they’re brought to your attention.
When you live alone, those parts of you that you never knew existed will rise to the surface. Preferences, desires, triggers, fears, motivations, weaknesses, and everything in between. Thus, you’ll emerge out the other side of this experience armed with more knowledge about yourself than you ever could’ve dreamed of.
It could strengthen your external relationships…
Hear me out on this one! I believe living alone can actually result in you forming more fulfilling, healthy relationships with others. And this is for a few reasons…
- First of all, when you have confidence in the fact you could live with or without a certain person, it actually allows you to love them more unselfishly. Because you don’t need them in your life, you just want them there. (For instance, in my personal experience, I’ve become a lot less clingy and demanding of others after living alone.)
- Secondly, as you learn more about yourself, you become better equipped to communicate your feelings and needs to others. You also learn which boundaries to set in order to avoid triggers or things that deeply upset you.
- Thirdly, if and when you decide to live with someone else… you’ll have a better idea of the dynamics you desire and require in order to make that work. Which will help you avoid non preferential living situations in the future.
You’ll have the time to work on your goals…
Lastly, one of the most practical benefits of living alone in your twenties is that it provides you with plenty of time (and privacy) to go after your goals! Which is something I think is particularly helpful in your twenties, as this is the stage of your life where you should really be focusing on building the life you want.
Traveling, starting side hustles, focusing on your fitness grind, working on your career, indulging in your hobbies and passions… All of those things are so much simpler when it’s only yourself you have to worry about. And focusing on yourself and your goals in this way will quite literally benefit you for the rest of your life, regardless of where it takes you.
Final Thoughts
As with anything in life, living alone in your twenties has its pros and cons. But in my opinion, it’s a stage of life that shouldn’t be skipped; because the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks! Plus, I’ve spoken to quite a few middle-aged people (specifically, married ones) who regret not taking a year or two to explore themselves by living alone when they were younger.
So if you’re already living alone, or contemplating it, just know that the experience is highly recommended! And along these same lines… If you’d like, you can also check out this post on the advantages of living in an apartment for even more inspiration.
