How to Survive Living By Yourself
Living on your own can be so difficult! I don’t live completely by myself anymore but I’d love to offer some tips to get you through stages like that. I know for some people, it’s really easy to go and live on your own and for others, it can be really hard to get used to doing everything by yourself. I was definitely a mixture of both. I had moments where I felt like I was on top of the world and nothing could stop me and I had very low moments where I wasn’t even sure if getting out of bed in the morning was even worth it.
Like I mentioned in my last post, How to Stay Focused Even Though People Around You Aren’t, I spoke about how as soon as my first year of college was over, I was all on my own. All of my friends went back home but I made the decision to stay in my college town and try and maneuver things on my own. Let me tell you, it’s been really difficult but I’ve learned so much and I think once I make it through these experiences, I’ll be happy that I went through so much. I like to think about life as a pendulum. Sometimes life has to swing backward and you have to go through a lot so that you can learn and grow before the pendulum can swing forward. Once you swing forward again, things will fall into place and more fulfillment and happiness will settle in.
I’ve had to move myself in and out of a couple different places already this summer, I’m working a lot of hours at work, trying to keep up with things that I like to do, and also eat and get enough rest so that I still feel well enough to do it all. It’s a difficult life, I’ve had to put all of my pets down, and my parents are trying to move into the same town as me. Lots and lots of transition. If you feel like your life is falling apart and nothing is in your control, you’re probably going through some kind of transformation or spiritual transition. Even though you have to go through all kinds of hard stuff, try and have faith the best you can because things will get better eventually. At least that’s what I’ve been telling myself.
However, back to surviving by yourself, the best tips that I can give to anyone that feels out of control of their life or feels super alone is to keep in touch with friends and family. Call your friends, hang out with people, try and make new friends at work or in class. I know it’s really difficult to meet people and make friends because it’s scary and sometimes people aren’t friendly. All you can do is be confident in your friend making abilities and start asking people about their life. People love to talk about themselves so start trying to make connections as soon as you can. You will regret not trying to make friends. You can only do your part and if other people don’t respond the way you want, there’s so many other people you can try to talk to. The only way to get better at skills like this is to do them. It’s like kissing, people are so nervous to have their first kiss, and a lot of the time it’s a total disaster at first, but as you learn to match the energy of the other person, things will get better with time.
Another big tip I can give to y’all is to be safe. Make sure you’re locking your front door, your windows, your car and carrying mace or a taser with you at all times. You never know when people are watching you and it can be super scary living alone if you aren’t careful. Watch your surroundings all the time even if you think you are safe. Some people can be so sketchy and as time progresses, it seems like safety, especially among women, is becoming more and more of an issue. The same can happen to men so just be on the lookout. If you have roommates, try walking in a group as much as you can as well. I don’t mean to scare anyone with this information but being by yourself means that you are more of an easier target.
Something that I remember telling myself during my phase of being alone was that it was only temporary. Life moves so quickly and you won’t be alone for long unless you like that lifestyle. Personally, I like to be around people and it’s a little harder for me to thrive without having others around every now and again. If you’re anything like me and really enjoy others company, try finding friends to hang out with during the day or even just calling friends or family. If you’re really desperate, you could go on Omegle, just be careful. I don’t really recommend this but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Overall, living on your own can be super exciting and liberating but also lonely at times and difficult. However, you will learn a lot about yourself in the time that you spend with your own company. I try and look at every situation as a learning experience and living on your own without anybody else around will teach you so many more things that you wouldn’t have learned if you lived with people. Once again, remember that if you’re struggling that you will get through this and while it’s difficult in the moment, you’ll probably look back and realize how strong you are. Also, know that you’re not alone and that so many others across the world and living an experience similar to yours and feeling the same feelings as you. If you need somebody to talk to at any given time, I’m always available as well.
Thank you all for your support!
