Living by yourself for the first time can be a bit daunting. I moved into a flat on my own in September - great timing considering there is now a lockdown! But with that being said, I’ve learned a lot about making living alone enjoyable and fun. There is so much freedom that comes with having your own space where no one can tell you what you can and can’t do - except your landlord, maybe. Either way, it’s a fun and exciting adventure to live by yourself so here are some tips to make it more enjoyable.
If you are currently in the UK and living alone, you can have an extended household. Make sure you follow government advice but know that you do not have to be completely isolated during this lockdown. If there is a household that you can form a bubble with, please do so. And if, like me, you can’t, just know that it won’t be forever and that long video calls with your loved ones can be really enjoyable too. If you’re struggling, reach out. Call a friend, a helpline or message me. My DMs are always open. We’ll get through this together!!
Give someone you trust a spare key
This is one of the most important elements of this list. If you get yourself locked out or you lose your keys, having someone you can trust have a spare key will save you a lot of stress. If you only received one key for your home, get another one cut. It only takes a few minutes and doesn’t cost much at all. Try avoiding having a spare key somewhere outside as it is not the safest thing to do, especially if you live alone.
Become friendly with your neighbours
When you live alone, neighbours will be your best friends. If you’re getting a package delivered but aren’t there, your neighbour can take it for you. If you are ill and can’t go to the shop for some essentials, your neighbour can give you a hand. And in case of an emergency, you will have someone you can go to for help. You don’t have to become the best of friends, but being friendly and acquainted with at least one of your neighbours will make your time living there a lot nicer. I would have had a much harder time when recovering from Covid if it weren’t for my neighbour.
Print out your local bin-collection schedule
Unless you live in a large building where you don’t have to worry about the bins, chances are you will have to take your own bins out on collection days. You should be able to find a collection schedule on your local council’s website. Print out a copy, stick it on your fridge or somewhere you can see it so you don’t forget when the bins go and you remember you take them out. It’s a very boring thing to have to do, but it is necessary and part of adulting.
Tidy and clean as you go
This advice is valid whether you have your own flat or just have your own room. If you take a few minutes every day to clean up and put things away, it means that you will avoid the “it’s been 3 weeks since I’ve cleaned and I can’t find a clean pair of socks or use my kitchen” realisation. If I’m stressed and have a lot going on, my flat will be a mess. It’s almost like a window to my soul: the messier my flat, the worse I am doing.
These past couple of weeks being mainly stuck at home, I tried to make an effort to keep the place clean and practice “tidying as you go”. And I must say, it does make a huge difference. Make sure you’ve got all the equipment you need to clean (cloths, products, hoover, mop…) and do it regularly. It will help you feel more comfortable and happy in your home.
Make your space cosy and inviting
When you live alone, you don’t get the warmth and comfort that other people bring. It’s just you and your 4 walls. This is why it’s vital for you to make your home cosy and inviting. You don’t want to hate living there because that will make your life miserable - trust me, I’ve been there. So get pillows for your sofa, soft throw blankets you can snuggle into when watching a movie, comfortable bed sheets, smaller and softer lights (rather than glaring ceiling lights) and do whatever makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Make this space your own
This links in with the previous point I made about making your home cosy and inviting. Make it personal by adding photos and personal items. You can read more about decorating your home here or about making a home away from home here.
Invest in some appliances/furniture
When you first move away from home, chances are it will be in student accommodation or with flatmates. Generally, it will be a place that is likely furnished (at least if you live in the UK). When you move into a flat by yourself, you won’t have anyone living with you that owns tools or appliances which you could borrow. You will have to own your own things. If you have lived in different places before and you feel ready to be more settled down in your home, investing in some appliances or furniture is a good idea.
Now, you don’t have to buy a brand new couch, bed and fully-fitted kitchen. But buying your own nightstand, coffee table or bookshelf will make your flat feel a lot more like yours. Get yourself appliances that you would normally use but always borrowed from your flatmates: hair straightener, toaster, microwave, desk lamp, diffuser, coffee machine… Though these things might be a bit pricey, think of them as investments that you will be able to bring to future places you live. It means that down the line, you won’t have as many things to buy when you buy a home or move into an unfurnished flat.
Learn to cook
When you live alone, you rely on yourself to stay fed and hydrated. Ordering takeaway every night is not the way forward. It’s obviously not great for you but it’s also that much more expensive. If you struggle to cook decent meals, get yourself a cookbook for kids or teens. The recipes will be simple and once you feel confident doing those, you can work your way up to more advanced recipes.
If you don’t have a car and live further away from the shops, get them delivered to your house. Many larger stores offer this now and it will allow you to do bigger, weekly shops and get all the ingredients you need for recipes you try.
Have people over
I couldn’t be writing this at a worse time as the Scottish government just announced a full lockdown until the end of January. Until it is safe to have people over again, use video calls to stay connected to your loved ones. It’s not easy and loneliness does kick in eventually, but it helps a lot. If you live alone too or you’re just feeling quite lonely, reach out to someone. My DMs are always open on Instagram and you can use this contact form too. There are people out there that want to help you, I promise.
Once it is safe to have your friends over, enjoy that you can have someone over spontaneously without having to worry about flatmates. You can host dinner parties, movie nights or just invite your friend over for a cuppa. Having your own flat makes having people over so much easier, so enjoy it.
Enjoy this time
As I have just mentioned, living alone gives you the freedom that you would not have if you lived with others. So enjoy it while it lasts and have fun. Decorate your space how you want to, invite friends, throw parties, enjoy your alone and, over everything, enjoy not having anyone to tell you to tidy up or wash the dishes.
There we have it, Day 4 out of 7 complete! I hope you are enjoying the “7 Days of Relatable Sunday” as much as I am. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow and until then, I hope you have a lovely evening.
Yours truly,