It has been a short five months since I began living on my own. I’ve had a roommate or roommates for the last ten plus years. So, living on my own for the first time ever has been quite the change. For the most part I’m okay with being alone, so I wasn’t really worried when it came time to settling into my new place. While I miss having the comfort of a roommate, living alone has been nice and here’s why:
- Decorating my apartment has been the most fun. I’ve been able to hang up fun frames, add small accents like an hour glass, wooden countdown holiday calendar and select my own color scheme.
- Cooking is easier, because I don’t have to worry about anyone’s food restrictions or dietary needs.
- Living alone has also kept me from purchasing food from the street, which has resulted in money saved. It’s so easy going to grab fast food or going out to eat when you have a roomie who is always down to go.
- I’m a pretty clean and organized person, so whenever there are dishes in the sink or trash in the bathroom, I have no one to blame but myself. It beats having to tell a roommate to wash their three-day-old dishes.
- There are no restrictions when it comes to watching your favorite TV shows in the living room. Because when you share a common space, that sometimes means watching a movie or TV show you and the other person agree upon.
- You can literally crank up your music and dance in your bra and underwear like no one is watching, because NO ONE IS!
- It reinforces your power to be independent, like keeping track of your bills, managing your grocery shopping, and making your own decisions.
- It’ll also push you outside of your comfort zone. Since living alone means no human interaction it will force you to make connections and plans with more people.
- You don’t have to coordinate schedules for using the bathroom. Nothing is more inconvenient than needing to use bathroom, and find your roomie showering.
- You get to learn more about yourself, and foster-in your own thoughts/feelings.
- PRIVACY, PRIVACY and PRIVACY, need I say more?
While living alone is great, I must be honest there are some downsides – like having to haul your own groceries, Target runs on your own, or not being able to laugh and talk with someone about all the ridiculousness you see while watching The Bachelor.
Also, living on my own made it harder transitioning to Seattle, because I didn’t know anyone here. I did secure on-campus housing before moving, but the idea of paying less for my own place and not sharing an apartment with three other girls was just too good not to pass up. So, if you have the opportunity to live on your own even if it’s just for a year, I’m telling you’ll it’ll be one of the greatest experiences you’ll ever have.