Safety Tips For Living Alone
by Lori Melton
Whether you're striking out on your own for the first time or starting over in a new location, living alone can be both a daunting and rewarding experience. Solitude, of course, has its advantages. You don't have to share a bathroom, a closet or food in the fridge. You don't have to fight over the remote or the household décor. But living alone can also be a huge adjustment, especially if you are used to having others around for company and a sense of security. Check out these survival tips that should help make living solo a better experience.
Enhance Home Security
One of the toughest things about living alone is being scared; especially at night. Strange sounds and fear of unwanted intruders can be frightening. Beefing up home security will help protect you and your valuables and give you peace of mind. Do a status check on window and door locks, and replace them or upgrade them if needed. If possible, invest in a home security system that is equipped with an alarm in the event of a break-in. Overall, making any security improvements should make you feel safer when you're living on your own.
Keep an Emergency Contact List
Dialing 911 is the most obvious choice in the event of a life-threatening emergency, but it's also good to keep an emergency contact list with the local fire department, police station, hospital, pharmacy, locksmith, electrician and more readily accessible. This way, if disaster strikes you can be on the road toward resolution by contacting the appropriate party from the list more quickly.
Be Neighborly
It's always great to be nice to your neighbors, but forging a good rapport with them has potentially great benefits. You will have someone close by to call or somewhere to go in the event of an emergency, and they can also keep an eye on your place or collect your mail if you go on vacation. Plus, you may get lonely and just want someone to come over and hang out or share a cup of coffee. Having someone nearby to call on for any reason can help make living alone less lonely.
Plan Gatherings and Go Out
Some people say a home isn't a home unless you share it with others. Invite friends and family to a game night, dinner or movie night as often as you can to break up your solitary routine. Also, no one likes staring at the four walls for extended periods of time. If you're bored and need some human contact, go out with family and friends and spend some time doing something fun and social. You could even consider taking an art class, joining a book club, or any other type of group activity that gets you around other people on a regular basis.
Learn DIY Projects
One of the biggest aggravations for any home owner is dealing with household repairs. Learning how to do basic household repairs and upgrades can help save money. There are lots of great books, YouTube videos and even classes at your local home improvement store that teach basic, handy, DIY household skills. Consider delving into them to become more self-reliant.
Enjoy Your Own Private Space
Finally, kicking back and relaxing in your own domain is an important part of embracing solo living. Set aside time for doing things you enjoy like reading or painting or writing or cooking. Or, de-stress by pampering yourself with candles and a hot bath, mood music, a facial or even taking a nap. Having private, quality time to enjoy the things you like most is often a rarity in today's hectic world. So, embrace your own space whenever you can and enjoy!
