Living alone not only gives you an unparalleled level of freedom, but it also gives you the time to focus on what you really want to do. What's great about living alone is that it gives you confidence that you can do it.
Too much time alone is bad for our physical health. Studies have found that social isolation and loneliness can increase the likelihood of mortality by up to 30%.
Here's why: 1. Having my own space to come home to makes me feel safer in the world. It's a source of necessary comfort knowing that, as much as I enjoy going out with friends or spending time with others, I can always be alone again by heading home and recharging my introvert batteries.
In contrast, living alone allows one to enjoy a great deal of liberty. You may go anywhere without asking permission and not answer to anyone. You are free to make your own decisions, such as what to wear and how to arrange and decorate your home. The house is generally as the parents desire in the family.
Living alone can be very peaceful because there are no disagreements. When you live alone you don't have to compromise to fit in with someone else. No-one else's choices or biases come into play. You don't need to fit into anyone else's timetable.
People feel more authentic when they are alone than when they are with other people. Those who are drawn to solo living for positive reasons are unlikely to feel lonely. They are not afraid of having time to themselves; they flourish in solitude.
First, unmarried people who live alone are relatively happy, and generally appear among the better off of the groups surveyed. Second, people who've recently gotten divorced or become widows are less happy than most others.
Maturity is important to live alone but from 25 years to 29, a child should leave the parent's house. This will allow them a level of independence required to make tangible decisions about life. It can be when they are 25, 27 or 29.
Living in a solitary environment gives you the opportunity to learn more about yourself, such as your strengths, weaknesses, motivations, behaviors, and desires. This can help you to become more self-aware and introspective, and it also encourages you to mature and grow as a person.
According to research, people who like spending time alone, and are unafraid of being single, are more likely than others to be open-minded. While one study suggests that single people are more likely to be introverted, it takes into account all single people, regardless of choice.
Practising self-care does not mean you are being selfish. Indeed, taking good care of yourself can, in fact, make you more open and compassionate towards the needs of others. It is simply taking the necessary steps to recharge our own wellbeing so we can take positive action to not only help ourselves but others too!
People need at least a little human contact in order to thrive, and true isolation can take a toll on your overall well-being. If you're not totally isolated, though, and your lack of friends doesn't trouble you, it can be perfectly fine to be satisfied with your own company.
Loneliness can be damaging to both our mental and physical health. Socially isolated people are less able to deal with stressful situations. They're also more likely to feel depressed and may have problems processing information. This in turn can lead to difficulties with decision-making and memory storage and recall.
Hawkley points to evidence linking perceived social isolation with adverse health consequences including depression, poor sleep quality, impaired executive function, accelerated cognitive decline, poor cardiovascular function and impaired immunity at every stage of life.
The bottom line. Even if you prefer living on your own, it's not always easy. You might value personal space but still have moments where you long for human interaction. Times of crisis that make it difficult to connect with others can isolate you and cause further distress.
The reasons we live alone can affect our likelihood of experiencing different mental health problems. Overall, those living alone show higher levels of anxiety and lower levels of happiness than couples who live together but don't have children.
“Being alone helps you become more comfortable in your own skin,” Morins tells Forbes. “When you're by yourself, you can make choices without outside influences. And that will help you develop more insight into who you are as a person.” Holding this degree of self-awareness and resilience is key to a happier life.
"Loneliness can change the neurochemistry of the brain, turning off the dopamine neurons, which trigger the reward response, and causing some degeneration in the brain when the reward response is not activated," says Katherine Peters, MD, PhD, FAAN, associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at Duke University.
Research shows that women seem more attractive when they're in a group compared to when they're alone. It could be because when people look at a group, their brains average out the faces they see.
Jessica Harrison, a licensed professional counselor and owner of Courageous Counseling and Consulting, says a lack of long-term friendships is a major red flag. "It shows that they have not been committed to growing in relationships, which takes time and effort on both friends' part," says Harrison.
In general, based on 2021 survey data, the average person in America has between 3 and 5 close friends. According to this survey: almost half (49%) report having 3 or fewer close friends. over one-third (36%) report having between 4 and 9 close friends.