Happiness in Solitude: Tips for Living Contentedly Alone
In the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics, around 8.4 million people live on their own. This figure, reported in 2023, represented an increase of around 8% over the preceding decade.
If you’re in this position, then you might find it a struggle to feel contented, fulfilled, and happy. After all, human beings are naturally social beings, and, for most of us, friends and family play a vital role in a healthy lifestyle.
However, solitude needn’t always be a negative thing. It can present opportunities for growth and self-reflection. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can deal with this kind of lifestyle.
Embrace your own company
Living alone has a major advantage. It will allow you complete control of the way that you spend your leisure time. Since there’s no need for compromise, you can choose exactly the hobbies that appeal to you, and develop a self-care routine that’s tailored to your sensibilities. Certain activities, like mindfulness-based meditation, journaling, and learning new skills from the internet, can be extremely fulfilling.
Create a cosy and inviting home
If you’re going to feel secure and cosy at home, then you’ll need to be surrounded by the right décor. This means layering colours and fabrics that appeal to you and installing furniture that allows you to get maximum use from the available space. You might also install a few choice houseplants – since these have a proven positive effect on mental health and wellbeing.
Enjoy caring for an animal
For those living alone, an animal can provide a valuable sense of companionship and purpose. It will give you another living creature to worry about besides yourself, which can help foster empathy, add structure to your life, and bolster your mental health. Feeding and caring for even small animals can be valuable in creating companionship and routine. You might just have to spend a little bit on a hutch, food, and Guinea pig hay. If you have more time to spare, on the other hand, you might consider something more demanding, like a dog. This option has the considerable advantage of a daily walk, which can bolster your physical and mental health.
Foster meaningful connections (virtually or in-person)
It’s extremely difficult to live a fulfilling life in total isolation. For this reason, it’s a good idea to proactively nurture your social life. Think about strategies for how you’ll interact with other people. Real-world clubs and activities are ideal, but virtual ones can be fulfilling, too.
Engage in activities that bring joy
Certain hobbies are inescapably linked with personal joy and fulfilment – but you’ll need to pick out the ones that really appeal to you. Cookery and gardening are excellent choices since they have additional benefits that promote good health. Creative hobbies, like writing, painting, and music, can also be a positive thing.
Cultivate a sense of purpose
If you can set personal goals for yourself, then you might find it easier to stay motivated and to work toward the things that matter to you. You might decide to volunteer for a local charity, for example, and thereby build a sense that what you do matters.
Establish healthy routines
A sense of structure and routine is essential if you want to feel grounded and secure. This might mean planning every minute of your day meticulously, or it might mean having a certain time of day set aside to perform certain tasks and rituals.
Living alone doesn’t mean being lonely. You can take advantage of countless opportunities for personal growth and fulfilment. What matters is that you follow your own path and that the life you build for yourself is the one you’d like to live.
