A few weeks ago, a friend reached out to me and asked how I felt about living alone since she’s considering it next semester. I’ve lived in a one-bedroom apartment since my freshman year because I transferred from a different school and CU’s housing situation was very weird at the time. I’m so grateful that I was able to even do this, and I wanted to share some of the biggest reasons why I enjoy it!
No Compromises
When it comes to having rules, I get to decide them! I don’t have to worry about disagreeing with roommates on certain topics. Compromising is definitely an important skill to have and do when you are living with people, but as of now, it’s something I enjoy not having to do.
Growth
Living alone has helped me learn more about my habits and how I live when there aren’t any other factors that could influence this. If I do choose to live with roommates in the future (which will most likely happen), I already know my lifestyle very well and what I need to do for myself. I’ve also learned how to keep myself company. This has allowed me to explore new hobbies that can lead to a messy living room and late nights that I otherwise might not be able to do.
Decorations
One of my favorite things is that when it comes to decorating my apartment, I can go about it however I want to. If I want to try something new, I’ll go for it! This has helped me discover my personal style and has also allowed me to explore my creativity with tons of DIYs.
Freedom
Having the freedom to do what I want to when I want to without worrying about disturbing other people is a big perk. If I want to have friends over or leave for the weekend, I don’t have to check in with anyone else.
Connections
The last thing that’s been the biggest benefit is that because I’m alone, it pushes me to reach out to friends more than I might otherwise. I’ve put more effort into certain relationships that I do cherish and want to keep. This has helped me gain confidence in myself when it comes to reaching out to new people.
It might not be next year, but at some point, this is something I think everyone should experience at least once in their life! If you’re on the fence about it or have had poor roommate situations in the past, this might be the push you need to try it out. If living alone is not for you, that’s okay, too! Without this experience, I definitely wouldn’t have gained any of these things or been where I am now.