Even though sitcoms and chick-flicks stars such as Bridget Jones will tell you otherwise, living alone is often far from being as glamorous as it’s made out to be. When faced with the dull reality of washing the dishes or even possible feelings of loneliness, living alone doesn’t really seem all that carefree. Here are 5 pro tips personally curated to help every collegiette to make the most out of living alone.
1. Find your inner Martha Steward
Food stains on your favourite fabric? The best dishwashing solution for all those fragile dishes? These are only a fraction of household dilemmas one has to face when living alone. It pays off to have a file on your desktop which will not only maintain all your valuable bits of information but save you from tons of headache later! Nowadays Pinterest is our definite go-to source for information about little tricks you can do around the house: for example; next time your kitchen’s drain is clogged, try using a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to unclog it!
2. Entertainment
Every now and then your social life can fall short while living alone. After a ten-hour school day, a relaxing bath with a glass of wine and a novel can seem more of a heaven than the noisy club downtown, so make sure you’ll have a great entertainment system at your hands. If you’re on a budget like most students, prioritize your spending; for example forget the surround sound system TV; a good internet plan will save you from a grand initial investment. These days you can virtually watch every show there is online!
3. Décor
One of the brightest sides of living alone is the fact that you can beautify your apartment the way you want it. Feel free to choose your favourite artworks, pieces of furniture and the level of light depending on your own personal taste. Basically, you are the Queen of your own realm; not only will you be able to come into your own little sanctuary every day, you will impress the heck out of your friends and family when they come over to visit!
4. Nourishment
Mountains of dirty dishes, peels of vegetables and yucky counter tops everywhere! How often has this kitchen nightmare not send you to bed hungry? Eating at different restaurants every day isn’t an economical option for a student, so what is one to do? Try shopping for food in bulk – this way you can freeze them for the future munchies! Also, try minimalistic options; eat a delicious cool fresh fruit or even ice cream for dessert. Enjoy lots of fluids like water, green tea and juices which will supress that excess winter time hunger while reducing your cooking time!
5. Positive attitude
At first living alone can seem isolating and lonely, but you can easily use this time to do some self-reflection and actualisation. Try meditating upon things that you want to do in life that make you smile. After all, living alone can be a short period of one’s life, so make the most out of it! Sleep a little bit longer than usual or do silly things you wouldn’t do around other people! Think it as a privileged and peaceful period before all the hustle and bustle the future has in store for you.