Whether you’re living on your own for the first time or you’ve been isolated from others for a while, being alone can be extremely intimidating. Not having anyone around for support might leave you feeling depressed, scared, or vulnerable. Luckily, there's almost nothing you can't do alone if you just develop the right mindset and prepare yourself accordingly. You never know—you might even begin to enjoy being alone!

1

Embrace your freedom.

  1. Being on your own can be great! Take some simple steps like personalizing your space, inviting friends over frequently, and creating a schedule for cleaning and maintaining your home to make living alone more fun and less stressful. You can make your own rules, and you don’t have to ask anyone else what they think about your home.[1]
    • One of the great things about living alone is that you get to make your own rules. If you want to have a giant beanbag chair or a hammock in your living room instead of a couch, there's no one to tell you you can't.
  2. Advertisement
3

Get out of the house.

  1. Take a walk outside or go for a drive. Even if you aren’t going anywhere in particular, simply leaving your home can help you feel better. If you want some social interaction, head to a coffee shop or a deli and grab a bite to eat. You’ll feel much better if you spend some time away from your home.[3]
    • It’s also nice to have a reason to get dressed in the morning. Even if you don’t have plans for the day, try putting on some clothes and heading out the door.
  2. Advertisement
8

Adopt a pet.

  1. Studies show that pet owners are happier and healthier than those without pets. If you’re feeling a bit lonely, consider getting a dog or a cat to keep you company. Or, go for a smaller animal, like a hamster, a lizard, or a snake. Having an animal to play with and interact with can really boost your mood when you’re alone.[8]
    • Adopting a dog is also a great way to get yourself out of the house. Most dogs need 1 to 2 walks per day, so you’ll have to leave your home at least once.
    • Check out local animal shelters nearby to give a homeless pet their forever home.
9

Challenge your lonely or negative thoughts.

10

Distract yourself when you start to feel lonely.

  1. It might happen to you, and that’s okay. If there are certain time periods or activities that make you feel alone, keep a few things around to distract yourself. If, for instance, you often feel lonely when you’re making dinner, listen to a podcast or an audiobook. Little things like this can make your life a lot more enjoyable on your own.[10]
    • The holidays are often very tough for people who are alone. If that’s the case for you, try making your own traditions! Instead of having dinner with family, you could go out to eat or see a new movie.

Community Q&A

  • Question
    What should I do if my best friend ignores and leave me?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you think they might be upset with you, try talking to them about it. If you did something wrong, apologize and try to make it up to them. If they won't talk to you, or you didn't do anything wrong, you should just find another friend, because a good friend wouldn't ignore you for no reason.
Advertisement

About This Article

Jennifer Butler, MSW
Co-authored by:
Love & Empowerment Coach
This article was co-authored by Jennifer Butler, MSW and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Jennifer Butler is a Love & Transformation Coach and the Owner of JennJoyCoaching, a life coaching business based in Miami, Florida, although Jennifer works with clients all over the world. Jennifer’s work centers around empowering women who are navigating any stage of the divorce or breakup process. She has over four years of life coaching experience. She is also the co-host of the Deep Chats Podcast along with Leah Morris and the host of season 2 “Divorce and Other Things You Can Handle” by Worthy. Her work has been featured in ESME, DivorceForce, and Divorced Girl Smiling. She received her Masters of Social Work (MSW) from New York University. She is also a Certified Health Coach, a Communications & Life Mastery Specialist, and a Certified Conscious Uncoupling and Calling in “the One” coach. This article has been viewed 84,096 times.
22 votes - 91%
Co-authors: 14
Updated: March 20, 2023
Views: 84,096
Categories: Disaster Preparedness
Article SummaryX

Being alone can feel scary or intimidating, but with a little preparation and the right mindset, you can survive being alone. If you plan to live alone, find a place that is near friends or family or close to the places you plan to go to the most, like work or school. When you live alone, you’ll need to learn to deal with lots of little things that may feel new or scary, but try not to get overwhelmed. For example, if you’re scared you’ll burn the house down if you try to cook, start small and learn how to make a simple dish or two. You can also try to embrace your freedom by personalizing your space and making your own rules and schedules. To learn how to handle a survival situation alone, keep reading!

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement