Living Alone – 11 Ways to Lead a Happy Life

Being alone without feeling lonely can be challenging. I used to live alone in my own apartment for 2 years and I found surprising ways to be happy with my true self. Believe me; living alone can be one of the most wonderful experiences in your life

1.   Explore your interests

If you feel lonely, why don’t you try mastering a new skill or try out a new recipe at home? There are tons of options for you including art, writing, and music. If you want to be more adventurous, you can go hiking or travelling.

After two years of being alone, I was surprised that I could play 2 instruments and developed my own blog. I also keep the habit of practising yoga every day, which improves my physical and mental health a lot.

2.   Don’t hold yourself back

You really wish to see a film or go to your favourite restaurant but can’t find anyone to go with? Just go! Don’t need to wait until you find someone suitable to enjoy your life. I travelled alone two or three times and received a lot of help and support from others. That adventure meant a lot to me (But always remember safety tips, especially with ladies).

The point is to get more and more comfortable with the stillness. Then you are able to enjoy your own company.

3.   Enjoy your solitude

We can’t keep ourselves busy all the time to keep loneliness at bay. So, you need to learn to love your solitude. To me, it’s time to breathe deeply, to reflect my life and be grateful for what I have now. Treasure this precious moment! Embrace your solitude. (You can keep a journal for yourself or share this experience on your blog).

4.   Keep a pet

If you are an animal-lover, don’t hesitate to have a lovely puppy or kitten. I do love to see my puppy growing up with me. For those who don’t have time to take care of dogs or cats, a fish tank is just as good. Hamsters, budgies or finches are also great picks.

5.   Take care of your home

When my partner left my apartment, I lost all the interest in tidying up and decorating my home. After a long working day, my messy house made me feel miserable.  You know, it was so hard to feel good when you found yourself with a high pile of dishes and trash on the floor.

The key is to keep your house at least clean and neat. The effect is amazing. You feel great as soon as you walk in the door. If possible, you can rearrange the furniture or bring home new items. The best part is, you don’t need to ask for the opinions of others. Just go for what makes you feel good.

6.   Decorate your house with plants/ flowers

If you have a small yard or garden, plant your favourite trees or flowers. If you live in a small apartment like me, an indoor plant can be your companion. If you are in bad mood, get a bunch of flowers and put them in a vase (or bowl), I am sure you will feel better in an instant.

7.   Practise Self-Love when living alone

Accept the person who you are is the best way to fight loneliness. Be your own best friend. Treat yourself with kindness, give positive affirmations, and forgive yourself for mistakes that happened a long time ago. It’s easier said than done, I know. But I you accept your strengths as well as your flaws; bad things hardly can touch you.

When I found myself alone, my brain was full of negative thoughts such as: “You’ll be alone forever!” or “Nobody will love you.” When I decided I would be the first one to love myself, I felt like I was always surrounded by the warmth of love and happiness.

8.   Give what you have

You always have something to give. If you don’t have much money for charity, you can give your care, your smile to others. You can be a good listener or a kind stranger on the streets. When your heart is filled with love and kindness, you never be an unhappy person.

When I was alone and struggled to keep balance in life, I spent every weekend baking cookies for homeless people in my neighbourhood. Their smile always raised me up in hard times of my life. So, if you feel bad today, you can ask yourself: “What can I give today?”

9.   Do exercise

A lot of studies show that doing exercise regularly will boost your mood, reduce stress, and maintain mental resilience, and give you better sleep¹. I am always a big fan of yoga and I strongly recommend yoga for ladies. If you don’t have time, you can take a walk or jog around the nearby park.

If possible, you can take up a yoga class or join any favourite class and see how your body and mind changes. That would be a wonderful and memorable journey. Isn’t it great to overcome your procrastination and take a good care of yourself?

10.   Keep in tune with nature

Find time to get immersed in the beauty and serenity of nature.  Keeping in tune with nature also includes healthy eating and balanced living styles. Of course, you can change yourself in one day. But you can be sure that being with the Mother Earth always guarantees you a long-lasting happiness.

11.                     Step out of your comfort zone

Don’t lose your passion for discovering and rediscovering yourself. Set up a plan to do something that you haven’t tried before. I have created my own wish list in a notebook and began to make them come true one by one.

Being alone can be hard and exciting at the same time. I hope you will find joy and happiness in this journey.