In some ways, it can be hard to live alone.
We’re social creatures. We need interaction, communication, and touch. Living alone means these things aren’t part of our home life, so we have to seek them elsewhere.
But there are some pretty massive tradeoffs, too.
Living alone can be incredibly empowering. It can offer space to grow and explore in any way we need, when we need. This fosters a deeper sense of independence, but that’s just the beginning. Done right, a solitary lifestyle can support deep personal growth and intense self-discovery.
So, in this blog, we’ll explore some of the biggest benefits of living alone, and offer one key tip to overcome some of the drawbacks of a more solitary existence.
(And, if you think it’s massage, you got it in one!)
1. Personal Freedom and Independence
This one almost goes without saying. When you live with others, it’s a compromise. You have to consider their schedules, needs, and preferences and find a happy middle ground.
Now, it’s really healthy to learn to work with others smoothly and find common ground. But it’s also a blessing to have your own domain that works the way you want and need it to.
Living alone offers the autonomy to craft your space and fill your time in ways that work for you. In short, you have complete:
● Decision-Making Power: You have complete control over your living environment and daily routine. This autonomy allows you to make decisions that are solely in your best interest. Every decision, from the mundane to the significant, fosters more confidence and self-reliance.
● And Creative Expression: Your living space becomes a canvas for your creativity, reflecting your personality and tastes.
2. Self-Discovery and Personal Growth
When living with others, it’s easy to get into a routine, trapped in the same cycles without opportunity for reflection or forward motion. Or, we can find ourselves distracted and constantly busy, our creative energy split in several directions at once.
One significant upside of living alone is that you have less distractions or external
demands on your time.
The funny thing about this is that we will tend to find the excess of time challenging at first. We have to figure out where to put our energy, and the thoughts tend to ruminate pretty loudly.
Time alone means time in reflection, which if you do it right, will help you to understand yourself better. As we adjust to a solitary lifestyle, we tend to become much more clear about who we are, what we want, need, and value.
With time to sit with ourselves, we come to understand more deeply our desires and needs and values. This clarity helps us to spend our time and energy in ways that really work for us. To follow our passions and interests, to work on ourselves and develop our skills.
● Introspection: Solitude provides ample time for reflection, helping you to gain insights into your thoughts and emotions, which can lead to improved mental health and emotional resilience.
● Skill Development: When we take responsibility for our own lives on every level, we learn the practical skills of adult life, becoming more independent and self-sufficient. Solitary life also offers us more space to focus on inner growth, self-awareness, and actualization.
3. Enhanced Productivity and Focus
When you live alone, you set the tone. You create your environment. And you can set it up in a way that supports your personal and professional productivity. Which means, no interruptions, and the space arranged just right to help you focus and get stuff done.
For deep creative work, this is incredibly valuable. When you can arrange the space to let it flow, and have uninterrupted time to play the inspiration through, amazing things can happen.
● Tailored Work Environment: You can set up your home office exactly how you need it, optimising for comfort and productivity without needing to consider others’ preferences.
● Uninterrupted Flow: Without the distractions of roommates or family members, you can enter a state of deep work, significantly boosting your output and creativity.
4. Emotional Resilience and Self-Compassion
Ok. Now, we’re still talking about upsides. But this one is a bit of a double-edged sword.
There are times that we can become over reliant upon others, trying to offload our stress or anxiety to others without actually processing and releasing it. But there are other times where healthy emotional processing is supported by being seen, heard, and accepted by another human being.
When living with others, many things can happen. We may have a healthy, conscious dynamic with those we live with, supporting free expression and inviting greater emotional wellbeing. Or, we may have a challenging dynamic that constricts free expression and builds up tension in the background.
Unfortunately, most of us experience some challenging dynamics with friends and loved ones. Living alone can offer a bit of distance from these challenging dynamics, and help us to set a new emotional baseline.
It is both incredibly challenging to develop emotional healthy connections with loved ones, and incredibly rewarding when we are able to come together in healthy connection. Deeply healing for all involved.
That said, most people would find it beneficial to live alone, at least for a short period. It gives us space to develop a more conscious relationship with ourselves, to feel our feelings, and learn how to meet them with compassion. And in the process, we begin to develop a bit more emotional resilience.
● Emotional Independence: Facing life’s ups and downs on your own builds emotional strength and teaches you how to manage stress and adversity effectively.
● Self-Care Routine: Without the pressures of living with others, you can prioritise self-care routines that nurture your physical and mental health, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.
5. Financial Responsibility and Management
It’s not easy to manage a household on your own. It takes a fair bit of financial literacy, along with a sense of responsibility and the discipline to follow through.
But it becomes easier, and once we get the hang of it, we can handle ourselves no matter where we end up. When we pay our own way, we learn the true value of our money. Which leads to better budgeting and saving, and wiser financial habits.
● Budgeting Skills: Handling all the financial aspects of living alone, from rent to utilities, hones your budgeting and financial planning skills.
● Financial Independence: Successfully managing your finances boosts your confidence and sense of accomplishment, reinforcing your overall independence.
Incorporating Massage into the Solo Lifestyle
Now, although there are loads of benefits to living alone, there are some challenges as well. One of the big ones is a lack of regular physical contact.
We all need touch. It’s a basic, human thing, and it’s essential for both physical and emotional health and wellbeing.
And, one great way to incorporate healthy touch into your routine is with regular massage.
The Importance of Touch
Human touch is crucial for health, and it provides us with loads of benefits. It reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and improves mood.
And, massage therapy is a powerful way to incorporate this essential element of human touch into your life. It’s a beautiful form of self-care for the body, mind, and heart.
● Stress Reduction: Massage helps lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. This promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety.
● Physical Health: Regular massage can alleviate muscle tension, improve circulation, and enhance overall physical wellbeing.
● Emotional Wellbeing: The nurturing touch of massage therapy releases oxytocin, the “feel-good” hormone, contributing to emotional balance and happiness.
Getting a Professional Massage
One of the most effective ways to incorporate the benefits of touch into your solo lifestyle is through professional massage therapy.
Here are just a few reasons that professional massages can be especially beneficial:
- Expertise and Tailored Care: Professional massage therapists are trained to understand the intricacies of the human body and can tailor their techniques to address your specific needs, whether it’s alleviating chronic pain, reducing stress, or enhancing relaxation.
- Regular Appointments: Scheduling regular massage sessions can provide a consistent and reliable source of touch, ensuring that you receive its benefits on an ongoing basis. This routine can become a cornerstone of your self-care regimen, offering a dedicated time for relaxation and rejuvenation.
- Variety of Techniques: Professional therapists are skilled in a range of massage techniques, from Swedish and deep tissue to hot stone and aromatherapy massages. This variety allows you to explore different methods and find what works best for your body and mind.
- Mental Escape: A professional massage session offers a mental escape from the demands of daily life. The serene environment of a massage studio, combined with the soothing touch of a therapist, can transport you to a place of tranquility and peace, helping to reset your mental state.
- Enhanced Benefits: The combination of professional expertise and the therapeutic environment can amplify the benefits of massage. This includes improved sleep, enhanced mood, and better overall physical health, which are crucial for maintaining balance and well-being while living alone.
So, to sum up…
Living alone can be a profoundly empowering lifestyle choice. It can help us to develop personal freedom, self-discovery, productivity, emotional resilience, and financial responsibility.
While a solitary lifestyle offers numerous benefits, it’s also essential to address the need for human touch through practices like professional massage therapy.
By integrating regular sessions with a professional massage therapist into your solo lifestyle, you can enhance your physical and emotional wellbeing. Which is to say, you will feel better, physically and emotionally.
So, if it’s time to make professional massage a part of your routine, feel free to contact me.
In gratitude, Taranga