10 Reasons Why Living on Your Own Is the Best Thing Ever

Written by Beth Leipholtz

on 11 September, 2018

No matter why you’re on your own — whether you just graduated, broke up with someone, got consciously uncoupled or simply decided to live alone — there are a lot of reasons why living solo is a good life experience. Here are 10 glorious ways living single is the bomb.

1. Peace and Quiet = Always

After a long, hard day at work, you don’t have to wonder if you’ll come home to quiet or chaos. Nothing beats curling up on the couch with a book and silence, or plopping down in front of the TV. No more wishing your roommate will turn down the music or waiting for their guests to leave. Living on your own can mean predictability, which isn’t always a bad thing. It just means you know what to expect and when to expect it because you’re the one making the call.

2. The TV Is All Yours

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Finally, that sweet, magical little cable box is all yours. And that goes for Netflix, Hulu, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and any other gadget or app that you use to watch your shows. No more huddling over your laptop in your room. If you want to watch The Bachelor/ette, it’s all you. Criminal Minds marathon? Check. A Sex and the City viewing party for one? Nobody’s stoppin’ ya.

3. You Are the Decorator

No more checking to see if it’s OK to put this chair in that corner or hang up your Ronaldo posters in the living room. Nope, this time the space is all yours, no matter what you decide to do with it. Goodbye to the days of having only your bedroom as your canvas. Whether you have a love for color and chaos or you’re a little more conservative in your decor, no one else can weigh in. In the end, you are the only one who has to be comfortable with your home.

4. You Decide Who Comes and Goes

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Introverts rejoice: If you’re the type of person who hates it when your roommate or significant other has guests over on a school night, this one’s for you. When you’re on your own, you call the shots. If you want to have one person over and have a quiet night in with movies and food, that’s what happens. If you feel like throwing a party, you can do that too. If you want your boyfriend or girlfriend to spend the night three nights in a row, that’s your call.

5. Things Are Always Where You Left Them

If you’re a neatnik, this might be the best reason to live solo. Everything will be in the exact spot you left it, right where it belongs. No more arguing about who moved your car keys where. Then again, if something’s missing, you have only yourself to blame. And if you like an organized mess, that’s OK too. No one can ask you to pick up your clothes or wash the dishes — ever.

6. You Can Walk Around Naked

Obviously, you could (and should!) have been doing this if you lived with a significant other. But with all other roommates, walking around in the nude is (probably) a no-no. There’s something about knowing you’re all alone, being able to let loose and be totally free in your home. Not that you’d would want to do it 24/7, but, hey, it’s nice to have the option, right?

7. Eat Whatever You Want, However You Want

If you want to eat cereal out of the box on the couch every night, then that’s what you do. If you want to cook, you get to decide what you’re in the mood for. And if you don’t feel like cooking at all, you don’t have to do that either. Added bonus? If you do cook, all the leftovers are yours too. Living alone may mean you have no one to talk to during meals, but you can always invite someone over (see 4).

8. All the Counter Space

You don’t have to worry about your makeup or hair dryer or brushes cluttering the bathroom. No more worrying about dishes piling up and taking over available counter space in the kitchen either. No one will come home and harp on you to please, for cryin’ out loud, wash your dirty laundry and put it away. How you choose to use the space in your home will affect no one but yourself. So embrace your inner neat freak or your inner slob — whichever one you are.

9. You Can Talk to Yourself — Out Loud

We’re all guilty of occasionally “thinking” out loud. If you live alone, you don’t need to worry about sounding like the oddball roommate. You can say whatever you want, as loud as you want, without someone asking, “What did you just say?” No more explaining that you were just talking to yourself. You can also sing along to your tunes as loud as you want without worrying about how terrible your voice is. After all, if no one can hear you, how can they judge you?

10. You Don’t Have to Answer to Anyone

This one might be the best reason of all: When you live on your own, no one can ask why you’re still in bed at noon or up and awake at 5 a.m. on Sunday morning. You can do what you want, when you want to, without taking someone else's schedule into consideration. You’re the boss of you, which is kind of the best.

What Do YOU Think?

Do you live alone or with a roommate/partner? Do you like living alone or with someone else? Do you agree with these reasons why living alone is great? Any ones we missed? Share your thoughts in the comments below!