Living alone does have benefits, such as increased privacy and freedom, but there is also the darker side of living alone, which impacts your physical and mental health.
One of the most significant issues associated with living alone is that you can become lonely, affecting your physical and psychological health.
Table of Contents
Benefits Of Living Alone
When living alone, you have the opportunity to create your schedule and routines without having to coordinate with others.
Instead, you control your living environment and customize it to suit your needs and preferences.
When you are not distracted by the needs of others, you can focus on your own goals and pursuits.
Additionally, living alone allows you to practice self-reliance and develop skills like budgeting and cooking.
You also have more flexibility in choosing how you want to decorate or furnish your home, which can help you feel more comfortable, safe, and at ease in your space.
As a result, you have increased personal time, decreased stress levels, and increased time and space to pursue hobbies or exercise.
The Negative Health Implications of Living Alone on Your Body
We are all social beings that require connection, so if you live alone, it is important to take steps to ensure that you are getting enough human contact.
A lack of human communication negatively impacts your health.
Living alone can lead to increased stress due to the availability of support and social connections.
There may be additional financial constraints due to the costs associated with living on your own, creating barriers to your social interactions and negatively impacting your physical health due to decreased activity or poor diet choices.
What is Loneliness, and Why Does it Happen?
Loneliness is the feeling of isolation or disconnection from others, and it can be a pervasive experience for people living alone.
The isolation may happen for various reasons, including differences in lifestyle or interests, changes in living situation, lack of meaningful relationships, poor mental health, depression, limited opportunities for interaction or activities, anxiety, negative moods like anger and sadness, or simply a desire to spend more time alone.
Spending time alone is a healthy thing.
However, when the time we spend alone is due to social isolation, lack of meaningful relationships, poor mental health, depression, anxiety, and negative moods like anger and sadness, the healthiness of spending time alone has morphed into loneliness.
Effects of Loneliness on the Brain
While living alone can be beneficial in some ways, it also negatively impacts your psychological health.
Research from Duke University has shown that living alone can decrease brain activity related to social connection and bonding with others, which increases the brain’s response in areas associated with fear, anxiety, and avoidance.
Can you see the circle of reinforcement that grows–the more fear, anxiety, and avoidance one has, the less likely you are to be social.
The less likely you are social, the more loneliness arises, and the cycle goes round and round until your physical health is affected or a break in the circle occurs.
The Effects of Loneliness on Physical Health
Loneliness can also have negative impacts on physical health. Studies from the National Institue On Aging, have shown that loneliness is associated with physical health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, weakened immune system, and increased mortality risk.
One of the mechanisms by which loneliness affects physical health is its impact on stress levels.
When we feel lonely, our bodies release stress hormones like cortisol, leading to health problems over time.
Additionally, loneliness may contribute to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, poor sleep quality, and increased alcohol use.
How Living Alone Affects You As You Age
As people age, they often face the challenge of living alone due to the death of a spouse, retirement, or geographical distance from family and friends.
However, living alone can significantly all people and impact their health and well-being.
Those who live alone are at an increased risk for loneliness and isolation as they tend to have fewer social interactions and opportunities for meaningful connections.
In addition, living alone can make it difficult to stay physically active and engaged in hobbies and activities that you once did, and as a result, you may experience negative impacts on your physical and mental health and overall quality of life.
9 Strategies To Manage The Effects Of Living Alone On Your Body
Whether you live alone by choice or due to unexpected circumstances, these tips will help you daily.
1. Stay Social
When living alone, be mindful of the potential dangers of social isolation.
Keeping up with regular social interactions is key to managing the stress of living alone.
For example, join a local club or group, volunteer, start an online group with people who share your interests, or regularly reach out to friends and family members.
Of course, in-person connections are more important than those made through social media. However, both serve a purpose so mix it up.
2. Create a comfortable living space
Ensure that your living space is a welcoming and comfortable place by creating a well-organized and neat space, setting aside time to cook and clean, or investing in living essentials like furniture, appliances, and home décor.
3. Develop a routine
Having a daily routine can help you feel more in control when living alone.
Routines are often seen as restrictive when they are the opposite.
A routine gives you the freedom to be present in the moment when doing the things you enjoy and being with the people you care about.
Spontaneity also has a place and is exciting on occasion as well.
4. Sleep
Your body needs to regenerate, so wake up and go to bed at the same time each day.
Aim for around 7- 8 hours of sleep each night.
5. Healthy Eating
Eat regular meals that you prepare for yourself rather than eating fast food or packaged food.
If you don’t cook or don’t have someone to help you cook when not feeling well, you may be more likely to rely on fast food or convenience meals high in calories and sugar.
If you don’t know how to cook, a great way to meet your socialization needs while taking care of yourself would be to sign up for a cooking class to learn how to cook.
6. Exercise
In your daily routine, remember to schedule time for exercise.
Living alone can make it more challenging to get enough exercise, which is essential for our overall health.
7. Leisure Pursuits
Engage in self-directed leisure pursuits you enjoy, such as reading, painting, woodworking, meditation, and yoga, as they are great ways to deal with loneliness between your social outings and gatherings.
Take the time to explore many different types of leisure pursuits and hobbies.
Then, determine which ones bring you satisfaction, joy, peace, and contentment.
To see where you are at with your leisure try out the Am I Satisfied With My Leisure Quiz
8. Be prepared for emergencies
Be prepared for any potential emergencies when living alone.
Make sure you have an emergency plan in place and know how to reach out for help if needed.
Additionally, it is good to keep a first-aid kit on hand and familiarize yourself with local resources, such as medical facilities.
9. Emotions
How you manage your feelings of loneliness will help you immensely, so learn techniques and have tools ready to help you manage your feelings of loneliness.
Practice mindfulness or other forms of stress management or utilize other methods such as meditation or exercise to boost your mood and manage negative emotions.
With these strategies in place, you can better cope with the stresses of living alone and maintain your health and well-being over time.
Final Thoughts
Whether living alone has positive or negative effects on your body, mind, and spirit largely depends on your circumstances and choices.
If living alone is right for you, take steps to support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Stay mindful of the benefits and challenges of living alone, and you can ensure that this lifestyle choice works for you and allows you to flourish and enjoy a high quality of life.
With some planning and effort, living alone does not need to be detrimental to your health.
On the contrary, living alone can benefit your body and mind through planning and self-care.
