Last updated on November 13th, 2020 at 02:58 am

Living alone is liberating, a privilege, and can be a safe space within itself. I REALLLLLLLY enjoy it but I’ve also had to live with other people—like in college and now that we’re in the middle of a pandemic.

I’ll never take living alone for granted again.

Things change and sometimes living with others is a must. Which can cause a shift in your mental health if you have to deal with other people’s energy, how they live, and want things done. That can also strain any relationship and decline your emotional wellbeing.

For me, having to move back home after living on my own was humbling. I couldn’t live how I used to, and it was an adjustment mentally. So if you’re in the same boat I FEEL YOU!

Even if you have your own room and bathroom, you’ll still share common spaces, and through that, difficulties can arise.

I’ve had to learn how to create a safe space for myself while in this temporary—because nothing last forever—situation. And you can do the same by being intentional about your mental health. You got to fight to have peace. Once you do that—no one or nothing can take that from you.

So, these are some spaces where you can have solitude and alone time for your wellbeing.

The Bathroom

You can go in there—look in the mirror, play some music, put the lid down on the toilet seat and sit, draw a bath and light some candles. If you ever need the space to decompress and you can’t leave the house, the bathroom is a safe haven. Lock the door, put on your headphones, feel what you need to. It’s also a place to drown out noise when you put the fan on.

The Park

Find your nearest park and go for a walk, or even a run. Let everything out and allow yourself to be free. This is an optimal time to connect with nature and be still. Home isn’t just a place you lay your head at night, but also a feeling of solace. Grounding yourself in nature is a way for you to come home to yourself.

I recommend earthing—a practice of walking barefoot on the grass. If you’re not comfortable, you can touch the trees and leaves—taking in the very thing that gives us oxygen.

Your Car

If you have a car, sometimes sitting in it outside gives you the break you need—to relax, decompress, and absolve stress. I remember when I would come back from work, I’d sit in the car for dang near an hour unwinding.

I can’t explain the healing properties of sitting in your car, but just know they’re there. You can play some music to relax or just stare into space—whatever floats your boat. Might as well recline your chair too.

*An alternative is riding your bike around*

Your Room

Sometimes the best thing to do is stay in your room and come out when you need to eat, or plan to go outside. I know, I know—this sounds kinda depressing, but there are things you can do to make it work.

You can use this space to practice self-care and maybe that looks like taking a nap, or doing a guided meditation. Living with other people can magnify your exhaustion—I mean, you have other people’s energies circulating around you. Listen to what your body needs and maybe that’s rest. Maybe it’s you needing to create space for yourself. Show up for yourself.

These spaces might not seem like much, but your mind and heart will thank you. It gives you the chance to feel what you need, but also thoroughly process it. And if you’re like me, it’s more difficult for you to show up for yourself in these spaces.

But you still have to do the work, you still have to take care of yourself. You still have to breathe through the hard times, so you can get to the other side.

Remember—living with other people may be difficult but it’s also not permanent. So in the meantime, do what you have to for yourself to survive + thrive.