How to Stay Safe Living Alone: 7 Tips to Ensure Single Person Household Safety

Table of contents: 

• Pros and Cons of Living Independently
• 7 Tips for Sole-Person Household Safety
• How AllsWell Alert Can Help

Currently, more than 7.9 million people in the United Kingdom live alone. According to Statista reports, the same can be said for approximately 1.9 million Sweden residents, while these figures go beyond the 18 million mark in Japan. 

Mind-blowing statistics, right?

Wrong! Not if you consider the 36.2 million single households in the United States, as reported by the Census Bureau.

The solo-living wave is global. Delays in partnering are one of the reasons for youths living alone. For the elderly, sole-person households result from the loss of partners and the dissolution of unions. 

Living without companionship can be great as you have time to explore your individualism, among other things. However, others wouldn’t dream of it.

So, as part of the solo living arrangements, what should you expect?

Pros and Cons of Living Independently

Some of the advantages of living alone include:

• Enjoy privacy and alone-time

Life can be chaotic, and sometimes, all you need is peace of mind. However, when you have roommates or family members around, being alone with your thoughts can be challenging.

• Come home to a clean apartment

Living alone means you only clean after yourself—no extra dishes in the sink and no picking after your roommate’s mess. 

• Unlimited freedom

Want to dance the night away at your favorite local joint? Feel like ordering McDonald’s classic chicken sandwich? Be our guest! Living alone means you are only answerable to yourself. You have the freedom to do as you please, without the need to consider other people’s feelings.

• Decorate as you wish

As much as you may bring in your favorite decorative pieces, you may not be able to fully achieve the home design you desire when you are living with other people. So, whether you want to incorporate a layered lighting concept or switch your grey couch for a tufted mustard sofa, the choice is yours.

But what about the drawbacks?

• It’s sometimes lonely

There are stressful days when you just want to come home to someone. Other days, you have great news that you want to share. But, without roommates or family around, you don’t have a person at home that you can share in life’s joys and pains. 

• Need for extra security measures

Living by yourself means implementing extra security measures around your home. To minimize the risks of burglars breaking into your home, you need to always lock your doors and windows, install extra deadbolts, and a home security system. 

Well-being monitoring is also something you need to consider.  

7 Tips for Sole-Person Household Safety

Are you wondering how to be safe living alone? Below are surefire tips to help you stay safe. 

1. Consider installing a home security system

Home intrusions are a menace, and home security systems are a safety net to protect you and seniors living in a single person household. Installing a security camera is one of the vital tips to safeguard your valuables and keep you safe. Smart locks, indoor sirens, and movement detectors are other home security gadgets that are easy to install.

Just make sure that the alarm systems are visible to deter criminals, even when you are away.

2. Befriend your neighbors

The next time you are taking a walk around your neighborhood, say hi to your neighbors. You can also invite them over for a party. 

Since you live alone, you have no one to look after your home in your absence. However, if you are friendly to your neighbors, they will be your extra pair of eyes and ears the next time you are on an out-of-town business trip. They will inform you of any suspicious activity as well as report it to the authorities. 

3. Not everyone needs to know you live alone

We are in a digital era where we want to share our achievements with our 'social media family.' However, don't be too quick to press that 'post' or 'share' button.

If you have just landed a lucrative job, living alone for the first time can be exciting. Don't make it too obvious, though.

Using captions such as #livingalone #sololiving and #instaloneliness on your social media is not a good idea. Also, don't be eager to post the Tiffany T bracelet you just bought or announce that you will be leaving for your long-awaited vacation in a few days. These acts are likely to lure in unscrupulous people, compromising your safety.

Additionally, as a woman living alone, use your initials or just one name on the mailbox. Invite friends over for sleepovers and parties, making it hard for people to guess that you are companionless.

4. Use common wisdom

When living alone, always locking the door, never opening your home to unfamiliar people, and having a few friends over when a handyman is repairing the faulty faucet is common sense.

Also, you should always use the peephole before letting anyone into your home. If your front door doesn't have one, you can schedule installation or ask visitors to identify themselves. Understand that it is okay to deny entry to people you do not trust.

5. Make a habit of checking-in

Since you do not have people around at home, share your whereabouts with the few from your inner circle. Of course, this doesn't mean texting them every time you step out to pick the mail or visit the shopping mall.

However, if you are going out with friends or are traveling, be sure to call or text them on their cell phones, telling them where you will be and what time you should be back.

6. Have emergency contacts on speed dial

No matter how much we foolproof ourselves from dangerous situations, weird things happen. Even with security systems, people with ill intentions might try to force their way into your home. Calling 911 is the best cause of action, and so is contacting your family members and friends who may only be a few minutes away.

As such, having emergency contacts on speed dial is vital. These can be the numbers to your parents, siblings, and close friends. Having a trusted neighbor’s number on your cell phone for quick access also comes in handy.

7. Consider extra precautions

Apps for living alone are heaven-sent. These innovative personal safety tracking applications act as personal bodyguards, calling for help when you are too sick to drive to the hospital and other emergencies.

Also, you can join a defense class in your local area, helping you learn ways to physically protect yourself when in danger. Knowing you have the skills to take on or simply get away from an attacker leaves you feeling safer and in control. Another extra precaution to take might be getting a dog.

How AllsWell Alert Can Help

AllsWell Alert is a reviewed and approved personal safety and emergency alert application specially designed for people from single-person households. The unobtrusive app tracks your activity, notifying your emergency contacts in case of prolonged inactivity. It also has a panic button that you can use when you are in an unsafe situation.

When you are at home or traveling solo, using AllsWell Alert assures your loved ones of your safety. 

What makes it particularly appealing is its ability to send cautions without the need for the distressed person to hit the panic button. In addition, you get to enjoy international coverage, security, privacy protection, and data encryption. Find the list of all features here.

Ensure your safety and that of your loved ones living alone. Download the app today and get a free month!

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