Learning to Love Your Own Company

Living alone for the first time can feel overwhelming. The silence feels heavy, the absence of “your people” stings, and it’s easy to feel lost in a new city. But while it may start out lonely, living alone is also one of the most powerful experiences for personal growth in your 20s.

For me, it was in 2023, when I was away from my family as well as friends. I was in a new city, living with strangers, dealing with adulting, having no friends in the office, also- that's the time I learnt the importance of living alone. Yes, it was difficult, rather very difficult, but it helped me a lot in becoming the person I am today.

Here’s why it matters—and what it can teach you. These lessons aren’t just about living alone—they’re about building a stronger relationship with yourself.

1. You Learn to Enjoy Your Own Company

When you live alone, you quickly realize how much of your happiness was tied to others being around. This is when solo dates, café hopping, long walks, or even just cooking for yourself can become surprisingly enjoyable.

Over time, spending time with yourself starts feeling less lonely and more liberating. You no longer depend on constant company for joy—you learn to create it for yourself, and trust me, that's a very liberating feeling.

2. It’s Okay to Seek Emotional Support

One of the biggest lessons living alone teaches is that it’s normal to have emotional needs. Too often, people think needing support means weakness. In reality, reaching out to friends or family when you’re struggling is not only healthy but necessary.

In my own journey of living alone, I often reached out to friends and family. That’s when I realized that’s exactly what they’re there for. Not just for happy times, but to support you when you’re low.

Independence doesn’t mean isolation; it means knowing when to lean on others without guilt.

3. You Discover New Hobbies and Interests

When you live alone, you discover sides of yourself you didn’t know existed. There’s a whole world of experiences waiting—sometimes you just need space to find them.

Loneliness pushed me to try new things. I joined lawn tennis classes (the best hour of my day), explored new cafés, and experimented with hobbies I’d never considered before.

4. You Understand Yourself Better

With no one around to constantly influence your decisions, you begin noticing what truly matters to you—your preferences, triggers, strengths, and emotional patterns.

Living alone gives you clarity about who you are, what you value, and what kind of people you want around you. It brings you closer to yourself, and that itself helps remove a lot of clutter from your life.

5. You Become Stronger and More Confident

Perhaps the most powerful outcome is the quiet confidence it builds. At first, doing everything alone—from fixing a bulb to navigating tough days—feels daunting. But with time, you realize you’re capable of far more than you thought.

Support is always welcome, but not having it stops being an excuse. You start trusting yourself. There is no task you feel that you can't do, and what can be more empowering than that?

Final Thoughts

Living alone doesn’t have to be sad—it can be one of the most empowering phases of life. Yes, it can get hard, and that’s when it’s important to reach out for support. But don’t run from it too quickly.

Because on the other side of the loneliness lies independence, self-awareness, and strength—the kind that shapes you into someone you’ll be proud of.

What have you learnt in your journey of living alone?