He was almost right. My first night alone after my separation didn’t involve lying awake in bed because I didn’t go to bed. Living alone after an extended period of cohabitation is an exciting but scary life adjustment. A man will learn a lot about himself in just a short period of time. For some newly separated or divorced men, the transition will be an easy one; for others, it might take months before a new place actually feels like home. It took me some time to adjust, but I eventually got there. If you’re currently experiencing a similar situation, these tips for living alone after a divorce or separation will make this sudden life change a little less uncomfortable.
Embrace the Silence
Living alone after a divorce will involve long bouts of silence. Even with the TV on or music blasting, the absence of other voices in the house will find a way to drown out the rest of the noise. Embrace the quiet. Research has proven that silence is incredibly vital to the brain and mental health. Just an hour of silence replenishes our cognitive resources, relieves stress, helps us work through internal issues, and might even regenerate brain cells. You shouldn’t be afraid of your suddenly quiet existence. These long lulls between conversations make the time around people, especially your kids, even more enjoyable.
Establish a Routine
Some people hear the word “routine” and automatically shut down. Living life by a schedule sounds like torture to many, but it’s an essential component of living alone. Being on your own again involves freedom, but that freedom often leads to neglecting everything from your house to your responsibilities and even your body. Putting things off until tomorrow means more tasks pile up, and that mountain of projects, errands, and duties won’t just clutter up your new place; they’ll put a strain on your mental health. Sit down and write down all the critical chores you’ll need to complete each week, like food shopping, cleaning up the house, or paying bills, and designate a time and day to do each. A stricter routine leads to more freedom.
Make Your Bed Every Day
In a 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas, Admiral William McRaven spoke to the graduating class about his training as a Navy SEAL. McRaven shared 10 significant things he learned while training to help the graduates move on to the next chapter in their lives. McRaven’s first tip? Make your bed every morning. Making your bed is an essential first step in your new daily routine, and McRaven was correct. Although it may sound ridiculous at first and similar to the advice of an overbearing mother, there’s great value in this painless ritual. It starts the day with an accomplishment. Sometimes that’s all that’s needed to get things moving in a positive direction.
Don’t Plan for Things That Might Happen
A farmhouse table handmade from reclaimed wood was one of my big-ticket purchases before moving into the new place where I would start my life after my divorce. I envisioned the kids and me eating dinner at the table, hosting friends and family for weekend meals, and getting plenty of use out of the $400 room-filler. Fast forward to the present day, and the kids prefer eating meals on the ottoman in front of the TV; I haven’t hosted one dinner party, and the table became a makeshift office. If you’re living alone after a divorce, don’t plan for the things that might happen. You end up spending a substantial amount of time and money on fantasy. Focus first on necessities, like having all the right tools and utensils around the house. Get a read on what living alone is actually like and adjust accordingly.
Learn to Cook
For the first few months, the cabinets and fridge were as empty as my checking account. I was eating out often, getting takeout frequently, invited over for dinner by parents and friends, and I just didn’t have the need or time to stock the fridge and pantry with food. Only on the Fridays before the kids spent the weekend would I food shop and bring rations into the house. After getting sick of every takeout place within five miles, I decided to put my hours of binge-watching cooking shows and food documentaries to good use. I cracked open the cookbooks of my favorite chefs, collected favorite recipes from my mom, and taught myself to be a not-too-awful amateur sous chef.
Say “Yes” to More
I like saying no. Saying no feels really good. Normally, I’m preaching the benefits of a day filled with “no, thank you,” but this only applies to requests for your time and agreeing to do things you don’t really want to do. When it comes to living alone, I’m urging men to say yes to more, but only to events that get a guy out of the house. Meet up more with friends and family, volunteer, get a side job, exercise more, and put yourself in situations that require talking to other people. Say yes to being more social but still say no to doing stuff you hate.
Invite People Because They Won’t Invite Themselves
Some of my closest friends have yet to set foot in my apartment. I asked every one of those friends why and each gave a similar response: “You never asked us to come over.” Don’t live under the assumption people will just drop by or offer to see the new place. You need to explicitly ask people to stop by and check out the new digs. Make your home the default living room for watching wrestling PPVs, monthly poker nights, or meeting up before jaunts with the running club. People won’t want to intrude on your new life unless you ask.
Learn About Yourself Again
Besides cooking, find other acts of self-improvement to fill time. Don’t be afraid to try new hobbies you’ve been putting off because there “wasn’t enough time.” Start with simple and cheap things like reading, drawing, DIY hobbies, or even learning an instrument. Try to stay clear of pursuits that require a lot of money, time, and space. Living alone after a divorce doesn’t have to feel like punishment. It will take time to get accustomed to the added responsibilities, the silence, and the sudden absence of your family. But, just like everything in life, the occasional solitude will get easier over time. Chris Illuminati is the author of five books, including The New Dad Dictionary, hundreds of articles, and far too many Post-it notes about parenting.
