Thriving Solo

  • Maintaining Relationships When You Prefer to Be Alone

    Living solo doesn’t always mean you’re a loner—but it might mean you have a lower social appetite than most.

    You like your space. You like your routines. You find joy in the quiet, and you don’t need—or want—constant social contact. And that’s perfectly valid. But even the most solitude-loving people still need connection. And relationships, even light ones, need care to survive.

    So how do you keep relationships alive when you’re perfectly content spending most of your time alone?

    Understand Your Own Social Rhythm

    Not everyone thrives on the same amount of connection. Some people need regular interaction to feel grounded. Others (maybe you) can go weeks happily flying solo.

    Knowing your own rhythm helps you make intentional decisions. Are you the kind of person who needs one good chat a week? A text thread that’s always going? A monthly dinner?

    When you understand your needs, you can show up better—on your terms.

    Let People Know You Care (Even If You’re Quiet)

    One of the biggest risks of preferring solitude is accidentally making people feel unimportant. You don’t mean to, of course—you just get caught up in your own world. Days pass. Then weeks. Then months. And suddenly that friend you genuinely like thinks you’ve ghosted them.

    You don’t need to apologise for your nature, but a little effort goes a long way. A check-in text. A link to something they’d love. A meme, even.

    Small gestures keep relationships alive without requiring big energy.

    Low-Effort Doesn’t Mean Low-Value

    If the idea of dinner parties, long phone calls, or scheduled events drains you, lean into low-maintenance connection.

    Some ideas:

    • Replying to Social Media posts directly
    • Sending voice notes instead of typing out long messages
    • Playing low-pressure online games together
    • Watching something at the same time and messaging during

    You don’t have to force yourself into high-energy socialising to be a good friend.

    Be Honest About How You Socialise

    Some people thrive on spontaneity. Others need notice. Some like big groups, others prefer one-on-one. Knowing where you land—and sharing that with people—helps everyone.

    It’s okay to say:

    “I really like hanging out, but I’m a bit socially low-energy, so I might need to flake sometimes.”

    Or:

    “I love catching up one-on-one, but I tend to stay quiet in group chats.”

    The more people understand how you work, the easier it is to maintain relationships without pretending to be more extroverted than you are.

    Also, you can invite the person on the other side to check in with you in the same way – maybe they need a bit more than you’re giving, maybe they don’t always want to be the first one to text, the only one to call.

    Every relationship involves some compromise.

    Make Room—Just a Little Bit

    Maintaining relationships when you live alone and love solitude doesn’t mean overhauling your life. It means leaving just a little space for others:

    • A half-hour chat every now and then
    • A shared hobby or game
    • A standing invitation to catch up (even if it rarely happens)

    You don’t have to go all-in. Just leave the door open.

    Final Thoughts: You Can Be a Quiet Person With Strong Connections

    You don’t have to be constantly available to maintain relationships. You don’t have to say yes to every plan, reply instantly, or be anyone’s social anchor.

    You just have to care enough to show up sometimes, in ways that feel true to you.

    And if you do that? You’ll find that even as someone who prefers solitude, your connections can still run deep—and last.

  • Your Life Doesn’t Have to Be Optimised

    If you spend enough time online, you’ll start to feel like you’re doing life wrong.

    You’ll see the people who have colour-coded planners, full-body routines, and morning rituals that begin before the sun comes up. You’ll hear about how every moment should be productive. You’ll be told that if you’re not meditating, cold-plunging, tracking your macros, side-hustling, journaling, and levelling up, you’re falling behind.

    And if you live alone, the pressure doubles. Suddenly all that time and space you have is supposed to be fuel for constant self-improvement. You’ve got the hours, right? So what’s your excuse?

    Here’s mine:

    I don’t want my life to be a project. I want it to be a life.

    My yesterday (at time of writing ) is a great example of this.

    My alarm goes off at the same time, but I don’t rush out of bed (which I try to do on week days). Instead, I relax, lay in bed for a while. I reach for my iPad, read for a bit, chat a bit on a couple of Discord servers. I dozed a little bit.

    I got up, and took a shower, got dressed and went downstairs. I wasn’t feeling overly hungry, and the kitchen needed a bit of a tidy up, so I did that. I bought a big tray (for one person) of discounted steak the day before, so I put on a big slow-cook before I made breakfast.

    Then I sat, with my iPad, reading while I ate my bacon and eggs and drank my coffee. I was in a good part of my current book, so I kept reading for a while longer.

    Phone call from my boss interrupted that (nothing urgent, just a bit of a debrief on some things from the previous day), then I went to my computer. Chatted with a couple of people on Twitch, and did some idle gaming for a while. Nothing too challenging, but entertaining nevertheless.

    After a couple of hours, I noticed some friends playing something else, so I joined in with them. That was another four or five hours.

    I took breaks here and there – more water, something for lunch, stirring the big slow-cook. Another break to finish off, then eat the first meal from that big cook—watching some TV while eating.

    Back to the game (different parts of the same group were playing still) until about 8pm, then a re-watch of another couple of episodes of a favourite show before bed.

    I could have done a lot more. And yeah, there’s a part of my brain that was constantly whispering at me, telling me that I should have been doing more.

    At the same time, I have a week’s worth of lazy dinners in the fridge (I told you it was a big slow-cook), and I’m being more productive today.

    So, was it a loss? A waste of a day?

    Not at all. I feel recharged. I enjoyed myself, I spent quality on-line gaming time with people I genuinely like.

    How could I consider that a waste?

    The Myth of the Optimised Human

    There’s a difference between growth and optimisation. Growth is natural. It ebbs and flows. It’s responsive to what you need, not what the algorithm says you should be doing. Optimisation, on the other hand, is about control. It’s about treating yourself like a system that can always be made more efficient.

    But we’re not systems. We’re people.

    Living well doesn’t always look good on paper. Sometimes it looks like a slow start. Sometimes it looks like reading the same chapter twice because your mind wandered. Sometimes it’s doing “nothing” on a Sunday and not turning it into a productivity hack.

    You Are Not Wasting Time by Living

    There’s nothing wrong with making the most of your time. Structure can be helpful. Discipline has its place. But you are not a robot, and your worth is not measured in output.

    Resting is not a waste. Doing things just because they bring you joy is not a waste. Watching a show, cooking a meal, listening to music, going for a walk with no destination—these are not failures of time management. They’re part of a full life.

    When you live alone, there’s no one around to tell you this. No one to remind you that it’s okay not to be improving every second. So you have to remind yourself.

    The Space to Just Be

    One of the quiet gifts of living solo is that you don’t have to perform for anyone. You can just exist. You can be a little messy, a little aimless, a little human.

    Your home doesn’t have to be Instagram-worthy. Your routines don’t need to be airtight. Your days don’t have to be impressive.

    They just have to be yours.

    There’s so much freedom in letting go of the pressure to optimise. In deciding that you don’t need to be your best self all the time. You just need to be yourself.

    Final Thoughts: Life is Not a Spreadsheet

    Solo living gives you space. But space doesn’t always need to be filled with productivity. It can hold quiet. Stillness. Simplicity.

    So if today didn’t feel like a win, that’s okay. If you didn’t “level up,” that’s okay. If all you did was get through the day and feel mostly okay doing it—that’s a pretty decent day.

    You’re not falling behind. You’re not broken. You’re just a person living a life.

    And that life doesn’t have to be optimised for it to be good.

  • A Sunday night alone.

    There’s a particular stillness to Sunday evenings when you live alone.

    No one asking what’s for dinner. No background noise. Just the quiet hum of your space, maybe some music, maybe a show you’ve watched ten times before playing in the background.

    Sometimes I cook. Sometimes it’s leftovers. Sometimes it’s toast. No rules.

    It’s the calm before the storm that is Monday morning. It’s the wind down of a weekend where I’ve been relaxing, living my best life.

    This weekend, I have written, and that’s my main goal for any day. So, that’s a success. I’ve moved forward in some material ways with my writing coaching business, and that matters to me.

    I’ve also cooked and eaten some good meals, spent time gaming with friends, some of it while streaming. For me, this counts as social time – it’s not face to face, which means it’s not always what I need, but it’s still a good social time.

    I’ve learned not to dread the “Sunday scaries.” For me, Sunday night is reset time. No performance, no planning marathons—just a bit of breathing space to put the weekend down gently.

    Sometimes that looks like tidying up. Other times, it’s doing absolutely nothing useful. Lately, it’s meant writing down one or two small intentions for the week—not goals, just ideas I’d like to carry with me.

    And sometimes, it’s just sitting here with a hot drink and the sense that I’m okay.

    Not extraordinary. Not behind.

    It’s okay. I feel good about myself, my weekend, and that’s a good place to end the week. A good place from which to start the week to come.

  • Being a Good Neighbour (When You Mostly Like to Be Left Alone)

    I live at the back of a courtyard. I have three sets of neighbours – two couples, one older lady who lives alone.

    We mostly ignore each other. Not in a bad way—we just live separate and distinct lives. If we happen to be in the courtyard or the driveway at the same time, we exchange a few friendly words. Other than that, we see each other, and we don’t need to interact.

    And honestly? That suits me fine.

    I don’t want to host street barbecues or get drawn into neighbourly drama. I like my space. I like not feeling obligated to make small talk just because I took the bins out at the same time as someone else. But at the same time, I want to be a good neighbour. I want to be someone who contributes to a sense of ease and quiet goodwill, not tension or suspicion.

    You don’t have to be sociable to be considerate. You don’t have to be friends to be friendly.

    The Quiet Art of Neighbourliness

    For those of us who enjoy solitude, neighbourliness isn’t about being outgoing. It’s about creating an atmosphere of mutual respect. A sense of “we don’t need to be in each other’s pockets, but we’ve got each other’s backs.”

    That can look like:

    • Giving a quick wave when you pass someone in the driveway.
    • Keeping your noise to a minimum (especially at night).
    • Not blocking shared spaces.
    • Offering a hand if you see someone struggling with shopping or furniture.
    • Returning packages that get left at your door by mistake.

    It’s not a social contract. It’s just shared decency.

    Knowing the Vibe

    One of the best things you can do as a neighbour is read the room—or in my case, the property.

    Are your neighbours chatty? Do they keep to themselves? Has anyone ever invited you to something, or is it more of a nod-and-carry-on place?

    You don’t need to match their energy, but it helps to understand it. That way, you’re not accidentally being standoffish, or—on the flip side—too familiar in a place that values boundaries.

    Small Gestures, Big Impact

    You don’t need to do anything grand. Just being the kind of neighbour who doesn’t cause problems is enough. But if you want to go a step further:

    • Shovel a bit of someone else’s driveway if you’re already out there.
    • Water their plants if they’re away (and you’re asked).
    • Let someone know if their car lights are on, or if there’s a parcel sitting exposed in the rain.

    In my case, my nearest neighbour and I will bring each other’s empty rubbish bins in. Whoever happens to go out and clear theirs first, they’ll also grab the other person’s, and drop it where it belongs. No stress, no commitment, just neighbourly good natured behaviour.

    None of these require commitment or ongoing involvement. They just show that you’re paying quiet attention—and that you care, even if you’re not looking to become best friends.

    Final Thoughts: Neighbourly Without Needy

    Living alone doesn’t mean isolating yourself from the world around you. It just means you get to choose how you engage.

    Being a good neighbour doesn’t require extroversion. It requires thoughtfulness, respect, and the willingness to look up from your own life every now and then to make someone else’s a little easier.

    You don’t have to be social to be part of a community. You just have to be kind.

  • When “Me Time” Turns Into “Too Much Time”

    One of the perks of living alone is that you get plenty of me time. You’re in charge of your space, your time, your routines. You don’t have to negotiate plans, share the remote, or justify your schedule to anyone. It’s freedom in its purest form.

    But there’s a shadow side to that freedom—it can be really easy to drift into isolation without even noticing. Especially if you’re naturally introverted, socially anxious, or just plain tired from life.

    So how do you know when your alone time is doing you good—and when it’s quietly wearing you down?

    Solitude vs. Avoidance

    True solitude is a choice. It’s when you want to be alone, and your time with yourself feels intentional. You read, go for walks, work on projects, rest, cook, clean, stare out the window—whatever. You feel like your life is yours.

    Avoidance, on the other hand, is when you don’t want to be alone, but you’re not doing anything about it. Maybe it’s fear of awkward social moments, the discomfort of meeting new people, or just the inertia that builds after spending too many weekends solo.

    It’s the difference between opting out and shutting down.

    Sometimes, avoidance looks a lot like solitude—until it doesn’t. Until you realise you’ve gone a week without a real conversation. Until even texting a friend feels like too much effort. Until you start wondering if this is just what your life is now.

    I’m fortunate to have family in town – when they reach out with an invitation, my personal rule is that I won’t say ‘no thanks’ unless I’m already booked somewhere else… somewhere that isn’t at home.

    I made this rule for myself because I could feel the self-inflicted isolation happening.

    At the same time, I don’t always have to wait for an invitation. A simple “Hey, you guys up for a visitor this afternoon?” or random drop-by when I’m out for a ride are both on the cards. Just don’t depend on people always being available when you reach out.

    The Gradual Slide

    Living alone doesn’t usually shift from “healthy solitude” to “full isolation” overnight. It’s subtle, insidious.

    It starts with declining a few invitations because you’re tired. Then not making any new plans because it’s cold or you’re busy. Then realising it’s been a month and the only people who’ve said your name out loud are baristas.

    There’s no big turning point. Just a slow slide into numbing routines and low-level loneliness that’s easy to ignore—until you can’t.

    Signs You Might Be Leaning Too Far In

    • You start turning down invitations reflexively—even the ones you might enjoy.
    • You find yourself restless or down but can’t quite name why.
    • The idea of seeing people feels exhausting, but being alone isn’t making you feel better either.
    • You’ve convinced yourself you don’t need anyone, but a part of you wonders if that’s really true.

    None of these signs mean something is wrong with you. They’re just cues—invitations to check in with yourself.

    Rebuilding Connection, Gently

    If you realise your me time has tipped into too much time, you don’t need a dramatic intervention. You don’t need to “get out more” or go full extrovert.

    Start small. Send a message to someone you like but haven’t seen in a while. Make a plan you can cancel without guilt. Go sit in a cafe with a book—just being around people counts.

    Maybe just go and walk somewhere with lots of people around. A popular weekend or evening destination, a shopping centre.

    Final Thoughts: It’s a Balance

    Alone time is essential, but it’s not infinite fuel. Even the most independent people need connection. And it’s not weakness to admit that. It’s just being human.

    When you live alone, you have to be your own emotional barometer. You’re the one checking in, adjusting course, noticing when the silence is restorative—and when it’s starting to echo.

    Me time is beautiful. Just don’t let it become a burden.

  • This guy is a dude!

    This quote hits home in the most grounded, quietly powerful way:

    “Once you know how to take care of yourself, company becomes an option and not a necessity.”

    There’s a huge difference between being alone because you have no choice—and being alone because you’ve learned how to enjoy your own company. Keanu nails that distinction here.

    Taking yourself out to eat. Buying things for yourself. Spending time alone, not because you’re avoiding others, but because you actually enjoy it. That’s a kind of emotional self-sufficiency a lot of people don’t talk about.

    Living solo doesn’t mean you’re lonely. It means you’re responsible for your own happiness—and when you start treating your own company as something worthwhile, the world gets a lot lighter.

    It doesn’t mean you never want connection. But it means that connection becomes something you choose, not something you chase.

    There’s power in that.

  • The Art of the Solo Weekend

    For many people, weekends are synonymous with social events, family obligations, or date nights. But when you live alone, your weekends are entirely your own—free from external expectations or demands. This can be both liberating and overwhelming. Without structure, weekends can slip away in a blur of scrolling, binge-watching, and wondering where the time went.

    But solo weekends can be more than just empty time to fill. They’re a chance to recharge, be productive, and fully enjoy your own company. Here’s how to make your solo weekends more fulfilling, intentional, and enjoyable.

    Balance Rest and Productivity

    One of the biggest challenges of solo weekends is finding the right balance between rest and action. Too much rest, and you may feel sluggish and disconnected by Sunday evening. Too much productivity, and you may not feel like you had any weekend at all.

    How to Find the Right Mix:

    • Start with a Check-In: Before the weekend begins, ask yourself—What do I need most right now? More rest? More creativity? More movement?
    • Try a 50/50 Approach: Plan for half your weekend to be restful and half to be active or productive.
    • Set a Simple Focus for Each Day: One day could be for recharging, the other for getting things done.

    Example: My Saturdays normally start with a bit of a cleaning binge. By the end of the week, there’s nearly always something that I didn’t get around to doing through the week, and I know I’ll feel better if it’s not staring me in the face all weekend. So, I do that first.

    I try to spend the rest of the morning being a bit more creative – working on my writing, or maybe some blogging work. No rush, no pressure, just moving things forward.

    Afternoons, I’m open to what’s going on. Maybe I’ll spend time with family, maybe I’ll get on the motorbike and find some curves on the open roads. Maybe I’ll find some friends online, and we’ll go blow up some aliens or kill some zombies together.

    Sundays, I’m more about relaxation.I might put a big cook on in the slow cooker, then spend my time in a book, or a series of movies. Maybe I’ll game some more, maybe I won’t.

    Create a Weekend Ritual

    When you live alone, weekends can blur together with weekdays unless you create rituals that make them feel distinct.

    Ideas for Weekend Rituals:

    • Start with something small. A special breakfast, a morning walk, or an unplugged coffee break can signal that the weekend has begun. For me, this is bacon and eggs, and breakfast at my dining table.
    • A Saturday or Sunday tradition. Whether it’s movie night, an at-home spa session, or a long reading session, having a tradition makes weekends feel meaningful.
    • A dedicated reset time. Use an hour on Sunday to prep for the week ahead—clean your space, plan meals, or set intentions.

    Example: Make Sunday mornings your slow breakfast and journaling time, setting a relaxed tone before the new week begins.

    Explore a Theme for the Weekend

    Choosing a theme or focus for your solo weekend helps prevent it from feeling aimless. Your theme can be about rest, creativity, learning, or adventure.

    Weekend Theme Ideas:

    • The Rest Weekend: Pajamas, books, naps, long baths, no pressure to do anything productive.
    • The Creative Weekend: Writing, painting, photography, or working on a passion project.
    • The Learning Weekend: Watching documentaries, taking an online course, or diving into a new skill.
    • The Mini Adventure Weekend: Exploring a new café, taking a long drive, or visiting a museum alone.

    Example: Set a “Creative Weekend” and spend time on art, writing, or music. No pressure—just exploration.

    Plan One Outing—Even If It’s Just for You

    Solo weekends don’t mean you have to stay inside. Getting out of the house boosts mood and prevents isolation.

    In general terms, I don’t crave company. But sometimes, I do like being out and around other people.

    Easy Solo Outings:

    • Visit a bookstore, museum, or coffee shop.
    • Go for a long walk in a different part of town.
    • Try a solo restaurant experience—sit at the bar, bring a book.
    • Take a day trip somewhere new.

    Example: Pick one small outing, like grabbing coffee at a new spot or taking a scenic walk.

    Make Solo Weekends Feel Special

    When you live alone, it’s easy to treat weekends like just another day. Making small tweaks to elevate your weekend can make a big difference.

    Ways to Make Your Weekend Feel Different:

    • Change up your space. Light candles, play music, rearrange your space slightly.
    • Upgrade your meals. Cook something special or try a new recipe.
    • Dress for the occasion. Even if you’re staying in, wearing something cozy or stylish can change your mood.

    Example: Have a “fancy dinner for one”—cook something special, set the table, and make it feel like an event.

    I do this once in a while – for a meal that I’ve spent a bit more time or money on. I’ll clean any detritus off my dining table (it does seem to attract it through the week), cook a good steak and matching sides, open a bottle of wine. I’ll put some good music on and just plain enjoy the meal.

    Final Thoughts: Enjoying Your Own Company

    Solo weekends aren’t about “filling time”—they’re an opportunity to design your own ideal rhythm. Whether you want to relax, explore, create, or get things done, making small adjustments can turn solo weekends into something you look forward to, rather than just get through.

    If you’re not sure where to start, pick one idea from this list and try it next weekend. Over time, you’ll discover what makes solo weekends feel rewarding for you.

  • Don’t You Get Lonely?

    It’s the question everyone asks when they find out you live alone. The assumption is always the same—if you’re on your own, you must be lonely.

    And sometimes, yeah. I am.

    But here’s the thing: loneliness isn’t always a problem to be solved. It’s a feeling, like any other. And like any other feeling, it doesn’t last forever.

    For me, loneliness is often a sign that I’m bored, or somehow dissatisfied with what I’m spending my time on. That I should get off my behind and go DO something. Sometimes that might be with other people, but more often than not, I’ll find something better to do by myself.

    We have this idea that being alone should be an unbroken stretch of contentment, productivity, and peace. That if you’re doing it “right,” you never feel lonely at all. But loneliness isn’t a sign that you’ve failed at living alone—it’s just part of the human experience.

    It’s a contrast. And this contrast makes my social time feel more meaningful.

    Loneliness Comes and Goes

    Living alone doesn’t mean you’re lonely all the time. Most of the time, it’s great. You get to do what you want, when you want, without answering to anyone. You can go entire days without making small talk. You control your space, your schedule, your whole life.

    But every once in a while, loneliness shows up—maybe on a quiet Sunday when there’s nothing planned, or after a long day when there’s no one to share it with. It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your life. It just means you’re human.

    Some people fear loneliness so much that they try to fill every silence with noise, every empty space with people, every free moment with distraction. But being alone isn’t something that needs to be “fixed.” It’s something to live through, sit with, and accept.

    You Don’t Have to Fear the Quiet

    One of the biggest gifts of living alone is learning to be comfortable in your own company. Not every moment needs to be filled, and not every feeling needs to be changed. Sometimes, loneliness is just the background hum of a quiet evening, and that’s okay.

    When you stop treating loneliness as a problem, it loses its impact.  You start to recognise it for what it is—a passing moment, not a permanent state.

    I’m a words guy—words are how I shape my own world in so many ways. So, rather than “I’m lonely”, I reframe it to “I’m feeling lonely right now”. It’s not a huge shift in terms of language, but in terms of the weight of the feeling? For me, that shift is massive.

    It takes it from “I am…” to “I am experiencing…”. Something that I am is a HUGE thing. Something that I’m experiencing is transitory.

    There’s power in being able to sit with your own thoughts. In not needing to reach for your favourite distraction (phone) the second after silence creeps in.

    Loneliness is an experience, and you become more whole by allowing yourself to dwell in that experience when it occurs.

    Loneliness Is Part of the Deal—And That’s Not a Bad Thing

    No matter how full your life is, everyone feels lonely sometimes. Even people in relationships. Even people with big families and busy social lives.

    The difference is, when you live alone, you don’t get to ignore it. You don’t get to just make it go away by pulling other people into your life.

    And maybe that’s a good thing. Because when you face loneliness instead of running from it, you get stronger. You stop fearing time by yourself. You learn to be content with your own thoughts. You realise that being alone and being lonely aren’t the same thing.

    So yeah, sometimes I get lonely. But I wouldn’t trade the life I have—the space, the freedom, the self-sufficiency—for the illusion that being around people all the time would magically make that feeling disappear.

    Because it wouldn’t. And because I’ve learned something important:

    Loneliness isn’t the opposite of happiness. It’s just part of life.

  • The Takeout Trap

    …How to enjoy your treat nights without guilt or breaking the budget.

    Ordering takeout isn’t bad, but it’s easy to fall into a habit where it becomes your default. If you love takeout but don’t want to drain your wallet, try these strategies:

    How to Keep Takeout in Check:

    Set a “Takeout Budget” Per pay period: Decide in advance how often you’ll order in—it helps control impulse cravings. Personally, I get paid weekly, and I have a limit of one per week. Do I ever go over that limit? Yup! No guilt, no shame. It’s a guideline, that’s all.

    Opt for Multi-Meal Orders: If you order takeout, go for meals that provide leftovers so you get more than one meal out of it.

    Maybe order the bigger portion, the larger pizza. That’s tomorrow night’s dinner (or maybe lunch) sorted as well!

    DIY Your Favourite Takeout Dishes: Keep simple ingredients on hand for homemade versions of your favourites (stir-fry, ramen, tacos).

    My personal guideline is that if I can make it well (and reasonably quickly) at home, I won’t order it in.

    I can cook a damned fine steak, an awesome burger, and decent pasta. If I order in, it’s more likely to Asian or Turkish food, or occasionally a really good pizza – all things that are harder for me to make at home.

    Pro Tip: Find a go-to, super-easy meal that you can make in 10 minutes so you don’t default to takeout when you’re too tired to cook. If you make it something you can cook from frozen, then there’s no planning needed ahead of time.

    How to Eat Well Without Overspending

    Eating well on a solo budget doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. With a few smart habits, you can enjoy great meals without breaking the bank. You can buy some things in bulk, and it takes very little time to break them up and repackage them before they go into the freezer.

    Some things don’t keep well, so you might struggle to use it all before they become inedible, so plan to use them all! It’s an extravagance, but you, my friend, are worth it.

    Simple Meal Ideas That Work for One Person

    When you’re short on time or energy, having a few go-to meal ideas makes all the difference.

    5-Minute Salad Bowl: Pre-washed greens + protein (canned tuna, tofu, or grilled chicken) + nuts/seeds + dressing.

    Egg-Based Dishes: Scrambled eggs, omelets, or shakshuka are fast, protein-packed, and versatile. As a bonus (as long as you can go without toast for your eggs), they’re protein-high and carb-low.

    One-Pot Pasta: Cook pasta, toss in veggies & protein, add sauce. Minimal cleanup!

    Taco Night: Keep tortillas on hand and use whatever protein & toppings you have.

    Rice Bowls: Cook extra rice and top with different proteins and sauces throughout the week.

    Air Fryer Favorites: Make crispy chicken tenders, roasted vegetables, or cheese crisps for a quick and easy meal.

    Pro Tip: Keep 5-10 go-to, no-brainer meals on rotation for stress-free cooking.

    Personally, my local supermarket does reasonably priced chicken skewers, and I buy them in bulk when they’re on special. They have a few flavour variations (satay and honey-soy are my two go-to options), and they cook, from frozen, in about 15 minutes in the air fryer. While they’re cooking, I’ll throw together something green (most often that’s a bunch of lettuce and some mayo), and spend the rest of the time doing a quick clean of whatever could do with a little cleaning attention. Then, when the air fryer beeps at me, it’s time to eat!

    I have found that I don’t have a huge need for variety, and I’m quite OK with cooking a four person meal and eating it for four out of the next five dinners. Maybe that’s you too, and if the worst that happens is that you’re a little bored with your meals for a week? So what?

    Final Thoughts

    Living alone doesn’t mean settling for boring meals, wasted groceries, or endless takeout. With a little planning and a few simple habits, you can enjoy delicious, affordable, and easy meals every day.

    Challenge: Pick one of these strategies and try it this week. Maybe it’s meal planning, cooking a double portion to freeze, or just adding one new go-to meal to your rotation.

  • How to Stop Wasting Time When You Live Alone

    …without Feeling Like a Productivity Robot

    Living alone means total freedom over your time—which is both a blessing and a curse. There’s no one to nag you about unfinished tasks, no shared schedules dictating when things get done, and no external structure keeping you on track.

    And that’s great… until you realise that you just spent three hours scrolling through Reddit, your sink is full of dishes, and somehow, you have nothing to show for an entire weekend.

    Time can disappear when there’s no one else around to anchor it, and when you live solo, it’s easy to drift between unstructured hours and low-energy habits without even noticing.

    So how do you stop wasting time without turning your life into an exhausting productivity checklist? The key is balance—finding a rhythm that lets you feel satisfied with your days without falling into the trap of over-optimisation.

    Recognise the Difference Between “Rest” and “Drift”

    Not every slow moment is wasted time. Resting is necessary: it helps you recharge, process thoughts, and reset for the next thing. Drifting, on the other hand, is when you’re not really resting or being productive. Instead, you’re just passing time in a way that doesn’t feel meaningful.

    The key is awareness. If you feel better after an activity (watching a show you love, taking a walk, reading, or gaming), it was rest. If you feel sluggish, guilty, or like the time evaporated with nothing to show for it, you were drifting.

    Quick Fix: Before starting any activity, ask yourself: Will this make me feel better or worse afterward? If it’s true rest, keep going. If it’s mindless drifting, shift gears.

    Afterwards, evaluate the truth of what you thought before you started, and learn something from that lesson.

    The “Accidental Time Sink” Problem

    Living alone means no built-in interruptions to break up your time. There’s no roommate coming home to snap you out of a social media spiral. No one asking, “What have you been up to?” to make you reflect on your day.

    That’s how an hour of “I’ll just check my phone” turns into an entire evening lost.

    Quick Fix: Use a Pattern Interrupt—when you catch yourself mindlessly scrolling or zoning out, do something physical for 30 seconds (stand up, stretch, get a drink). That tiny action resets your focus and helps you make a conscious decision about what to do next.

    Make “Soft Structure” Work for You

    Rigid schedules don’t work for everyone, and living alone means you don’t have to follow anyone else’s routines. But that doesn’t mean your days should be entirely unstructured.

    Soft structure means creating a flow to your day without forcing a rigid schedule.

    Instead of saying, “I will start work at exactly 9:00 AM,” try “I will start my first task after I make coffee and open my laptop.”

    Instead of “I will read for 30 minutes every night,” go with “I will read a few pages before bed, even if it’s just two.”

    Quick Fix: Identify one or two anchor points in your day—things that naturally happen (waking up, meals, getting home from work). Use those as triggers for small actions that help you stay on track.

    Stop Making Every Task a “Big Thing”

    When you live alone, tasks expand to fill the time you give them.

    Laundry doesn’t take three hours. It takes ten minutes to start a load, two minutes to switch it, and five minutes to put it away.

    Dishes don’t take “forever.” It’s a five-minute job unless you let them pile up. If you do let them pile up, it’s still only half an hour.

    When no one else is around to hold you accountable, small tasks can feel bigger than they are.

    Quick Fix: Use the 10-Minute Rule—set a timer for 10 minutes and start any task. If you want to stop when the timer goes off, you can. Most of the time, you’ll just finish the thing.

    I use my Air Fryer for a lot of my evening meals, and my personal rule is that I won’t sit down while it’s running – I’ll do something. That 10-15 minutes (depending on what I’m cooking) is when I take care of a lot of my simple household maintenance tasks.

    Use “Intentional Time-Wasting” to Your Advantage

    Sometimes, wasting time is exactly what you need—but it’s better when it’s on purpose instead of by accident.

    Binge-watching a show guilt-free is fun. Binge-watching out of procrastination and regret is miserable.

    The difference? Deciding in advance.

    Quick Fix: Set a “permission window” for things that might otherwise feel unproductive. “I’m going to spend an hour gaming, and then I’ll get up and do something else.” That way, it’s an active choice, not a passive drift.

    Final Thoughts: Living Alone Means You Set the Pace

    The best part of solo living is that you get to decide how you spend your time. No one else shapes your schedule, routines, or priorities—you have total control.

    That freedom is powerful, but it also means you have to be your own guide. The trick isn’t to cram your time with constant productivity, but to be intentional about where your hours go.

    You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to notice when time is slipping away and decide if that’s what you really want.

    So go ahead—watch that show, scroll that feed, take that nap. Just make sure that when you do, it’s because you chose it, not because the time just disappeared.

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