Living Alone Is Less Daunting Today Because There Is Strength In Numbers

Modern life and modern living today means more people are living alone than ever before. By the end of 2020, one-third of all households in the UK will comprise of solo households – that is, people living alone. While the largest group is pensioners, we are witnessing more people in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s living alone – a growing trend in cities and across the western world.

In the UK, it is thought this pattern is more likely to occur in urban areas like London and Glasgow, a pattern followed in other major European and US cities. European cities are leading the way where 47% of households in Sweden, Copenhagen and 41% in Germany are solo households.

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We have talked before about what solo living potentially means for society. The academic expert in his field, Eric Klinenberg talks about the profound changes the increasing number of people living alone will have in all areas of life. Not just emotionally and with relationships but with how services like housing, transport and healthcare are likely to be provided and delivered.

Why is solo living on the increase?

We think the reasons behind why so many people are living alone are not often talked about or discussed. Perhaps because those reasons vary dramatically across the community. While we are united by the common factor we share of living alone, the reasons why we are living alone makes our community diverse.

WHO IS LIVING ALONE THESE DAYS?

Solo living is increasingly a choice

Increasingly, for some 20/30 somethings and middle-agers solo living is becoming a positive lifestyle choice. Whereas for many others, living solo is a result of circumstance not driven by choice at all. Our diverse community is bound together by a trait we all share – we are living solo, and on the whole, responsible for every decision we make in all areas of our life.

Younger people are taking longer to settle down

Younger people choosing to live alone may have a preference for the freedom and flexibility solo living brings at a time when fluctuating finances and the desire to focus on a career means settling down is likely to happen later in their 30’s. Even if one intends to commit to a significant other at some point in the future chances are, there will a growing number of late 20 and early 30 somethings who want to enjoy a period of living alone without the pressures of a relationship commitment.

Choosing solitude

Equally, we should not ignore those who prefer a more solitary life. A solitary life does not necessarily mean one that is less sociable – people living alone are thought to be more sociable and better connected than people in relationships; but there are those within the solo living community who recognise a wish for and have come to enjoy, more solo time and space – away from work, family and social connections and who may also have made a positive choice to not marry or have children.

Not everyone chooses to live alone

For many people though, living alone isn’t necessarily something they have chosen and therefore, find themselves in the unfamiliar territory of living alone through circumstance. There are several reasons why some people living alone did not choose a solo lifestyle. Separation and divorce, children growing up and leaving home or the death of a spouse or partner.

Rise in solo parents

As a consequence, there has been a rise in the number of single parent families. In the UK alone, there are two million single parents making up a quarter of all families with dependent children. The degree to which solo parenting is a choice and the level of shared parental responsibility varies remarkably from one family to the next.

Nick Wilkes

More middle-agers are living alone

There has been an increase in the number of middle-aged people living alone in the UK. While this is thought to be due to divorce rates, it is also attributed to the significant rise in single people who have never married. For some within the group, living solo was never imagined or planned at all,  not thinking living solo would be the way life plays out for them.

Living solo has latterly become a choice

For people like Sarah Beninsaca, living solo did become a choice at the age of 35 and after 20 years of experiencing a potent mix of wonderful as well as unhealthy relationships. On a path like many others, she pursued a life where being alone at the time was perceived as not being good enough. Sarah represents the growing number of middle-aged women who are now choosing and who seemingly find it easier to live alone, compared to their male counterparts.

A solo lifestyle has positively stuck

It may not have been the first choice but at a time when being surrounded by a culture where single life and living solo was celebrated and not abhorred, the solo lifestyle has just stuck for many. Female lead roles such as Bridget Jones and Carrie Bradshaw further garnered approval for the solo life when this generation was in their 20s and 30s.

Living together apart

It does not end there! Within this group of middle-agers, there is further complexity – it includes the group of couples who find themselves ‘living together apart’. Living together apart? Couples who are in a long term and committed relationship but who choose not to live together – another interesting trend and lifestyle choice.

Our approach to solo living is changing

As the solo population has been increasing there has been a natural shift in the way people approach solo life. While living alone was previously (and perhaps still is, by some) considered to be a negative way of life with many people not having planned for a solo life, when you consider solo travel and dining are on the rise, solo living, nowadays, is becoming a positively accepted norm.

Yet striving to live successful, happy and fulfilled lives without a significant other or, with a partner and without living with them, are undoubtedly similar to the goals we share with our co-habiting and married counterparts. The difference being for solos, the responsibility to make it happen lies firmly in our hands alone. With more people living alone today, there is good reason to feel less daunted by living life solo.

If you have doubts about living alone, here are some positive findings around solo life

Society is changing

Rather than the rise in singledom and solo living having a negative effect on society, it is, in fact, showing to be the opposite. Being solo usually means being more sociable and making a deliberate effort to escape the confines of home in order to meet new people, visit family or catch up with friends. This, in turn, means cities, places of interest and services like restaurants, hotels etc., all benefit as the solo community travels and moves around. 

Solos are more sociable

Those who live alone typically get out more – not necessarily to meet someone to share their lives with; but in order to socialise, take up a new hobby or just to attend events, concerts, theatre and the like. The solo community is thriving, so to speak, and not all in the name of dating – but simply to live, enjoy and make the most out of life with other like-minded individuals, spending time with friends or visiting family. 

Solos have closer ties to family and friends

Solos have closer ties to family and friends. Research shows solos keep in touch with family more, generating closer ties between relatives. It is shown married couples or those living together are much more inward-looking and very often do not eat out, go to events or sign up to art classes or other interest groups as readily or as frequently as solos.

Solo life brings more opportunity

Solo life is also said to bring about more opportunity despite the now outdated stereotype of a lonely and dismal life. The social network of singles extends far beyond traditional family roles and it is also reported solos are much more likely to have greater personal achievements.

Solo Living brings health benefits

Recent research suggests solo living is actually much more positive than previously thought – putting to bed outlandish assumptions that single people die earlier. Solos socialise more, have more downtime, get more sleep and tend to be slimmer. All of these factors can contribute to a longer life.

The future holds greater freedom

Arguably, the future holds greater freedom for people to choose if and when to marry or to remain solo without criticism, restriction or judgement. Living a solo life is simply becoming a preference for an increasing amount of people and this should be celebrated rather than frowned upon as it really could give people more options in the kind of life they want to lead. In a future where neither being married or single is not regarded as negative, people can truly be free and solos can carve a life around the person they want to be and the life they want to live.

What’s left to say is, living solo is a long term reality for many of us and given the numerous reasons why people find themselves living alone, we should be making the most of what solo life has to offer. We should also be talking about solo living a lot more.

IF YOU LIVE ALONE, CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK GROUPS:

Super Solos Living Alone Community

A kind, diverse and supportive community of solos talking about all aspects of living alone.

Solo Dining and a Table for One

An inspired group of foodies sharing photos and stories around the food they eat while living solo.

Would you like to be a contributor?

Would you like to contribute to Solo Living? Perhaps you could write about your experiences of living solo? We welcome articles on a variety of topics written from a solo living perspective from a community member or a guest writer who will resonate with our Solo living community.

Sounds good? Why not drop us an email contribute@wearesololiving.com with your ideas. We really want to hear from you!