I'm going on an adventure
December 28, 2019 9:09 AM Subscribe
About to live on my own—finally! How do I navigate the future?
I am a cishet woman in my early 30s. I am unmarried and introverted. Finally, after years and years of helping my parents and family out, I can now concentrate on myself. I have saved up and possess the capability to live alone.
To those who are living on their own now—can you share your experiences, tips, and/or advice? What are the things that you wish you have known from the very beginning? What are those that you thought were easy only to find out they were difficult as hell? What did you end up learning to do on your own?
In terms of practicality, what should I take note of? What are the "adulting" stuff that I should be aware of and be on guard? How do I set boundaries with my family if it turns out they're clingy (they are currently cautiously supportive of my decision, but that could still change)?
Finally, how do you take care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally? Thank you <3
I am a cishet woman in my early 30s. I am unmarried and introverted. Finally, after years and years of helping my parents and family out, I can now concentrate on myself. I have saved up and possess the capability to live alone.
To those who are living on their own now—can you share your experiences, tips, and/or advice? What are the things that you wish you have known from the very beginning? What are those that you thought were easy only to find out they were difficult as hell? What did you end up learning to do on your own?
In terms of practicality, what should I take note of? What are the "adulting" stuff that I should be aware of and be on guard? How do I set boundaries with my family if it turns out they're clingy (they are currently cautiously supportive of my decision, but that could still change)?
Finally, how do you take care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally? Thank you <3
1. Clean as you go.
2. Address problem bills immediately, don't procrastinate, The longer you wait the worse (and more expensive) they are to deal with.
3. Go outside every day for at least 20 minutes.
4. Accept that you make the best decisions you can with the information you have. Refuse to feel regret if there are unintended consequences - unintended consequences is life.
4a. Corollary: Most people regret the things they didn't do, not the things they do. Whenever possible say yes to opportunities that come your way.
5. Don't be afraid to let go of relationships that aren't working.
6. If you can, get some sort of pet. Everyone needs something to love.
7. Do more of the things that make you happy.
posted by faineant at 9:51 AM on December 28, 2019 [8 favorites]
2. Address problem bills immediately, don't procrastinate, The longer you wait the worse (and more expensive) they are to deal with.
3. Go outside every day for at least 20 minutes.
4. Accept that you make the best decisions you can with the information you have. Refuse to feel regret if there are unintended consequences - unintended consequences is life.
4a. Corollary: Most people regret the things they didn't do, not the things they do. Whenever possible say yes to opportunities that come your way.
5. Don't be afraid to let go of relationships that aren't working.
6. If you can, get some sort of pet. Everyone needs something to love.
7. Do more of the things that make you happy.
posted by faineant at 9:51 AM on December 28, 2019 [8 favorites]
I lived alone as an adult for over a decade, and the thing that mattered the most to me was the presence of my dog. We moved periodically, sometimes across town and sometimes to different states; I took up different jobs; I did a stint in grad school; people came and went, but throughout it all Bandit was my constant. Having a friendly soul who was delighted to see me every time I came home made all the difference in the world to me.
Not sure what your living situation is going to be like, but if you have the time and resources to properly take care of one, my biggest piece of advice would be to get a pet.
posted by DingoMutt at 9:52 AM on December 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Not sure what your living situation is going to be like, but if you have the time and resources to properly take care of one, my biggest piece of advice would be to get a pet.
posted by DingoMutt at 9:52 AM on December 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Sometimes (especially if you are living in a city without a car) you're going to need help lifting things. For this you can
1. convince a friend with a car, or seize opportunities where you / a friend has rented a car and might have the energy to lift some things afterwards
2. use various services (Dolly) to find a professional.
3. pay for the thing to be delivered instead of trying to haul it home.
posted by batter_my_heart at 10:05 AM on December 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
1. convince a friend with a car, or seize opportunities where you / a friend has rented a car and might have the energy to lift some things afterwards
2. use various services (Dolly) to find a professional.
3. pay for the thing to be delivered instead of trying to haul it home.
posted by batter_my_heart at 10:05 AM on December 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
If you can find spaces where you can be around positive people, such as a shared hobby. I love living alone and have been for about 6 years. The way I mitigate loneliness is to be around people if possible once or twice a week without getting too involved in their personal lives.
posted by Young Kullervo at 10:37 AM on December 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Young Kullervo at 10:37 AM on December 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
Hi! You sound like me, about 25 years ago!Congratulations! I’m excited for you!
You are going to make mistakes. You are going to mess up. That’s OK. That’s part of adulting. The trick is realizing that messing up doesn’t make you a messed up person.
The other trick is figuring out what you don’t know and then finding ways to deal with it to avoid making the same mistakes over and over. Sometimes that may be learning how to do the thing. Sometimes it means (if you’re able) throwing money at the thing. Sometimes it means asking someone to help you with the thing. That last one was tough for me for a long time.
Learn how to budget. Don’t let other people tell you how much to spend or what to spend money on. Your money, your decisions. Try not to get caught up in “keeping up” with other people when it comes to spending money.
If you can and if you’re not doing so already, immediately start putting money into retirement funds—especially if you’re employer offers a 401k match (free money!). A Roth is also an option. Retirement seems far away, but your future self will thank you.
If you have a car—keep up with maintenance stuff—oil changes, tire pressure, tuneups, etc. Again, your future self will thank you.
If you don’t already have a regular doctor or dentist, try to get established with one before you’re in an emergency situation.
Establishing personal traditions is a nice self-care thing—whether it’s going to the same coffee shop every weekend, or buying flowers for yourself every month, or going for a walk after dinner, or ... whatever you like.
Good luck!
posted by bookmammal at 10:45 AM on December 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
You are going to make mistakes. You are going to mess up. That’s OK. That’s part of adulting. The trick is realizing that messing up doesn’t make you a messed up person.
The other trick is figuring out what you don’t know and then finding ways to deal with it to avoid making the same mistakes over and over. Sometimes that may be learning how to do the thing. Sometimes it means (if you’re able) throwing money at the thing. Sometimes it means asking someone to help you with the thing. That last one was tough for me for a long time.
Learn how to budget. Don’t let other people tell you how much to spend or what to spend money on. Your money, your decisions. Try not to get caught up in “keeping up” with other people when it comes to spending money.
If you can and if you’re not doing so already, immediately start putting money into retirement funds—especially if you’re employer offers a 401k match (free money!). A Roth is also an option. Retirement seems far away, but your future self will thank you.
If you have a car—keep up with maintenance stuff—oil changes, tire pressure, tuneups, etc. Again, your future self will thank you.
If you don’t already have a regular doctor or dentist, try to get established with one before you’re in an emergency situation.
Establishing personal traditions is a nice self-care thing—whether it’s going to the same coffee shop every weekend, or buying flowers for yourself every month, or going for a walk after dinner, or ... whatever you like.
Good luck!
posted by bookmammal at 10:45 AM on December 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
Regular appointment/s outside the house that give you whatever level of socialising you enjoy. An exercise class, a board game club, volunteering, whatever - but not something you just decide to do on your own (eg. Go for a swim) which you could decide you don’t feel like and opt out of. You want something that has an appointed time, place, and other people. Keeps the isolation at bay, and even when you think you don’t feel like going, others are expecting you and you’ll pretty much always be glad you went.
posted by penguin pie at 11:01 AM on December 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by penguin pie at 11:01 AM on December 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
if you're worried that your family will intrude on your new personal space, be sure to set boundaries - remember that you have your phone for your convenience, not theirs. You get to choose when you want to answer it. You also get to choose when and who is welcome in your home - don't be guilted into inviting people over when you'd prefer to be alone, don't feel you have to answer the door if someone drops by.
As far as arranging your place - make sure that all your stuff has a place that it belongs, and try to return every item to it's place once you're done with it. This makes cleaning and finding things soooo much easier.
and lastly - decorate with all your favourite colours! even if you can't afford fancy furniture, or be able to paint the walls, some curtains and cushions in the colours that you like the best will make your home individual and inviting. Have fun! living alone is awesome.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 11:06 AM on December 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
As far as arranging your place - make sure that all your stuff has a place that it belongs, and try to return every item to it's place once you're done with it. This makes cleaning and finding things soooo much easier.
and lastly - decorate with all your favourite colours! even if you can't afford fancy furniture, or be able to paint the walls, some curtains and cushions in the colours that you like the best will make your home individual and inviting. Have fun! living alone is awesome.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 11:06 AM on December 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
When the mood hits, just feel free to lay spreadeagled in the middle of the floor enjoying your own quiet time for as long as you like.
(yeah dittos to all the other stuff above that I messed up with ;-)
posted by sammyo at 11:10 AM on December 28, 2019 [7 favorites]
(yeah dittos to all the other stuff above that I messed up with ;-)
posted by sammyo at 11:10 AM on December 28, 2019 [7 favorites]
Nthing pet! My 30s, during which I lived alone, are tough to imagine without my cat. Living alone is great but there are lonely times. A cat or dog will add to your chore list but cut down on your existential woe.
posted by less of course at 11:14 AM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by less of course at 11:14 AM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Adding to something above: if you have some funds, buy nice furniture. If you love it, you’ll keep it a long time and it will be part of your sense of home. I had a moment when I got rid of stuff I had bought because it was cheap and spent what extra money I had on vintage furniture that still brings me joy.
posted by less of course at 11:21 AM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by less of course at 11:21 AM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Don't try to decorate all at once -- in fact, feel free to decorate only as much as you want to, as slowly as you want to. Your space does not have to be fully, tastefully curated in order to feel like home. Surround yourself with things you actually like and care about, not just things that match or symbolize success.
One thing you might find helpful to clarify in a follow up is whether you are renting or owning. I think there are some specific lessons learned in that space too.
posted by sm1tten at 11:31 AM on December 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
One thing you might find helpful to clarify in a follow up is whether you are renting or owning. I think there are some specific lessons learned in that space too.
posted by sm1tten at 11:31 AM on December 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
You need a plunger.
You need a stepladder (don’t be like me and learn that lesson when your carbon monoxide detector starts chirping its piercing low-battery chirp at 3AM.)
You need cold/headache/stomach remedies on hand so you don’t have to go to the drugstore when you’re feeling terrible.
Spend money where you spend time—a quality bed if a good night’s sleep is important to you, tv and cable or streaming services if you’re into shows and movies, etc.
I love living alone and I hope you will, too!
posted by kapers at 11:48 AM on December 28, 2019 [14 favorites]
You need a stepladder (don’t be like me and learn that lesson when your carbon monoxide detector starts chirping its piercing low-battery chirp at 3AM.)
You need cold/headache/stomach remedies on hand so you don’t have to go to the drugstore when you’re feeling terrible.
Spend money where you spend time—a quality bed if a good night’s sleep is important to you, tv and cable or streaming services if you’re into shows and movies, etc.
I love living alone and I hope you will, too!
posted by kapers at 11:48 AM on December 28, 2019 [14 favorites]
When you buy food, you and only you are going to have to eat all of it whether you want to or not. As lovely as pets are, having one means you can't just not come home at night or take a spur of the moment trip. You get to walk around naked all you want.
posted by zengargoyle at 11:55 AM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by zengargoyle at 11:55 AM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Don't give family members copies of your house or apartment keys.
Consider the habits and tastes you may have learned by spending your time with older people, and think about what you eat, what books you read, movies and TV you watch, clothes you like to wear. You now have space to explore new things and deciding what you (and only you) enjoy, or don't enjoy.
One of the benefits of living alone is nobody's there to comment on or criticize one's tastes. It extends to everything. You can make a soup or salad and put into them only the ingredients you like, and leave out the ones you don't. You can please yourself.
posted by zadcat at 12:14 PM on December 28, 2019 [8 favorites]
Consider the habits and tastes you may have learned by spending your time with older people, and think about what you eat, what books you read, movies and TV you watch, clothes you like to wear. You now have space to explore new things and deciding what you (and only you) enjoy, or don't enjoy.
One of the benefits of living alone is nobody's there to comment on or criticize one's tastes. It extends to everything. You can make a soup or salad and put into them only the ingredients you like, and leave out the ones you don't. You can please yourself.
posted by zadcat at 12:14 PM on December 28, 2019 [8 favorites]
Find out which grocery stores deliver, so you don't have to go out when you're miserably sick.
Make friends with your neighbors and be a good and generous neighbor yourself. Maintain your relationships. Maybe join a church if that works for you. Things will come up where you need other people's help and you don't want to be relying on the same people all the time. Relatedly, keep a clean home so that other people will be comfortable visiting and you won't be in a panic trying to make it presentable beforehand.
Figure out a budgeting system and ruthlessly adhere to it. Set money aside for unexpected expenses because there will be a lot of them.
If you have a car, find out what you need to do to maintain it.
Hire out the things you can afford to hire out. One of the main reasons people cohabitate is to share the burden of all the shit that needs to be done to keep a home functioning. But almost all of it can be outsourced if you have the money, so don't make life harder than it has to be.
posted by HotToddy at 12:32 PM on December 28, 2019
Make friends with your neighbors and be a good and generous neighbor yourself. Maintain your relationships. Maybe join a church if that works for you. Things will come up where you need other people's help and you don't want to be relying on the same people all the time. Relatedly, keep a clean home so that other people will be comfortable visiting and you won't be in a panic trying to make it presentable beforehand.
Figure out a budgeting system and ruthlessly adhere to it. Set money aside for unexpected expenses because there will be a lot of them.
If you have a car, find out what you need to do to maintain it.
Hire out the things you can afford to hire out. One of the main reasons people cohabitate is to share the burden of all the shit that needs to be done to keep a home functioning. But almost all of it can be outsourced if you have the money, so don't make life harder than it has to be.
posted by HotToddy at 12:32 PM on December 28, 2019
Congratulations! I've lived alone for the past 8 years and I love it.
For family stuff: boundaries, early and often. If they aren't respecting your wishes, talking about that dynamic with a therapist would be beneficial.
Practical stuff: invite a friend or friends over to make meals together occasionally.
Since I don't have a car, I use a service to have groceries delivered to me and it is one of the best uses of my money.
Sometimes friends or Taskrabbit folks will need to help you move/assemble things. I pay my friends in delicious food when this happens.
Self-care things: I have a box filled with things to do during self-care time (colored pencils and coloring book, journal, a great book, nail polish, bath bombs).
Enjoy!
posted by sugarbomb at 12:36 PM on December 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
For family stuff: boundaries, early and often. If they aren't respecting your wishes, talking about that dynamic with a therapist would be beneficial.
Practical stuff: invite a friend or friends over to make meals together occasionally.
Since I don't have a car, I use a service to have groceries delivered to me and it is one of the best uses of my money.
Sometimes friends or Taskrabbit folks will need to help you move/assemble things. I pay my friends in delicious food when this happens.
Self-care things: I have a box filled with things to do during self-care time (colored pencils and coloring book, journal, a great book, nail polish, bath bombs).
Enjoy!
posted by sugarbomb at 12:36 PM on December 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
hello. GET RENTERS INSURANCE. If you menstruate, check your smoke alarm batteries every time you get your period; otherwise, on the 1st. Get a C02 alarm as well. Get a small fire extinguisher for your kitchen.
Make sure your door can be locked from the inside with a physical lock regardless of any keyed locks, like a bolt lock. Don't rent on the ground floor if you are a woman living alone and have other options. If you are not on the ground floor, consider a rope ladder for window escape as most apartments have only one door for egress!
posted by DarlingBri at 12:37 PM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Make sure your door can be locked from the inside with a physical lock regardless of any keyed locks, like a bolt lock. Don't rent on the ground floor if you are a woman living alone and have other options. If you are not on the ground floor, consider a rope ladder for window escape as most apartments have only one door for egress!
posted by DarlingBri at 12:37 PM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Don't spend your hard earned money on stuff you can get for $1 at the Dollar Tree (note this store in particular if you have one close). For instance, all trash bags are $1, all toothpaste is $1, all sandwich bags $1, storage containers, ditto. You can get floss here, toothbrushes, bleach, insect bite cream, vapo-rub, etc. If you use a thermos to make your to-go drinks at home before leaving for work or whatever, you can clean them with denture cleaning tablets you can get for $1 at the Dollar Tree. Look up hacks for this kind of thing. Why go to Target, Walmart, etc to pay more than double for the same thing?
I have an Acorns account for investing and I just throw a small amount of money in there weekly, it's a scheduled withdrawal from my bank account, and my money has grown 4.9%. Not bad for something I don't have to think about at all.
Buy your car insurance in bulk of you can. Buy your phone plan in bulk if you can too. I use Mint mobile and pay $300/ year for 12 gigs of data a month and unlimited calls and texts. That comes out to $25/month. Not bad at all.
If you're signing up for internet, check around for promotional deals. We did that and got a $100 Visa gift card and free Disney+ for a year with Verizon.
Vinegar and baking soda cleans a lot of stuff. Even if you have a garbage disposal, get a sink strainer anyway to trap food particles for the trash. It prevents your sink from getting stinky.
posted by erattacorrige at 12:59 PM on December 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
I have an Acorns account for investing and I just throw a small amount of money in there weekly, it's a scheduled withdrawal from my bank account, and my money has grown 4.9%. Not bad for something I don't have to think about at all.
Buy your car insurance in bulk of you can. Buy your phone plan in bulk if you can too. I use Mint mobile and pay $300/ year for 12 gigs of data a month and unlimited calls and texts. That comes out to $25/month. Not bad at all.
If you're signing up for internet, check around for promotional deals. We did that and got a $100 Visa gift card and free Disney+ for a year with Verizon.
Vinegar and baking soda cleans a lot of stuff. Even if you have a garbage disposal, get a sink strainer anyway to trap food particles for the trash. It prevents your sink from getting stinky.
posted by erattacorrige at 12:59 PM on December 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
PS if you live near any colleges or Universities, see if they have any art departments/ art students. Sometimes the student art goes up for sale (like something semi annually) and it's a great way to support students and get great art for less money, as well as get involved in the community.
Handheld vacuum cleaner if you live in a small space. Takes up less space in your place and is endlessly useful.
posted by erattacorrige at 1:03 PM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Handheld vacuum cleaner if you live in a small space. Takes up less space in your place and is endlessly useful.
posted by erattacorrige at 1:03 PM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
The above are good suggestions. Adding to that to find your ‘local’, be that a bar or coffee shop or cafe near your house to become a regular. I rarely feel lonely or bored (also an introvert) but when I do and friends aren’t available, it’s nice to just pop into a place around the corner where the staff knows you and you can chat about neighborhood gossip or make friends with other regular patrons. It’s great to feel like part of a community when you live alone.
In that same vein, befriend your neighbors! It’s valuable to know and trust the people around you, and to be able to help each other out if you get locked out or need someone to grab your mail when you’re out of town or whatever. And it’s just nice to walk out the door and have people to say hello to!
posted by greta simone at 1:21 PM on December 28, 2019
In that same vein, befriend your neighbors! It’s valuable to know and trust the people around you, and to be able to help each other out if you get locked out or need someone to grab your mail when you’re out of town or whatever. And it’s just nice to walk out the door and have people to say hello to!
posted by greta simone at 1:21 PM on December 28, 2019
Think of all the things in your current living situation that aren't quite what you would have chosen yourself and all the things you would do if not for other people and enjoy choosing and doing what you really want when it's up to you. That's the best thing about living alone. Get plates and bowls that are your favorite color. Eat a pint of ice cream for breakfast. Stay up late making cookies and listening to music. Go places on the spur of the moment. If you've always thought it would be cool to have a few chickens or a vegetable garden, rent a place where that's possible. Or if you hate having to deal with yard chores, move into an apartment where you never have to worry about that. If you want a giant real Christmas tree instead of a little fake one, or vice versa, go buy what you want. Or if you want to free yourself from any obligation to do holiday-related decorating or cooking, you can. If you want a different, better kind of toaster or coffee maker, or you wish you had an ice cream maker or a fish tank or a big cactus in a pot, buy it. (Just don't go into debt to buy cool stuff. Save, prioritize, shop at thrift stores and enjoy the process of gradually getting more of what you want.)
posted by Redstart at 1:23 PM on December 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Redstart at 1:23 PM on December 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
These days you can find instructions on most home maintenance/cleaning tasks on YouTube, so if there’s anything you’re just not sure about how to do, the Internet is there for you.
Automate billpaying and saving to the extent you can.
I agree with the person who encouraged you to take it slow on furnishings. If there’s something you’ve allllllways wanted, by all means get it, but give yourself a little time to figure out your tastes and preferences in actual practice.
posted by praemunire at 2:09 PM on December 28, 2019
Automate billpaying and saving to the extent you can.
I agree with the person who encouraged you to take it slow on furnishings. If there’s something you’ve allllllways wanted, by all means get it, but give yourself a little time to figure out your tastes and preferences in actual practice.
posted by praemunire at 2:09 PM on December 28, 2019
Get plants! Spider plants and pothos are easy to care for, and do a good job of cleaning the air. Plus they make a home seem more homey, I think.
Keep track of your utility account numbers and logins and so on. Keep a list of contact numbers in case you need to report a power outage or gas leak. Know where your breaker or fuse box is, and where your water and gas shutoffs are.
Really make the place your own, even if it takes some time. Paint of you're allowed, or put up removable wallpaper. Get some nice furniture (craigslist is great for this) and cozy rugs. Get a set of nice kitchen knives and learn how to take care of them.
Have fun! I adored nesting in my first 'grownup' home.
posted by ananci at 5:50 PM on December 28, 2019
Keep track of your utility account numbers and logins and so on. Keep a list of contact numbers in case you need to report a power outage or gas leak. Know where your breaker or fuse box is, and where your water and gas shutoffs are.
Really make the place your own, even if it takes some time. Paint of you're allowed, or put up removable wallpaper. Get some nice furniture (craigslist is great for this) and cozy rugs. Get a set of nice kitchen knives and learn how to take care of them.
Have fun! I adored nesting in my first 'grownup' home.
posted by ananci at 5:50 PM on December 28, 2019
Have friends, make friends, enjoy friends... But don't count on them. You're an adult. When the shit hits the fan, YOU will be the one who needs to get YOU safely to a regroup point where you can start to involve friends again.
If you are counting on friends, and your trauma and needs happen to occur at the same time as them having a family crisis, you are not going to get priority and that is totally normal. You are an adult and you can take care of yourself. Believe it! It's true.
posted by Pastor of Muppets at 6:29 PM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you are counting on friends, and your trauma and needs happen to occur at the same time as them having a family crisis, you are not going to get priority and that is totally normal. You are an adult and you can take care of yourself. Believe it! It's true.
posted by Pastor of Muppets at 6:29 PM on December 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
As a follow-on to the advice not to give copies of your keys to family - give a set of keys to a trustworthy, reasonably-organised friend if you have such a person - the ideal candidate lives close to your apartment and is home a lot, but really even having to travel to them is better than having to call a locksmith if you lose your keys. You can also/instead leave a spare set in your desk drawer if your workplace is reasonably secure and you have out-of-hours access.
posted by penguin pie at 12:22 PM on December 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by penguin pie at 12:22 PM on December 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Try to make sure you always have spares of anything that's both consumable and important. I'm talking about things like toilet rolls, tissues, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, light bulbs, laundry detergent, batteries, bin bags... the time to stock up is when you start using the last one in the cupboard, not when you're getting close to finishing it. If you're incapacitated for a few days by a nasty bout of flu, you don't want your misery compounded by running out of toilet roll.
On a related note, if you keep a loaf or two of sliced bread, and a pat of butter, in the freezer, then if you're too ill to leave the house you can keep yourself going with hot buttered toast. (The bread will toast from frozen; the butter is in the freezer as a spare, in case you have none in the fridge when the flu hits, and needs defrosting.) It may not be nutritionally complete, but it's easy to make and eat, and it's comforting.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 2:58 AM on December 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
On a related note, if you keep a loaf or two of sliced bread, and a pat of butter, in the freezer, then if you're too ill to leave the house you can keep yourself going with hot buttered toast. (The bread will toast from frozen; the butter is in the freezer as a spare, in case you have none in the fridge when the flu hits, and needs defrosting.) It may not be nutritionally complete, but it's easy to make and eat, and it's comforting.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 2:58 AM on December 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
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Cooking batches of food and freezing them (stews work really nicely for this and I love stews so it works out well for both of us) is a great way to have some variety to your meals while also having easy meals on-hand and saving money from eating-out.
Address problems with bills immediately because delays only end up costing you (because the corporation behind the bill is infinite compared to you).
Taking care?
Exercise - doesn't matter what it is as long as it's something you'll do.
Seeing friends (especially if you work a freelance or remote job where you might not have consistent co-workers you see).
Meditation - it's the only way I've been able to find sanity.
posted by kokaku at 9:43 AM on December 28, 2019 [4 favorites]