Does anyone live alone?

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Hi I'm a student starting my second year in the fall. Originally I was going to move with family after graduation, but I decided I didn't want to move to that area. I currently hate where I live with every fiber of my being! So moving is my #1 motivation to push myself hard in school and obviously important to me. My BF will not be moving with me either because of his career. We both are accepting of this, that I chose location and he chose career over our relationship but anyway the point is I'll be moving alone to an area where I don't know anyone.

So I was wondering about nurses who live alone. Are you a single parent? Do you have pets? How do you work those things out if so with 12 hr shifts? Do you keep up with the bills well enough and housework? I don't know this doesn't seem that important of a topic but I'm asking anyway and interested in the answers, Thank you :)

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direw0lf said:
Hi I'm a student starting my second year in the fall. Originally I was going to move with family after graduation, but I decided I didn't want to move to that area. I currently hate where I live with every fiber of my being! So moving is my #1 motivation to push myself hard in school and obviously important to me. My BF will not be moving with me either because of his career. We both are accepting of this, that I chose location and he chose career over our relationship but anyway the point is I'll be moving alone to an area where I don't know anyone.

So I was wondering about nurses who live alone. Are you a single parent? Do you have pets? How do you work those things out if so with 12 hr shifts? Do you keep up with the bills well enough and housework? I don't know this doesn't seem that important of a topic but I'm asking anyway and interested in the answers, Thank you 🙂

I don't live alone, but I imagine it will take some adjustment. 12 hour night shifts were hard living with someone, without kids and just pets. I never felt caught up, but of course, I was. I was just always tired.

Of course this important. We just had 10 plus pages on "hair" for goodness sakes! This is your life! It sounds as if you are thinking this through. Good for you.

If you need someone to walk your direwolf, hmu.

Best of luck!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I live alone and I'm childless. My house is not clean, but it is not due to lack of time. Cleaning is an unpleasant task for me, so I do not prioritize it.

I've worked all shifts imaginable. When you are alone, there is no one else to worry about disturbing.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

I lived alone for a long time, because I love living alone (turns out I like living with a partner better, though). Bills are easy to keep up with. They're due about the same time every month, so it's not like they creep up on you. You do housework when you can, which sometimes means at 2am on your day off because night shifts has messed up your sleep schedule. The best part is that you can walk around in your underpants, talk to yourself, sing to yourself, decorate however you want, and study/read/watch whatever you want whenever you want. It turns out that 3-4am is a very quiet hour in a lot of places, so it's a good time to study. If you're awake. Because night shift has messed up your sleep schedule.

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Specializes in Utilization Review.

Agree with others who mentioned sometimes night shift is horrible with someone else living with you. My husband would have to sleep at 2200 but I would be wide awake when I was on nights. Sitting up in bed watching netflix from 2200-0300 wasn't exactly thrilling. And wanting to get a snack or go out at any time of night is always pleasing. No kids here, thank God, but my pets do fine when I'm gone. I have a little dog who goes to doggy day care if I work and my husband won't be home until late, and the cats are so independent I don't think they care if I'm here or if I'm not as long as they have water and food.

Best of luck on your new adventure in life!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

I moved about an hour away from where I was living during nursing school. First rented an apartment for a few years and then bought a house. No problem keeping up with bills except for an unexpected home repair that was well over $10,000. Housework is one of my least favorite things, so I may not do it as often as I should. Not that I lack time but because I avoid it. I have cats and a dog. I work anywhere from 8 to 24+ hour shifts that are completely unpredictable as I work OR and take a boatload of call. Because of that, I litter trained my dog (who is about the same size as the cats) and don't crate her- just restrict her to one floor with gates. I find I actually prefer to be living alone- it sucks that no one else can help with housework, but then I'm also not disturbing anyone else when the phone rings in the middle of the night or when I don't get home from work until the middle of the night.

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

I love living alone! I don't have kids or pets, so I can't speak to those issues. I will say that I would love to get a dog someday, but I wouls not right now due to the lengthy shifts without anyone to take care of it.

I got used to living alone pretty quickly. I know it's not for everyone, but knowing I can support myself without anyone's help is a powerful thing. I find I can deep clean my place in about 3-4 hours, which I do every couple weeks. Things are as clean or messy as I let them be. It's my decision whether to let anyone info my space, which is great. It hadn't been hard to learn to pay bills and be tidy and all that. Having a quiet place to decompress after a few 12 hour shifts is the best! If you are not a super extravert, but are able to make some friends once you move to stave off the boredom, you will love living alone.

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My D starts law school in the fall and will be living alone for the 4th straight year. She really wanted a puppy, but realized how unfair that would be to the dog, since there will be many times she won't be home for 12 hours or more.

So she will be getting a couple of kittens this summer!

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Living alone offers endless opportunities. You will learn how to take care of yourself.

Namaste. Let us know how it's going.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Forensics, Addictions.

I live alone, with no kids, but I have 2 cats. It offers tremendous freedom and flexibility to not have to cater to another person's schedule. I love it!

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Specializes in ER.

I've been living alone since I was 17. Get a pet. Cats are low maintenance. It's a real home when you have a friendly face greeting you at the door, I couldn't live without them.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I also live alone and love it. I had roommates for 5 months when I relocated to this city after years of living on my own, and I decided to buy a place. Never again do I want roommates.

My home is modestly clean, as I clean on the weekends and tidy as I go. No pets although I have considered getting a dog.

I have no desire to cater to anyone or even date. I don't have the time or the energy for it.

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