5 Reasons I Love Being Home Alone

In the past, I’ve waxed poetic about the joys of dining a la solo — about how I find it utterly calming, about how I don’t understand why people dread it, about how I secretly like to eavesdrop on the conversations of the people around me. It’s all just one enjoyable experience.

Well, I feel the same way about being home alone. And what’s more, I always have. I’m a natural solitary hermit by nature, so I’m sure this has something to do with it, but I’ve never been more content than when I’ve talked my mom and Janelle into running some errands, have ushered them out of the house and have a long afternoon stretched in front of me. Don’t get me wrong, I love them dearly, but a girl’s got to have her freedom. You know, let her hair down every once in awhile. I got an extended taste of that sweet life during my Carefree Bachelorette Weekend and fear I am now addicted. Here are five reasons having the house to yourself rocks in a major way…


1. You can sing at the top of your lungs: Not only is the music of choice a continuous spin of my favorite hits, but there’s no one home to tell me to stop singing! There’s no one saying, “Melissa, stop singing!” Or asking, “Melissa, do you ever stop singing?” Obviously, my answer to that last question is NO. I mean, I have to live out my pop star fantasy somehow, right? So I figure they calls for lots of singing — everything from Taylor Swift to Carrie Underwood to the Grease soundtrack.

2. The chance to be as silly (or as lazy!) as you want: The beauty of being home alone is that you don’t have to answer to anyone about your behavior, however odd it may seem. It’s a virtual free-for-all full of endless possibilities. So you want to eat Lucky Charms for lunch? Go for it. Don’t feel like combing your hair? Well, it’s not like anyone is going to see you anyway. I could even make like Tom Cruise and get wild and crazy — like his character in Risky Business, not like his infamous couch-jumping incident.

3. No one will give you a strange look when you start talking to yourself: I’m a HUGE proponent of talking to yourself when it comes to getting stuff done. Heck, I’m my own sports caster in that I can usually be heard giving a play-by-play of exactly what I’m doing when I’m doing it (thanks for passing on that lovely trait, Mom!), and I like having the freedom of being able to express my frustrations about my laptop without any glaring looks. It’s a glorious freedom unlike anything I’ve ever known, actually.

4. I can have hours of uninterrupted writing time: Too many times in the past, I’ve set myself up at the kitchen table ready to write, only to hear those sounds — the familiar creaking of the garage door, slamming of car doors and shuffling of feet. That could only mean two things. One, my mom and Janelle were home. And two, I wouldn’t be getting much more writing done for the rest of the day. But when all is quiet on the home front? That’s when the creative juices really start flowing and the real writing work can begin.


5. The TV remote: I think this one speaks for itself. There’s really no explanation needed here.

Do you enjoy being home alone, friends,or do you find it lonely? Refreshing? Intimidating? Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some plotting to do… xoxo