The Benefits Of Living Alone (VIDEO)

A growing number of people live alone. In fact, single living is one of the most common types of "families" -- along with childless couples -- Ann Curry said on "Today" this morning.

But people who live alone aren't lonely or isolated, explained Eric Klinenberg, author of "Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone". Instead, they tend to develop important skills that get them out socializing with others -- often much more so than couples who live together.

Healthy Living's Senior Editor Laura Schocker knows about the joys of living alone firsthand. She stopped by "Today" this morning to discuss why our group and team-based society has contributed to the rising number of people living solo, and why women are more likely to live alone than men.

For more on the benefits of living alone, watch the video above, and for more personal health stories, click here.

What about you? Do you live alone? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Comments

[psnofali]

02:52 AM on 05/30/2012

i love to live alone,its a great feelings no one bother you,you do whatever you want,you go out with pals,you sleep well in a quiet,you focus on your courses.
it's an amazing feelings,but finally you gonna get married when you're not alone anymore your soul-mate will be next to you.

[Baldheaded Fool]

09:02 PM on 03/13/2012

more bad stereotypes about men. men have really been attacked a lot by the media and society in general in the last few years. i live alone and have no problem with it whatsoever. i even prefer it. i cook, clean and even manage to roll myself out of bed every morning. wow! imagine that.

[strawberrykiki]

03:52 PM on 03/13/2012

I have a roommate. There are positives and negatives. I like having someone around some days. Other days I wish I could come home from work and not have to deal with anyone. I have my own room and my own bathroom which is nice. I was married before and it can be really hard sharing personal space with another person. I like to watch TV before bed and he liked it dark and quiet. I'm a light sleeper, so if he moved around or got up in the middle of the night it would wake me up too.

[Imago1122]

09:25 PM on 03/12/2012

Living alone means living in a sanctuary where I don't have to constantly monitor my bad habit of worrying endlessly about disappointing other people. It's almost heaven on earth.

[twitch1956]

09:38 PM on 03/13/2012

wow. that sounds like me.

[1swimmom]

03:09 PM on 03/12/2012

Till death do us part didn't used to mean 50- or 60 years.

[Indie Mom]

11:08 AM on 03/10/2012

I've lived alone (with my 3 kids) for 2 years now. It was extremely difficult at first because I felt very inadequate and lost and scared without my husband. In the early months of my 'aloneness' I thought constantly about finding another man as quickly as possible because I really wasn't comfortable in my own skin. I'm glad I didn't go that route because I wouldn't be who I am today.

I'm fine now. For me, living alone has increased my self esteem, my peace of mind, my communication skills with everyone, and has giving me the hands on understanding that I need to own my self-worth and depend on myself for survival and retirement.

If I ever do take on companionship again, I will be my own person instead of someone's 'other 1/2' and be able to make more healthy decisions about a relationship. It took me a very long time to answer people's questions and talk to others without bringing my husband's perspective into the picture. It's hard to adjust to life based on your very own perspective once you become single / independent.

Funny, though, some of my friends and most of my family tell me I'm wasting the best years of my life by being alone and not finding love again. I don't know how to answer that other than to tell them I am at peace and learning to love myself.

[Imago1122]

09:34 PM on 03/12/2012

I've read many of your comments Indie Mom over the last year or so, and as someone who has survived the ravaging of an 8.5 year "relationship" in which I was not entirely innocent either, my heart always goes out to you.

[Patient Zero]

04:31 PM on 03/09/2012

I live alone at the moment. It is extrmely stressful, scary, and unpleasant. We are not supposed to be alone, and this really really sucks.

[Alvarask]

04:39 AM on 03/12/2012

Are you male or female?

[Baldheaded Fool]

09:04 PM on 03/13/2012

networking is helpful for career development and socializing

[crabbyguy75]

04:22 PM on 03/09/2012

I think the word Alone has negative connotations attached to it. Alone is fine, Alone is quiet, Alone is peaceful, Alone is not a bad word or a sad word, Alone is nice.

[Imago1122]

09:17 PM on 03/12/2012

Nicely said zen words crabbyguy75.

[as if]

12:16 AM on 03/09/2012

I hear marriage is a great institution,,,I'm just not ready to be institutionalized,

[MightyMeno]

02:44 PM on 03/08/2012

I miss living alone. I loved it; the peace and solitude, the freedom. NO COOKING. Now, if my husband and I could afford to live next door to each other, that would be perfect! He likes having a partner around 24/7, and I like my space. Sometimes it's a problem.

[Whitney Wonders]

09:21 AM on 03/13/2012

I have often thought that if I ever get married again or involved with someone seriously how I would love to purchase a duplex type space where I can have one side and he can have the other. The minimum I think I could handle would be to have my own woman cave where I could go and be alone when needed.

[nickelpickle]

02:07 PM on 03/08/2012

i am in my mid thirties. i've spent only a short period living w/ someone in a romantic relationship and truly hated it. it did not last long. I am not saying i can never live w/ someone, but i sure do like having my own space. I do have a roomate, which sucks because she is messy, but I don't have someone in my bed every night. makes it easier to do whatever i want in the morning w/out worrying about the other person. during the weekend, the boyfriend stays over and I enjoy it very much. but then i also enjoy the time alone.

[Baldheaded Fool]

09:06 PM on 03/13/2012

i always find it a little humorous when women say "the boyfriend" like the man is some type of object or something, lol.

[nickelpickle]

08:03 AM on 03/14/2012

well he is isn't he?

[tall singles community]

09:04 PM on 03/07/2012

Take 1 minute to connect with thousands of tall people and meet the special one to accompany with you the whole life.

As a society, we have to get the notion that living together will make one happy. It's best to take your time in deciding who you will let in your sanctuary.

[mcomparetto]

03:19 PM on 03/07/2012

Living alone and loving it! I do what I want, when I want and how I want.

[zeedubya]

02:17 PM on 03/07/2012

I live alone and like it. I've lived with someone for several years and liked it too. I'm in no rush to live with someone because I feel lonely. That is absurd. As a society, we have to get the notion that living together will make one happy. It's best to take your time in deciding who you will let in your sanctuary.

[crabbyguy75]

04:19 PM on 03/09/2012

"Sanctuary" I like that description.

[EdwardSerio]

01:37 PM on 03/07/2012

After a 20 year marraige I now find myself single and totally agree that single life is all around healthier for all,less drama to deal with.

[lotus321]

02:08 PM on 03/07/2012

I can't wait to be free again myself, just waiting for the last two kids to finish college.

[Lisav20]

04:13 PM on 03/07/2012

Are you planning to leave your family? Might as well do it now. Waiting doesn't help.

[Lisav20]

10:39 AM on 03/08/2012

Hmm I can't seem to reply to your comment below, so I'll reply here. Just because someone is 23 does not mean that their entire world as they know it cant be turned upside down. I'm speaking from experience. Did you read the article? And yes, men and women both do this. I'm not faulting them for doing this; I think marriage is an extremely difficult institution to succeed in and some people can't. But I do this people should do their absolute best to clean up their debris.