I was fortunate enough to move into my own place during my junior year of college, and although I was nervous at first, those nerves have since subsided. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I knew I wanted to live on my own.

After spending two years in a dorm with three to four roommates, and then living in student accommodations during my study abroad term in London, having my own space is a much-welcomed gift.

Although I lived in those ‘fancy’ student dorms in which we all got our own room, and had my own room in London too, the feeling of having people around me all the time was stressing me out. I wanted to be in control of my immediate surroundings to figure out, once and for all, what works and what doesn’t, and what kind of daily routine I want to establish for myself. After being at my own place for a year, I have grown in a few ways.

I have become more responsible for myself and each decision I make is more calculated.

Not to say I wasn’t making smart decisions before, I now have to consider storage and the possibility of moving every time I purchase an item for my apartment. No matter how small, from a storage container set to a small workout machine, each purchase is made with the future in mind.

Living on my own has let me focus on myself.

The main reason I wanted to live alone at the end of the day, was to have the freedom to whatever I want to, be it sing for the fun of it while doing dishes, or brew coffee early in the morning without disturbing anyone. I’ve been able to take the time to understand who I am and what makes me tick. If I’m having a bad day, I have to figure it out for myself. If my anxiety is getting worse or if I’m becoming more stressed, I’ve learned to listen to what my body needs to heal. Whether it’s making to-do lists to calm my nerves about everything I need to do, or coloring to soothe my nerves, I'm more mindful of my body and what it tells me.

Having a dog has taught me responsibility in a way I didn’t think was possible.

I still remember waking up the day after getting him, and realizing he was 100% dependent on me now. It’s also changed my lifestyle but it’s helped me feel more grown up. The partying and late-night scenes were never really my thing, so although I only get out once in a while it’s worth it because there’s a lot of planning around the time that goes into a night out.

See also: Living Alone Has Forced Me To Focus On My Mental Health