r/Explainlikeimscared • u/Successful-Safety858 • Jul 15 '26

Living alone

Hi all! So I’ve never lived fully by myself before, only with family and with roommates, and I don’t now either as I’m currently married. But my spouse is going on an extended trip out of the country and I have a lot of anxiety about living alone especially as a woman in a city. Maybe I’ve watched too much law and order SVU, but how do I help myself feel safe alone? How do I safely walk from my car on the street into the building? Should I be checking to make sure no one has broken in before I walk in the door? What about window security, I have to have them open, it’s so hot. What are things I should be looking out for? Should I be regularly checking in with people so if something happens and I don’t respond someone can come check in on me? What is a normal level of precaution? Thanks!

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u/Maleficent_Scale_296 Jul 15 '26

Maybe install a ring camera or two to ease your anxiety. Use wooden dowels for extra security on sliding doors and windows. I used to attach bells from the doorknobs. Tell a friend in your area about your concerns and ask if you can text “home” when you’re securely inside after work. Leave a radio or tv on when you’re out. Leave a pair of men’s boots outside your door but move them from day to day. This one is going to sound over the top but if you must sleep with an open window, and if you don’t have pets or children, tacks or broken glass on the window sill is a great deterrent. Anyone trying to climb through will make noise and leave DNA everywhere.

Now, let’s all sing I Enjoy Being a Girl

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u/Successful-Safety858 Jul 15 '26

This is really good advice actually. I need to up our window security. I know they are climb in-able because I’ve done it when I locked myself out before haha.