Hi lovelies,

You can get a great sense of freedom from living on your own. It's not necessarily the right choice for everyone, but many people enjoy having their own space and not having to share with anyone. When you have space for yourself, you don't have to keep anyone else's needs in mind. You can enjoy your own company, except when you feel like inviting people over, and maybe have space for a pet or two. But living on your own can also have some challenges, and one is making sure that you feel safe at home. It can feel a little frightening to live alone, but there are steps you can take to be and feel safer.

Make Your Home Well-Lit
Lighting is important if you want to make your home secure and create a feeling of safety in your home. Good lighting helps to keep intruders away because it's a lot harder to approach your home unseen if there are bright lights shining on them. If you want to install security lights outside your home, use lights with motion sensors. They'll turn on at night if motion is detected, stunning and hopefully scaring off any would-be intruders. They'll also let you know if anyone (or anything) might be outside because you'll see when they come on.

Check the Windows and Doors
Obviously, the security of your windows and doors is a vital part of a secure home. If they're not sure, it's easier for someone to break in. Some people choose to replace the locks in their home when they move in, just to make sure no previous owners or anyone else can use a key to get in. You can also check the integrity of all locks on all windows and doors to ensure they're secure. Of course, there's no point in having locks if you don't use them. Be sure to lock up at night and when you're away from home.

Set Up a Security Camera
Security cameras will record anything suspicious around your home. They also act as a deterrent, discouraging people from trying anything when you display them clearly. Smart security cameras will even allow you to watch a live feed and will send alerts to your phone (or another device) if they pick up on any movement. As well as strategically placed cameras outside and perhaps inside your home, you can consider a doorbell camera. These are useful for checking who's at the door, like a modern peephole.

Install an Alarm
A security alarm is another great way of ensuring you're warned of any suspicious activity. It's also excellent to scare people away if they do try to break in or trespass. If you install an alarm, you can set it at night or when you go out to protect your home. You can often combine alarms with other security devices too. With smart technology on the rise, you can connect your security alarm with other security tech, such as cameras. You can also install an alarm that will automatically contact a monitoring center for you, which will confirm any incidents and can call the police for you too.

Keep a Good Flashlight
Sometimes it's the seemingly small things that can help to keep you safe. In a similar way that security lights will help to keep you safe at home, having a good flashlight will also help you to stay safe. A powerful LED tactical flashlight from EcoGearFX is ideal to keep at home. You can use it in case of power cuts or if you need to check anything outside at night. It's also useful if you want to walk the dog, take a walk on your own, or go for a run in the evening. Not only do they light the way, but you can use them for self-defense too.

Use a Personal Safety Alarm
A personal safety alarm is also a useful item to carry when you're out and about on your own. You can use it if you ever feel like you're in danger, and it will make a loud sound and might have a light on it too. Some alarms and apps also allow you to send a distress message to someone and let people know that you're in trouble.

Get to Know the Neighbors
Living alone doesn't have to mean that you're isolated or lonely. In fact, one of the best things that you can do if you live alone is to get to know your neighbors. There are several advantages to doing this. By getting involved with your local community, you can all watch out for each other. If you need help with anything, you'll have people nearby to ask. You can give a spare key to a trusted neighbor too. It's also useful to know and recognize your neighbors so that you can spot someone who might not be local to the area.

Keep in Touch with Family and Friends
Similarly, be sure to keep in touch with your family and friends. Letting them know your whereabouts and what you're up to can help to keep you safe, even if you're home alone. When you have people who are expecting you to be in certain places at certain times, you have people who know where to look for you. They can check in with you and make sure you are where you're supposed to be and that nothing has happened.

Create Security with Landscaping
For another way to create more security around your home, you can plan your landscaping strategically. By keeping bushes and trees neat, you can prevent people from hiding in them and make sure they don't block your line of sight. You can use thorny or sharp plants to help keep people away too. Planter boxes below your windows are also a smart idea, helping to make windows less accessible so that people can't climb through them.

Living on your own doesn't have to be or feel unsafe. You can make the experience safer with the right steps to secure your home and yourself.