The city where I actually "grew"
Did I enjoy it?—Absolutely yes.
Did I learn anything?—Tons.
Living alone isn’t a piece of cake—even making a cake is tough! There’s so much you discover about yourself when you step out of your comfort zone.
Do listen to the audio version of this blog here incase you are not a person of reading !
🎙️ Listen to: "The City Where I Actually Grew"
Staying Calm When Life Feels Overwhelming
The first big lesson: remain calm and composed. I won’t say overthinking is always bad, but when you start getting scared, that can mess up your whole experience. Trust me—staying positive and grateful, no matter the situation, works wonders. If you react hastily, it’s only going to be a loss for you.
Making Friends and Enjoying New Connections
The second thing I learned: communicate, network, and make friends. You definitely need people to explore the city; sometimes, solo trips are awesome too (most of my adventures were solo and I enjoyed every bit—exploring new places on my terms, taking random suggestions, and not having to worry about anyone else). But group outings are unbeatable if you vibe with your companions. Luckily, I made friends who matched my energy, and I’m so happy and grateful for them.
Health Really Is Wealth
Third lesson: health is everything. I joined a gym near my PG a month in, but I'm not going to lie, I struggled with consistency for a while. The PG food was amazing (seriously, ask me in the comments if you want to know where I stayed!), and I indulged in outside food a little too much. Eventually, I got pretty sick—cold and cough hit me hard, and my body just couldn’t take it anymore.
Home called me back for two weeks so I could recover and hit reset, mentally and physically. After that, I made my health a priority, became regular at the gym, fixed my diet, and made gym friends who honestly motivated me a lot (shoutout to you guys!).
Keeping in Touch with Loved Ones
Fourth: stay connected with loved ones. When things get tough, or after a hard day, don’t hesitate to call or talk to your people. That support is crucial for staying positive and grounded. It makes you feel human.
Adulting: Managing Money and Time
Fifth: managing finances. Actually, you will learn to manage your money—it’s not optional! You’ll think of how to spend, save, and maybe even invest. Time management feels impossible at first, but eventually, trust me, you’ll be a pro—planning is your new best friend.
Taking on the Professional Challenge
Facing Tough Projects and Steep Learning Curves
On the work front, my mentor threw me into a seriously steep learning curve. Thankfully, my teammates supported me—whether it was serious work mode or letting off steam. The real project was way bigger than anything we’d practiced, and we quickly realized, “Oh, we thought we were ready for war… but this is the real battle.”
That moment was humbling. Even if you think you’re the best, there’s always a whole world out there with people better and smarter. It stings, sometimes makes you wonder why you’re struggling so much—just to learn you’re still not there yet?
But you can take this two ways:
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Negative: “No matter how hard I try, I’ll never catch up.”
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Positive: Use the challenge (and those ahead of you) as fuel to get better, without obsessing over the destination.
I chose the positive route, and I’m glad I did.
Asking for Help, Networking, and Keeping Records
Don’t be shy to ask for help—from seniors, mentors, your boss—anyone. People are usually willing to help if you show you’re trying. Plus, it’s a great way to network.
Try to prioritize work-life balance. Yes, it’s totally possible! If you’re productive during your work hours, you can avoid overtime. And one small thing: dressing well actually gives you confidence on rough days.
Sometimes, teammates might leave. Accept that nothing is forever, and learn to adjust. Always keep official info on email—proof can really save you trouble if problems pop up!
Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from mentors—that’s literally their job and it’ll make you better at yours.
Looking Back: All the Feels
Living alone in Hyderabad was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. The independence, the fun, the tough lessons—all of it was awesome. I won’t lie, I did feel lonely sometimes, but I got through it thanks to friends, family, gym buddies, roommates—everyone.
Eventually, I had to return home for commitments, but I miss my Hyderabad gang and the whole journey—good days, bad days, all of it.
Your Tips?
Do you have more tips for living alone? Drop them in the comments—I’m pretty sure I missed a bunch. Would love to hear how you handled things
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