You don’t have to live in fear to live with intention. When you walk in, give yourself ten silent seconds before you flood the room with light. Lock the door. Listen. Let your eyes adjust. Pull curtains fully closed and drop blinds all the way down. That small pause keeps your home from becoming a glowing display case for anyone outside who happens to be looking in, guessing when you arrive, when you sleep, when you’re most distracted.

Then, soften the script you’ve unknowingly written. Instead of the same overhead light at the same time every night, use a lamp sometimes, or light a different room first. Shift your timing by a few minutes, keep certain spaces dim, and avoid predictable patterns that broadcast your rhythm. If darkness feels unsettling, lean on outdoor lighting, motion sensors, or a small flashlight until you’re settled. Living alone is not a vulnerability; it’s a position of control. You’re simply choosing when, and how, the world gets to see in—and when it doesn’t.