Rental units with limited personal space typically include rooming houses, bedroom rentals, basement suites, and studio apartments. Living in tight spaces can cause both physical and emotional effects. If you find yourself without much personal space there are a few things you can do.

Join a gym: Besides the benefits of engaging in physical activity, your membership will also entitle you to other services that don’t involve sweating such as arts and crafts, writers clubs, fine arts, workshops, films, and presentations. If money is a challenge, our City of Edmonton facilities and the YMCA provide assistance to those who are unable to pay the full cost of a membership.

Go outside: Sometimes it may only take a simple step outside, even in winter to alleviate the uneasy feeling of being in a tight space. Fresh air provides a boost of energy, helps to clear our lungs, and if the sun is shining, you might be taking in the often recommended vitamin D.

Coffee break: If your budget allows for this, take some time to go for coffee. Coffee is still cheap if you keep it simple (i.e. no lattes, or beverages with fancy names). You get to be out of the house among people or by yourself if you choose. If coffee is a treat that you can’t currently afford, there are a variety of drop-in centres and agencies in the neighbourhood that offer free coffee.

Keep it simple: If you don’t have much space for your personal belongings, decide what items are most important and get rid of the rest. De-cluttering on a regular basis helps to keep your environment clean and safe.

Secure your belongings: If you live with multiple people whom you don’t know very well or are hesitant to trust, give yourself some peace of mind by providing locks for your most important or costly belongings. Keep items such as immigration papers, birth certificates, and legal documents in a secure place where they cannot be easily taken. You might also want to invest in a good lock to keep your belongings less accessible.

Yovella is a former resident who still works in the area.