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It’s a tough life out there, but especially when you are a woman. Women’s lives have never been easy and every day you take small precautions to protect yourself: Use your keys as a weapon when you leave the vape shop for ejuice at night, for example, or carry pepper spray in your purse everywhere you go. What else can you do to ensure your safety?

Door and Lock Replacement

A flimsy front door is useless against anyone who is serious about breaking it down, so swap yours out for something that is more heavy-duty and durable. While you’re at it, change the locks and be very picky who you give spares to. 

  • If you rent, this can be a challenge. The best place to start? Speak to your landlord about potential safety concerns and ask how they can help you feel more secure.
  • For an added measure, install one of those latching locks that they have in hotels. These are surprisingly tough and can withstand a lot of force.

Get to Know the Neighbours

Introduce yourself to the neighbors as soon as you move in and stay friendly with them as time goes on. There really is strength in numbers, and the neighbors are more likely to notice any odd changes or patterns if they’re friends. It’s a smart idea to have people nearby in case of a crisis.

Take Self-Defense Classes

The best way to be prepared for a bad situation is to know what to do in one. Sign yourself (and maybe some friends) up for self-defense classes in your area. These classes don’t just show you how to fight a predator, but they also show you warning signs and how to avoid confronting one at all.

Close Your Curtains

An open, lit window at night might as well have a neon arrow pointing to it; everything inside is bright as day outside, so be mindful of your windows. Invest in some black-out curtains to make sure that everything is really and truly covered and that no looky-loos can see inside.

Keep a Pair of Men’s Boots at the Door

This is a clever little trick and it can be deceptive: Buy a well-used pair of men’s shoes and leave them by the front door. Make sure to move them around every so often so that it looks like they are being used, but if any potential bad guy has their eye on you, at least it’s not obvious that you’re living alone.

When you live alone, it can be easy to feel especially vulnerable and frightened. Small steps can help give you peace of mind in your home.

Avery Parker