As Long As I Keep Busy is a social documentary aimed at contributing to the knowledge about people living alone in the UK. 

In the UK over eight million people live alone, almost 12 percent of the population and the numbers are increasing. However, living alone is also a world-wide social phenomenon with links to loneliness, potential isolation and poor physical and mental health. You can read about this and more in the project background.

Here you will find eight examples of the thirty participants, each supported by a summary of their life story including feelings about living alone.

We know that feelings about living alone are unrelated to age, gender, ethnicity, background and socio-economic status, and so I deliberately sought a diverse range of participants. I have also distinguished between living alone and being alone because some people feel positive about living alone: they too are included in this project.

My work has been featured in Humanity, the journal of The Centre for British Documentary Photography, and exhibited by the Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Document Scotland, Shutter Hub, and the Scottish Portrait Awards 2023.

As Long As I Keep Busy is now available as a publication, containing 24 portraits and life stories, plus supporting information about living alone in the UK. Please contact me to order a copy at £10 incl UK p&p.

if you would like more information about As Long As I Keep Busy or would like to order a copy of the publication, please contact me. 

Neil Goodwin

January 2023