Especially if you’ve been in a relationship for a long time, it can be difficult to adjust to singlehood after a breakup. You likely worry about feeling lonely or aging alone. Even when a cute couple walks by you, you might start to feel envious.
Being single, though, has its benefits as well. In actuality, some people put off entering into a committed relationship or getting married because they value their freedom as a single person so highly. Are you curious as to why?
Does Being Single Make Life Better?
With dating, you can appreciate who you are and share your love with someone. However, this is not the intended outcome because being single has benefits that are frequently overlooked.
Being content and having fun in life is important whether you’re single or in a relationship.
People frequently decide to remain in unhappy relationships because they are afraid of being alone. However, being single can present an opportunity to meet new people, so it does not necessarily imply loneliness.
If you are dating someone because of peer, family, or social pressure, it is better to be single than unhappy. And when the right person comes along, you can decide to date them.
15 Surprising Benefits Of Being Single
Being single is viewed as a status that people do not prefer, so the benefits are frequently disregarded. People in committed relationships are perceived as successful in life, while single people are perceived as losing.
While stereotypes about single people have been documented in research, they do not take into account all of their benefits.
Being Single Gives You The Space To Think
Having some alone time should be viewed as a chance to discover your true needs and self. Due to a phenomenon known as repetition compulsion, if we’ve been hurt in the past, we may be tempted to jump into new relationships with people who aren’t right for us in an effort to numb the pain.
If you give being single some time, you’ll discover that it’s a great healer and that you can learn to let go of the past. At the same time, you can discover who you are and what type of person would be a great match for you by visiting new places and engaging in novel experiences.
Better Health Overall
Numerous studies have examined the effects that marriage and singleness can have on health. While neither one is necessarily overall healthier, being single does appear to have some significant health advantages. For instance, a study conducted in 2006 discovered that people who had never been married had the lowest rates of heart disease. Furthermore, numerous studies have revealed that single people are less likely to gain weight than those in relationships.
More Exercise
When you consider it, it makes sense. Singles are more likely to work out because they want to stay in shape so they can find a partner. Compared to their peers who are partnered up, they also have more time to devote to exercise. Men who are single never have to forgo Saturday morning yoga because cuddling sounds better or skip CrossFit because of a dinner with the in-laws.
A 2004 study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family examined the exercise habits of more than 13,000 men and women between the ages of 18 and 64. Independent of age or gender, those who had never been married exercised more each week than those who were either married or divorced.
More Time For Family
It all comes down to priorities!
Your familial relationships will take a back seat if you are actively working on developing a strong bond with a partner. Due to the possibility that you and your partner are attempting to start new traditions, you might not be able to participate in family vacations or holidays.
Spending more time with your family is possible when you are single. You are welcome to pay frequent visits to your parents and travel and celebrate holidays with them. The best aspect of being single is this.
You have more time to focus on the people who matter to you in life—those who truly love and cherish you and who are not acting out their feelings for you—when you don’t have to make any compromises at all in terms of your social life.
More Time For Deeper Friendships
You can meet people whenever, wherever, and however you want when you’re single. You no longer have to hang out with people you don’t care about because you are single, which frees you from this obligation.
This has to be among the best advantages of being single. You get to spend all of your time and energy on the people who are closest to your heart and with whom you feel comfortable.
According to research, maintaining friendships is a crucial aspect of single life as opposed to that of those in committed relationships. During difficult times, it serves as a wonderful support system.
Traveling Flexibility
You can expand your horizons and gain a better understanding of the world by traveling. You get the chance to unwind and learn new things during that time. You can learn about various cultures, sample exotic cuisine, enjoy unbelievable music, and meet extraordinary people from all over the world.
Travel anywhere you want, without restriction! Being flexible for anyone who loves to travel is one of the significant advantages of being single.
A Chance To Develop Hobbies
Do you still think about that pastime you’ve always wanted to devote yourself to? Take action right away!
Being single gives you more time and the freedom to make your own decisions, which is one of its benefits. In your spare time, you can enroll in a course to pick up new knowledge.
Since no one can stop you from making this decision, you won’t need to defend your decision in front of anyone.
More Time For Sleep And Relaxation
Couples must spend time and attention on each other in order to maintain a relationship. Your ability to unwind and get a good night’s sleep may be hampered by this.
You don’t have to worry about getting up early or staying up late for anyone else. You can go to bed and wake up according to your schedule. You’ll have more freedom and time to stretch out in bed and get some additional rest.
Less Debt
Being single also has financial benefits. In comparison to married couples without children (27%), and married couples with children (36%), only 21% of single people had credit card debt, according to debt.org.”
So whether you have kids or not, being in a couple can lead to higher spending. Perhaps it’s because single people tend to have fewer materialistic values.
Stronger Social Connections
Loneliness is distinct from being alone. Single people may be more aware of avoiding feelings of isolation and, as a result, maintain stronger relationships with friends and family. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family reported that married people are less likely than single people to keep in contact with friends, family, and neighbours. Similar results from a more recent study.
A Chance To Get To Know Yourself
It can be difficult to reflect and grow when you move quickly from one relationship to the next.
Being single gives you the opportunity to examine your actions and passions in order to better understand who you are as a person. Knowing who you are will help you avoid following the herd and work toward acquiring things that will truly make you happy.
Learn To Rely On Yourself
Living independently is rewarding but challenging.
Being single gives you the freedom to make decisions for yourself, which is one of its main advantages. You are capable of managing all aspects of your household needs while living alone.
Being independent is a necessary part of learning how to be single and happy because it will help you grow as a person and boost your self-assurance. You will gain the ability to take care of yourself and your needs independently of others.
Being Alone Can Be Less Stressful
Of course, it can be stressful to be single. It’s possible that you’re looking for love or that you’re under pressure from others. However, having a partner can also have its problems. Couples have to think about where the relationship is going and whether they have enough power and autonomy in their partnership in addition to worrying about fitting someone else into their lives and plans.
These pressures can be handled, as Susan Heitler explains in a blog post for Psychology Today. However, it’s a learning curve that single people need not be concerned about.
A More Mature Understanding Of Love
No more time for puppy love!
You have the opportunity to consider your prior relationships when you are single. You can examine the relationship’s problems objectively and determine whether there are any preventative measures you can take to avoid repeating them in the future.
You will gain a better understanding of your emotional and social needs as you figure out how to deal with being single. You gain a deeper understanding of love and become a more mature romantic.
Singles Are More Self-sufficient
Being lonely is different from being alone. And developing an appreciation for solitude is crucial for independence. Everybody needs to learn how to be independent at some point in their lives, but if you’ve never lived alone, you might find it difficult to adjust.
Studies show that single people are less likely to feel bad about themselves when they are more independent. However, being independent is linked to more unfavorable feelings in married people; it’s almost as though they dislike being on their own.
How Can I Overcome My Fear Of Being Single?
For various reasons, being alone terrifies a lot of people, but loving yourself first will help you get over this fear.
Keep in mind that you are a wonderful person and that you do not require a partner to live a fulfilling life. Being alone is a treat, not a punishment that you must dread.
No need to jump into another relationship right away. Take some time instead to discover how much freedom and flexibility being single offers you. You don’t have to rely on anyone else if you have control over every aspect of your life.
Conclusion
It’s easy to overlook the unexpected advantages of being single. More freedom and authority over your life may be yours to keep. You can develop your independence and give yourself the opportunity to advance in all facets of your life.
We are all expected to get married and start families, so you might be succumbing to societal and cultural pressures. The saying goes that life is a circle. When you are single, it’s all a matter of perspective, so you are not required to act in the same manner. There’s no need to be depressed about it because it just means you have a lot to do with the special kind of freedom you have. Who cares if you remain unmarried forever? You, and no one else, are in charge of your life.
Being loved does not require being in a relationship. You are still surrounded by loved ones, such as your family and friends, even if you are single. You can fall in love with a lot of lovely things in life, in addition. Just go exploring, that’s all.
If you are ready to accept love into your life, you will be in a much better place with a deeper understanding of who you are and a more mature outlook.