You may lament being single. How it sucks to not have someone to share your life with. How you get lonely or miss that physical and mental connection. You may look at other couples enviously and wish that you had someone to snuggle in with, binge watch Game of Thrones, and down a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.
Though being in a relationship can be great, there are many times when being single beats being in a relationship. Relationships have their downfalls, and even though couples are always smiling, blissful, and happy on social media or in public, every relationship has its more complicated dark side. If you’re single, be glad you can reap these benefits.
1. You don’t have to deal with drama
There is nothing worse than the stress that ensues in the wake of any sort of life change. You think it’s hard to figure out your life? Imagine having to balance what you want with what your partner wants. Your partner wants to go to grad school on the East Coast, and you want to move back to your small hometown in Montana and settle down. Either both of you compromise and no one fully gets what they want, or one of you wins. Talk about resentment, plus plenty of drama, fighting, and stress.
2. You won’t be unhappy
Many people stay in an unhappy relationship much longer than they should simply because they’re scared to be alone. When you stay in a bad relationship, you are not only opening up yourself to the stress and guilt that comes along with staying with someone who isn’t right for you, but you’re missing out on other people who could make you happy.
3. You have time for yourself
Being single allows you to focus on yourself, without the distraction of another person. You can train for a marathon, take up a new hobby, or focus on growing your career. Most importantly, you will have time to get to know yourself. This is important because there will be times in your life when the only person you can rely on and trust is yourself, so take the time and effort to build that relationship.
4. You can focus on your friendships
How many of your attached friends stay in on a Friday night, skip out on a friend’s birthday, or blow off their pals for a date night? When you’re in a relationship, your world begins to revolve around your partner. There simply isn’t the time to build and develop strong, stable friendships. Being single affords you the time and energy to build lasting platonic relationships.
5. You have freedom
Single people can do what they want, when they want. There isn’t anyone to check-in with or someone to guilt them into doing something else. If you want to stay out late and eat dinner at midnight, then you can. If you want to spend the whole day mountain biking, no one will stop you. Being in a relationship is all about compromise, but when you’re single no compromise is needed.
6. You can have guys’ (or girls’) night, minus the guilt
Both women and men may write off their partner’s night out with friends as a time to drink too much and get into trouble, but these outings really do a person good. Men’s Health highlights research that says friendship reduces physical ailments and increases contentment later in life. Hanging with friends on a regular basis also reduces your stress levels. When you’re single, you can join in on the camaraderie without the guilt trip from your significant other.
7. There’s no one to be jealous
Jealousy in some form or another always pops up in relationships. Whether you have to deal with your partner’s jealousy or you’re the jealous one, it takes a lot of energy to deal with. When you’re single, though, you don’t have to worry about who’s texting who or why your phone calls are going unanswered when your partner is at happy hour with new coworkers. Jealousy requires a lot of time and energy to control, which when you’re single you can funnel that time and energy to other areas of your life.
8. You don’t have to force relationships with other people
When you’re dating someone, you get involved in all sorts of forced relationships. You have to spend time with their friends (who you may or may not like), you have to deal with their family, and you may even be expected to build relationships with their pets, coworkers, and exes. Not only does being in a relationship with someone you love take time and energy, but the amount of your life that you have to give to people who you may not even like can be overwhelming.
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Author: Evie Carrick
Evie Carrick is an author at www.cheatsheet.com.
