It is perfectly okay to be happily single and enjoy yourself. In fact, it is healthy to focus on creating a full, happy life, whether you're single or in a relationship. There are many enjoyable aspects of being single. You can enjoy meaningful, fulfilling connections no matter what your relationship status is.
People prefer being single for many reasons.
In one study published in 2022, hundreds of men and women were surveyed about what makes single life attractive, and they rated the top benefits as having more time for themselves, being able to focus on their goals, and not having anyone else dictate their actions.
Women have to work harder than men in heterosexual relationships, so are happier being single than men are, according to a new study. The study showed that women tend to be better at having alternative social networks whereas men tend to rely quite heavily on their wives.
New research suggests single individuals are, in general, satisfied with both singlehood and life. People with lower singlehood satisfaction are more likely to be men, older, more educated, or in worse health.
"There is absolutely no set time frame that counts as 'too long' for being single," says Megan Stubbs, EdD, a sexologist and relationship expert based in Michigan. Part of the reason why is because there's no set definition as what "being single" actually looks like.
You stress less about chores and money
One stereotype of single people is that they're constantly worried about finding a mate—but that's certainly not true for everyone. And in fact, there are plenty of areas where single people stress less than those in relationships.
This might come as a shock, but research has shown that 54% of people who stay single for a long time end up with health issues that later affect their love life. The most common health issues associated with extended single good include suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.
We took a look at data gathered over the past year, comprised of more than 700,000 screenings, and noticed an interesting trend: people who selected “single” as their partnership status scored more highly consistent for symptoms of depression, than their counterparts.
Being Single For A Long Time is Not Baggage.
Being single and being in a relationship are simply two different states of being. There are upsides and downsides to both. Being single for a long time can mean that you maintain your standards and refuse to stay in bad relationships, and it's a great thing.
Since no one can foretell the future, a single person cannot know for sure whether they will find someone who meets their expectations and subsequently marry them. It is this lack of clarity about the yet-to-be spouse that makes the loss ambiguous, and in turn difficult to manage or come to terms with.
Sleeping Alone.
Many of you noted that having no one to fall asleep next to, or wake up next to is the hardest part of being single. It's completely normal to have that longing for intimacy and to even find yourself imagining what that might look like when you find yourself feeling alone.
Participants rated the “Lack of regular and safe sex,” the “Lack of tenderness and love,” and the “Lack of someone to motivate me to improve myself” to be the most important disadvantages of singlehood.
Confidence and self-esteem play a vital role when it comes to love. However, many people are unable to find love because they don't think they're worthy of having it. These types of beliefs often have roots reaching as far back as early childhood and can have a huge impact on our lives.
Dating experts definitely think it is. In fact, they believe it's more of a red flag to jump from relationship to relationship than it is to be single for a long time.
The Bible Says Singleness Is a Gift from God
According to 1 Corinthians 7:7-9, singleness is a gift: I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.
People in relationships tend to be happier and healthier than those who are single. But is it always the case that people who are partnered are better off? Research says no. The goals people hold for their relationships (approaching positive outcomes versus avoiding negative ones) matter.
If it is common, it is normal. To be single is utterly ordinary, more so now than any time in recent history, not just in the U.S. but in many places around the world. In the U.S., for example, nearly as many adults 18 and older are unmarried as married.
Is it normal to be single? "It is absolutely normal to be single, either by choice or because you haven't found what you're looking for," says Battle. According to a 2020 report from the Pew Research Center, about 31% of U.S. adults are single, and half of singles are not looking for a relationship or dates currently.
As of 2022, Pew Research Center found, 30 percent of U.S. adults are neither married, living with a partner nor engaged in a committed relationship. Nearly half of all young adults are single: 34 percent of women, and a whopping 63 percent of men.
Enjoying a single life is nothing to be ashamed of and is very much OK. It's also important to understand that single time can be a period of growth, reflection, and understanding. This doesn't mean that you can never enter into another relationship; however, to enjoy your single status is a positive thing.
The person living alone, or without a mate, has in addition special problems to deal with, such as greater loneliness, depression, fear, facing decisions alone, the need for love and affection, and sexual desires that must be kept under control. The single life does not have to be a negative experience.
Society believes that if you are not part of such a unit, you are probably incomplete, antisocial, and perhaps even dangerous. In turn, singles are made to feel less worthy. This is a major source of frustration and confusion for single people, young and old.
Being single can feel lonely at times, and loneliness isn't always easy to manage. A first key step to combat feeling lonely is to first take a few deep, slow breaths, resist any urge to panic, so you can turn on your thinking brain.