You know how in all those Disney movies, the princesses were lucky enough to be swept off their feet by dream Princes by the time they were like, 18? Being single after reaching puberty doesn’t even really seem like a viable option for anyone who was raised on Disney films and Rom-Coms. If you’ve been single on a Valentine’s Day (or tbh, any holiday), then you definitely know what I mean. The overall suckiness of single life can be weighty if you’re sitting there waiting for the one while your friends and family are enjoying their happy endings (or at least happy-for-now moments) around you.
But here’s the twist that those Disney movies didn’t show us: It’s OKAY to be single. And not only is it okay, but it can be pretty amazing. Need proof? Here are sixteen reasons why being single is actually good for you… Right now and in the long run!
1) You can learn when it’s love and when it’s just that you want somebody in your life.
It’s fine to want to fall in love and be in a relationship, but it’s easy to get so caught up in loving the actual state of being in a relationship that you don’t take the time to decide if the person is right for you. Being single lets you learn what it feels like to be on your own so that if the right person does come around, you’ll know it’s not just the loneliness talking.
2) You’ll argue less about the little things.
his might not seem like a big deal, but consider all of the time you’ve spent arguing with an S.O. about where to eat or where to go. Being single negates that need because you’re the only one you’re catering to — so it’s seriously all about you.
3) You have more *you* time.
You won’t have to find ways to pencil in self-care in between balancing having enough time to devote to your partner. Do you want to lay on the couch and read a book? Go for it! Have you missed doing your yoga? Less time divided means you have more time to do the things you’ve been putting off!
4) You can spend more time in your pajamas and a messy bun.
Sure, your confidence should go beyond what other people think of you, but let’s be honest. If you know you’re not going to have company for a night-in, who among us wouldn’t get a little sloppy with our appearance? It’s comfortable, convenient, and a wonderful benefit of being single.
5) You don’t have to watch TV that you hate.
Whether that manifests in not watching a sitcom or being able to be free from a sport you hate, you have control over what comes across your TV set. If you don’t like Family Guy or golf, you get the peace of mind that you’re not going to have to ~compromise~ your TV time with someone else!
6) You don’t have someone there to eat your favorite foods.
Sounds trivial, right? But if you’re thinking about that last piece of chocolate cake in your fridge just to find that it’s long gone, that’s a real devastation! By being single, there’s one less person to sneak around like a ninja and eat your food while you’re at work.
7) You have more time and opportunity to better yourself.
If you’re in a serious relationship, things like location can be a big deal. If you’re single, you can pack up and move without having to decide if it’s a good thing for your significant other or relationship. Getting a better job, going to college, moving to experience a new culture—these are all things that can expand your opportunities, and they’re closer to your fingertips if you’re making the decisions solo.
8) You have less demands on your time.
By being in a relationship, you’re agreeing to be there for that person—at least ideally—when they need you to be. This could manifest itself in work situations, family commitments, or extracurricular activities. But if you’re single? Your time is more yours to do what you will.
9) You don’t have to spend your holidays with another person’s relatives.
If you’re set on heading home to Nevada to see your parents for Christmas, you don’t have to worry about how it fits in with your significant other’s plans. There’s no discussion or compromise about whose family you’re going to see. It’s all about yours!
10) You don’t have to go where you don’t want to go.
Just like you don’t have to watch that golf game on the TV, you don’t have to go out golfing on your weekend if you hate it. Instead, spend your time doing something you enjoy!
11) You can learn what you want in a relationship.
Believe it or not, being on your own can help you realize what you want to be added to your life through a relationship. If you really miss having someone to talk to about your bigger life issues, you can label that as a top priority for any upcoming relationships. You’ll be a better judge about what would improve your life in a that setting.
12) You can learn what you can’t handle in a relationship.
On the flipside, you can learn a good deal just by taking some time out of the relationship field to figure out things that you can’t stand. That could be through be self-reflection, or it might be the effect of watching other people in relationships that wouldn’t work for you. Either way, you can have a mental list about deal-breakers to give you a solid outlook about what you’re looking for in a relationship.
13) You know you’re not in a bad relationship.
No news is good news, and no relationship is better than a bad one. You’re not being cheated on, talked down to, ignored or emotionally burdened in a relationship when no relationship exists. Single is better than taken for granted or mistreated! And that, my friends, is a fact.
14) You can scratch off some bucket list items before you settle down.
If you think backpacking across Europe would be too much with a family, it might pay to dive into it ASAP. Sure, you could take a significant other with you, but there could be things that you want to do by yourself — or maybe your beau would have must-sees that you don’t care about, taking precious hours out of the limited time you’ve got while vacationing. Perhaps your future love will feel a certain way about you electively jumping out of a plane for fun. The point is that it’s your list, and you can deal with some of those goals before step out of the single life.
15) You’ll see you can do things on your own.
You don’t actually need the relationship to be okay in life, and once you realize that then there’s truly nothing you can’t do. At your wedding, you don’t want to be the one saying, “I was lost/broken/a mess before we met…” you want to be saying something like, “I was doing really well before we met, but you’re the perfect addition.”