While many people prefer to have a significant other in their life, others enjoy the benefits that go along with staying single. Sure, it might feel nice to cuddle up with your lover after a long, hard day at work.
But according to a Gallup poll, over 60% of people ages 18 to 29 identify as single. It seems the trend is to steer clear of relationships with others, and instead, work on the relationship with the self. While to some, this might seem like a lonely path to take, others find it totally liberating and fulfilling to live without a partner.
Society seems to push the idea that we must have relationships to feel content in life, but plenty of people prove this theory dead wrong.
Here’s why some people choose to stay single:
They feel happier being single.
Not everyone desires to have a serious relationship – in fact, some people actually feel more comforted and fulfilled by being single. Relationships don’t always equate to happiness, anyway, and that is evidenced by the high divorce rate nowadays. Single people might see relationships as overrated, and don’t want to put in the work required only to have things end later on down the road. Single people can cultivate a relationship with themselves on a deeper level, and for some, that’s all they need to be happy.
They want to work on themselves.
In a relationship, you can certainly work on yourself, but you have more of an opportunity to do so when you’re single. Self-development allows you to build character and strengthen your weaknesses, which actually can make you a better partner down the road, should you choose to get into another relationship. Even if you don’t desire a significant other in your life, bettering yourself is never a negative thing. Without having someone to answer to, you can take that extra time to work on your fitness, on a business idea, or on your meditation/yoga practice. You get to choose how you spend your time, which is a major reason why some people choose to stay single.
They want to dedicate time to their future.
These are uncertain times, and with an unstable global economy, many millenials want to secure their place in the world both financially and career-wise. Many people choose to stay single in order to go back to school, finish their degree, start an internship, or devote more time to their careers. After all, it takes money to survive in this world, and since we have to spend the majority of our lives earning it, choosing a career we feel passionate about is of utmost importance.
They don’t want a serious commitment.
Some people choose the single life so they can explore relationships with many people, and not have to commit to just one. While this might seem like an easy way out of relationships, some people just don’t want to have a serious commitment in their life, and that’s perfectly fine. As long as everyone feels comfortable with the idea, exploring different relationships with multiple people can actually help you grow as a person in a variety of ways. Single people would rather get to know several people than put all their eggs in one basket, so to speak.
They feel content with the people in their lives already.
Did you ever think that maybe single people don’t feel the need to add another person into their life? Plus, according to a study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, researchers found that single people had more active social lives than their partnered-up counterparts. Also, people in relationships tend to feel isolated from their friends since they spend the majority of their time with their partners. Sometimes, all you need in life is great friends and family to get you by.
They had bad relationships in the past.
Yet another reason some people stay single is that they are scarred from past relationships. Maybe they don’t want to take a chance on someone else for fear of having a broken heart once again, and if you haven’t walked their path, you really can’t judge them for this decision. Maybe they just got out of a toxic relationship and don’t feel ready to get back into one. They might never want to have another relationship, and that’s their personal preference, of course. What works for one person won’t always work for another, and single people might simply want to protect their heart and enjoy life without all the drama for a while.
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