Research shows people are staying single for longer and settling down older, and some are choosing to be that way forever.
Singledom isn't regarded as something to be pitied as much as it used to be. And quite right too, considering there are numerous mental and physical benefits to being on your own.
Here are 7 science-backed reasons being alone is actually better for you.
1. Being single gives you the space to think
Taking some time to yourself should be seen as an opportunity to get to know who you really are and what you need. Due to something called repetition compulsion, if we've been hurt in the past, we can be tempted to rush into new relationships with people who are wrong for us, because we're trying to subconsciously fix the pain.
If you take time being single, you'll find time is a great healer and you'll learn to let go of your past. At the same time, you can explore new places and try new experiences to work out who you are, and what kind of person would be a great match for you.
2. Single people are healthier
There's some evidence single people get more exercise than those who are married. According to a study, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, divorced people get more exercise than married people, but the ones who are the most active are those who have always been single.In a blog post for Psychology Today, social psychologist Bella DePaulo discusses how people who have always been single are more healthy overall than currently married people, and also have fewer sick days and fewer doctors' visits.
Another study, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, showed that single people in nine European countries had a lower BMI than married people, and overall weighed around five kilos less.
3. You're better at keeping friends
A study published in the journal Contexts found that people who had always been single were more attentive to their friends and family than married people. DePaulo writes about this in another blog post, where she says it's not just a case of infatuation in the first few years, but being more insular continues for a long time.
According to research published in the journal Information, Communication & Society, single people also have a more diverse range of people they consider close friends. They also apparently put in more effort to keep sibling relationships strong.
4. You're better with money
There's also a financial advantage to being single. According to debt.org, "21% of single people had credit card debt, [compared to] 27% of married couples without children and 36% of married couples with children."
So no matter if you have children or not, being part of a couple can be associated with more spending. It could be because single people are less materialistic.
5. Being single can mean doing better at work
Single people are more likely to value meaningful work, according to DePaulo. Not having to worry about maintaining a relationship can mean putting more effort into your career.
And being more able to take trips and travel alone for longer periods of time can also open up more opportunities that you wouldn't necessarily have if you were tied down in one place.
6. Being alone can be less stressful
Being single can, of course, be stressful. You might be trying to find a relationship or you might be pressured from people around you. But being with a partner can have its issues as well. As well as being concerned about fitting someone else into your life and plans, coupled up people have to consider where the relationship is going and whether they have enough power and autonomy in their partnership.
As Susan Heitler writes in a blog post for Psychology Today, these stresses can be overcome. But it's a learning curve single people don't have to worry about.
7. Singles are more self-sufficient
Being alone is not the same thing as being lonely. And learning to appreciate alone time is really important for being self-sufficient. Everyone needs to be self-sufficient at some time in their life, and if you've never been alone, you might have a tough time adjusting.
According to studies, the more self-sufficient single people are, the less likely they are to experience negative emotions. But for married people, being self-sufficient is associated with more negative emotions — almost like they resent having to fend for themselves.
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