How To Be A Happy Single: 12 Tips To Make The Most Of It
Being a happy single is easy, provided you love yourself unconditionally.
Specialty: Mental Health Counseling, Mental Health Promotion, and MindfulnessExperience: 15 yearsAshley Cairns is the CEO of A Change for Better (ACFB) and a mental health counsellor working in New Zealand. Originally from New York, Ashley has worked professionally in the US, Canada, and New Zealand, helping those suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
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Seldom do people realize that being single is a hundred times better than being in a loveless or toxic relationship. So, if you wonder how to be happy being single, we got you covered. Many usually frown upon being single, assuming that a single person is most probably lonely and depressed. But that is not what it is like. When you are single, you are committed to your betterment and can solely focus on keeping yourself content and happy. If you are single right now, you are in this special ‘limited edition’ phase of your life that you need to enjoy. Read on for some tips on being happy while staying single and ways to make the best out of this time.
12 Tips To Be A Happy Single
If you are single after being in a relationship for a while, it may seem difficult initially to be on your own. But it isn’t impossible. Here are some tips for finding joy in singlehood.
1. Embrace singlehood
Single people often have to answer questions justifying their status. It can make a person wonder if being single is that bad. Firstly, tell yourself that being single is cool. Also, it is just a period in life that won’t last forever, so why not make the best of it and enjoy it while it lasts. Pamper yourself, flirt with people you find interesting, join a hobby class, and do everything you have always wanted to do for yourself.
2. Love yourself
Even if you are single, you are still in a relationship with yourself. It is the phase to work on yourself. Get healthy, fit, and glowing by making time for daily exercise. Plan your food and cook yourself healthy meals. Dance to your favorite music at home, binge-watch your favorite shows, and try out new activities that keep you happily occupied. Learning to love yourself truly is the foundation of living healthy.
3. Find yourself
Sit by yourself and practice some self-discovery. Try to clear your mind of any distractions and focus entirely on yourself. Understand what it is that you want from life. What do you wish to achieve for yourself? Listen to your inner voice and learn about your emotions. Find out what has been holding you from achieving your dreams.
4. Develop a routine
Having a set routine keeps you from wasting time on unwanted activities and thoughts. Create a routine that allows free time to indulge in some hobby. For instance, you can have a skin routine to ensure it stays healthy and glowing. You may consult a dietician and make a diet plan for yourself and stick to it. Juggling all of this will leave you no time to remember you are single.
5. Strengthen other relationships
Some people indeed tend to neglect other relationships in their life once they start a romantic relationship. Being single means that you can spend your free time bonding with your family and friends. If you find it difficult to adjust to being single, your friends and family can help you find the strength to get over any unpleasant experience.
6. Try being spontaneous
One morning, when you have nothing much to do, pick your bag and set out on a spontaneous journey. Travel to a place you have always wanted to visit. The best part about it is that you do not have to convince anyone to tag along, and neither do you have to spend time planning. Just go with the flow and see how life surprises you.
7. Avoid negativity
When you are alone, it is easy to dwell in negative thoughts and self-loathing. In such low phases, you have to remind yourself that all that you think is not reality. Just because you are single today does not mean you will always be single. Someday, you will find the one you deserve. Till then, you have to be patient and work on becoming the best version of yourself.
8. Make yourself happy
Remember the little black dress you always wanted to wear but couldn’t because your significant other did not like it? Now is the time to go ahead and wear it! If there were any restrictions imposed on you when dating, it is the best time to break it and move on in life. Do anything your heart says—sing loudly in the shower, laze around in your pajamas, and sleep over the weekend because no one is watching.
9. Create a space for yourself
When living with someone else, you have to share your space. Being single gives you the freedom to decorate your space the way you want it to be. You can have pink pillows or plants all over the house. Tap into your creative décor ideas and see what theme resonates the most with you. Create a space that is exclusively yours. Use this as an opportunity to create your own style. You’ll feel better for having spent the time to create a place that feels comfortable.
10. Plan your finances
Being single gives you the liberty to plan your finances. When you have no one to share your expenses with, you learn to become more responsible, plan expenditures, and save accordingly. You may even push yourself to earn more to be able to save more for a rainy day.
11. Learn from your past
Sit by yourself, look back on your life, and list every lesson you learned from your past. Do not wallow in self-pity, instead use this time to make positive changes in yourself. Write down what you have learned about yourself. This way, you will not only be able to learn from your mistakes but also better understand yourself as a person.
12. Avoid waiting to find someone
You may miss being in a relationship, but that should not make you sit and wait for it. Keep going about with your regular life, doing what you love and are passionate about. Do look out for love but do not focus all your energy on finding yourself a date. Instead, work on attaining your goals and let love find its way to you.
8 Benefits Of Being Single
Much opposed to the general view, being single can be quite beneficial.
1. You become self-reliant
Being single can teach you how to change the light bulb, build your own shelves, pay utilities in time, and a lot more. In short, being single makes you less dependent on a partner and more self-reliant. You do things that you would never learn to do if you were not single.
2. You have more time in your hands
Imagine the amount of time you save when you are single compared to couples who spend their free time with their partners. You do not have to stress about texting back and meeting on the scheduled date. Also, you can focus on yourself and your work.
3. You learn what makes you happy
When in a relationship, there are chances that you are so invested in your partner that you lose sight of your interests. But when you are single, you have the time to cultivate your hobbies and interests. You get to know yourself better and understand what gives you joy.
4. You live on your terms
As a single person, you can live wherever you want without having to adjust and live closer to your partner. You have to manage your own time only and not accommodate a partner’s schedule into your daily plans. There is less complication as you do what is convenient for you.
5. You save money
No doubt you have to bear all your living expenses by yourself, but you also save a lot of money by being single. You do not have to spend on dates or gifts. You are free to spend and save the way you want to.
6. You avoid fights
There are no fights, no anxiety, no misunderstandings, no forced outings with families, and so on. You may have to face all of this eventually, but for now, you can chill.
7. You sleep better
Nothing can be more comfortable than having the entire bed to yourself at night. You can snore, and no one will push you aside. The blanket and pillow are all yours. When you sleep well, you wake up fresh and energized for the day.
8. You have less housework
Living with no one but yourself means having to cook only for one person, cleaning only your closet, shopping only for yourself, and not worrying about the toilet seat. You save plenty of time and energy by tending to only your personal needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is being single unhealthy?
Being single may cause one to be lonely, increasing the risk for depression. Loneliness can also increase mortality risk by 30% (1). On the flip side, being single allows you plenty of alone time, which may boost your productivity and creativity. Thus, being single can have pros and cons, some outweighing others based on your circumstances and personality.
2. Are single people happier?
Being in a relationship offers many factors that influence happiness, including a sense of belonging, companionship, and a support system. However, according to some studies, single people are more socially active than their married counterparts. Often, this factor causes them to be happier than married people (2).
Embrace your singlehood and learn how to be happy being single. Invest time in yourself, do what you love, and pamper yourself. Being single can prevent all those nights of overthinking and arguments and teach you to be independent and happy with yourself without anyone’s consent or presence. Besides, you will always have your friends and family to make memories with. So don’t wait for your special one; go on and have fun with your single self, and your soulmate will come along when the time is right.
Key Pointers
- Embrace your singlehood and avoid negative talks about it.
- Remember that being single teaches independence and brings peace.
- Instead of finding someone to love, spend time on yourself and discover yourself.
- Be spontaneous and set out on a journey or maintain a routine to work on your habits – there are many things you could do.
References
- Being Alone: The Pros and Cons of Time Alone.
https://www.psychalive.org/being-alone/ - One Key to Being Happy When You’re Single.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/one_key_to_being_happy_when_youre_single
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