Benefits of Being Single

As a single person, you can get ahead financially, be socially adept, and be physically fit. That doesn't sound like the typical description of a single adult, but studies show that it's the case.

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If you find the right person to fall in love with and you are ready to settle down, it can be a great thing. But there is a lot to be said about saying single too. Keep reading to learn the top benefits of avoiding settling down for now.

Benefits of Being Single in Your 20's

You can get yourself out of student loan debt.
If you are like many other 20-something graduates, you have close to $37,000 in student loan debt. If you are in a relationship, you may not work as hard to get yourself out of debt as you would if you were single.

Take the time to better yourself in your career, get raises or better jobs, and dig your way out of that debt before you enter your 30s.

You can get ahead in your career.
Whether you did or didn't go to college, your 20s is a great time to get ahead.

If you are tied down in a relationship, it's easy to get comfortable (aka lazy). When you are single and feeling as if you have more time on your hands, you may be more likely to push yourself in that career.

You'll alleviate stress.
According to the American Psychological Association, money is one of the top stressors in an adult's life.

If you could get yourself out of debt and in a good place financially, your overall health will benefit. This includes having a clearer (and happier) mind.

Benefits of being single in your 30's

You can continue to build your career.
Whether you didn't build your career in your 20s because you couldn't figure out what you wanted to do or you still have big goals, it's easier to reach them when you are single.

In your 30s, you are more likely to have "grown up" and are now ready to achieve your goals before you get too old. Staying single can help you stay focused and ensure that you have the time to meet these goals.

You can nurture your current relationships.
How many friends have you had that just up and ditched you as soon as they found a boyfriend or girlfriend?

What about your married friends that now have children? Have they abandoned you too? It's a common scenario that once couples pair off, they abandon (maybe not consciously) their other friends.

If you stay single in your 30s, it gives you time to nurture your relationships with your family and close friends, so that you have a mature and stable enough relationship that can withstand your new relationship when that time finally comes.

You'll build a broader network.
Single people tend to branch out and talk more than their married counterparts.

When you get comfortable with someone, you find yourself wanting to hibernate at home rather than getting out and seeing the world. One day, you will find that you need those confidants in your life, so securing them now before you get into a relationship can be a large benefit.

Benefits of being single in college

You might get better grades.
You are in college to get a degree and then start your career. Having a boyfriend or girlfriend during that time could take away from those studies.

Whether you are distracted because of spending too much time together or you fight often, it takes away from your studies and your potential for the future.

You will have time for yourself.
College is stressful. While you need to spend the time studying and getting ahead, you also need some time for you.

Time to recharge and pamper yourself is crucial if you want to stay healthy and happy. When you are single, you have that time for yourself because you don't have to feel guilty about taking time away from your significant other.

You can be friends with anyone.
College is a time of exploring and figuring out who you want to be when you grow up. This should include making plenty of time for friends of either gender. If you are single, you are free to do this without the worry of upsetting someone or getting into arguments.

Benefits of Being Single After Divorce

You can try new things.
Think of the things you couldn't do when you were married.

Whether your spouse was a homebody or you just didn't have the same interests, you have time to do all of that now. No one is holding you back. It's time to make a list of the things you've always wanted to do and start checking them off your list.

You can learn who you really are meant to be.
When you were married, you probably conformed to what your spouse wanted you to be. Were you true to yourself during that time?

Many people aren't, and that's why they end up in divorce. Take this time to embrace yourself and figure out who you are and what you want to be. It's time to live for you and not for someone else.

You can change careers.
Were you unhappy at your career but stayed because the income was regular and you needed to support your spouse? Now that you have more time on your hands, you can focus on what you really want. Do you want to go back to school?

Did you want to apply for that higher position? Now you have the time on your hands to prepare yourself for whatever it is you want to achieve—and then do it.

Health Benefits

You might be slimmer.
A study conducted at the University of Basel in Switzerland found that married couples tend to have a higher body mass index than their single counterparts.

While married couples tend to eat a little healthier, they are less likely to participate in exercise and sports, which often leads to a higher BMI.

Single people tend to have a broader growth mindset.
As a single person, you have more time to get where you want to be, whether you participate in personal development, go back to school, or just stretch those creative muscles and make something of yourself.

Single people may have fewer emotional problems.
As a single person, you have to be self-sufficient. This helps your mind be strong, which leaves less room for emotional turmoil.

Financial Benefits

You may have less credit card debt.
If you are single, you have less to spend because there's only one of you. That could mean that you'll have less credit card debt in adulthood.

In fact, 21% of single people have credit card debt compared to 27% of married couples and 36% of married couples with children.

You can set your own financial goals.
Getting yourself financially secure before settling down with someone is crucial to your future.

While settling down can be great, what happens if you split up? In fact, - 50% of marriages end up in divorce. Use your time as a single-person to understand finances, set financial goals, and meet them before you settle down.

You don't have to pay for a wedding.
The average wedding costs around $35,000. That's no small chunk change! If you are single, you don't have to worry about this expense. When the time does come, if you stay single long enough, you may have an easier time saving up that much money for your big day.

Social Benefits

You're more likely to reach out to your social peers.
We all need friends, especially as we age. When you are married, though, it's easy to get caught up in your own relationship and forget to branch out and include others in your network. When you are single, you don't have that one person to get comfortable with, so you need that network.

You have time to build that network and then keep it to help you stay healthy as you age.

You may be more adventurous.
Without anyone else to worry about in your life, you may say yes to that crazy adventure your best friend proposes. You have a better chance of taking risks and most importantly, having fun.

You don't have to be the life of the party, but you can definitely be one that can hang with the best of them, rather than having "the Mr. or Mrs." to answer to at home.

You can be comfortable being alone.
As a single person, you have to become self-proficient. In other words, you don't need someone to lean on all of the time. According to author Susan Winter, it gives you time to get comfortable in your own skin.

This can make you a calmer, happier person that people like to be around. It also gives you the ability to choose to have only those who lift you up in life rather than just having someone in your life just to have them.

Bottom Line

Being single has its benefits. If nothing else, it gives you time to grow up and be who you want to be before you settle down. That's not to say that getting married doesn't have its benefits, because it does, but staying single can be more beneficial for you, especially if you are just starting out in adulthood.