Let me first start by saying that your relationship status does not define who you are. There is no shame in being single. In fact, this is one of the best times in your life. Being single allows you to focus on yourself and your needs and most importantly grow. When you focus on yourself and discover what truly matters to you most as an individual, everything else will fall into place.
In our society, we are constantly faced with the pressures that we should be in a relationship, married by a certain age, have kids at a certain time, etc. In turn, this pressure allows us to feel saddened and frustrated when it does not happen when society makes it seem like it has to happen. Do not let societal pressure consume you and push you in a certain direction. You cannot control the timing in which things happen, but what you can control is how you react to each situation. Make the best out of being single!
8 Ways To Live Your Best Single Life
1. Learn To Love Yourself
The truth is, if you do not love yourself first, no one will be able to love you in the way that you want them to. In other words, you can’t expect someone to value you if you do not value yourself. Love every inch of you and focus on all of your amazing qualities. The first step in loving yourself is changing how you speak to yourself. You must practice positive self-talk. The conversations that you have within yourself are either going to help you grow or hurt you. The fear-based conversations you may have within yourself such as, “I am not going to find a partner,” or, “I am not worthy of love,” are not real.
Self-love is about accepting yourself at every moment in time. Of course, this does not happen right away. Self-love is a journey, but a beautiful journey. Once you start to love yourself, you will realize that you do not depend on anyone for your happiness, and loving yourself is enough.
2. Spend Time With Friends and Family
It is so important to have a good group of friends or family members that you can spend time with. When you are surrounded by other people, you are not focused on finding someone to have a relationship with. Or worried about when your future partner is going to come along. Surround yourself with amazing, positive people who motivate and support you.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the benefits of good friendships include but are not limited to:
- Increases your sense of belonging and purpose
- Boosts your happiness and reduces stress
- Improves your self-confidence and self-worth
- Helps you cope with traumas (divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one)
- Encourages you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits
3. Date Yourself
Yes, you read that right… date yourself! I mean, take yourself on literal dates. I know it may seem scary at first, and it may be something that you have never done before. Put on that fancy dress, or fancy suit and book a reservation at one of the restaurants nearby. Or go to see that movie you have been dying to see. Not only will you have a good time, but you will start to build so much confidence that did not know was even possible.
4. Work On Becoming The Best Version Of Yourself
Becoming the best version of yourself is the best thing you can do. This isn’t about working on yourself to attract a partner, but working on yourself for YOU and only YOU. Start to ask yourself, “how can I become the best version of myself?” This is going to look different for everyone as we have different beliefs and different goals we are trying to achieve. However, you can focus on becoming physically fit, having a stronger mentality, setting goals for yourself, etc. Regardless of what becoming the best person of yourself looks like to you, start taking actionable steps.
5. Become Your Own Best Friend
During this time, figure out who you are independently. This will give you the time to learn about yourself, and figure out what you want and need in life. You must be okay with being single and being alone. We learn the most about ourselves when we are alone.
6. Focus On What You Can Control
Instead of asking yourself “why am I still single,” or “why can’t I find anybody who wants to be with me,” start asking yourself what being single is trying to teach you. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Whether you are newly single or have been single for a long time, it is for a reason. When we start to focus on things that control, we feel powerless. Spend time focusing on who you are and who you want to be. The only person that you can control is yourself. The only person that you are responsible for is yourself. By focusing on yourself, everything else will work on it the way that you want it to more often than not.
7. Form New Relationships
You can date, or don’t date, it is all up to you! It is possible to go out on dates, while still enjoying being single. Do not start to overthink if this person is into you, or if this individual is your future partner. Instead, look at dating as another social channel. Another way to get to know someone else, and form a new connection.
With that being said, going on a date will not always have the best outcome. You may not have connected with this person how you wanted to. I am here to tell you that is okay. Not everyone you meet is meant to be in your life. Instead of thinking that the date was a waste of time, shift your mindset and realize that you probably just figured out something that you want or don’t want to happen on your next date.
8. Don’t Compare Yourself To Other Couples
We can all relate that it is easy to scroll through social media and obsess over what appears to be the happiest, most perfect couple. The couples who are smiling in every photo, happy, and appear to be living their best lives. The truth is, relationships are not all butterflies. Every couple goes through something and has their issues, they just choose not to share that side of them on social media. No one is perfect and no relationship is perfect. I promise you that the relationships you think are perfect are not worth idolizing over.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, being single is one of the best times in your life. There is nothing wrong with being single and focusing on yourself. This is a time where you have the opportunity to create your own happiness and live your life on your terms.
