You’re single, free and young. Why sulk when you can celebrate? Here are 17 awesome reasons you should be glad you’re single in your 20s!
Being in your 20s is like being caught between two worlds. You’ve still got some of the energy and vitality of a teenager. But you also have some of the wisdom you’ll need once you hit your 30’s. As a millennial, the world is your oyster! You know enough about the world before computers and the internet, but you were also able to keep up when the technological tide hit.
So with all the awesome things that you experience in your 20s, why bother dwelling so much on the fact that you’re single? Do you need to be in a relationship to feel validated? To feel complete? Do you need that one relationship to define your 20s? Seriously, what’s wrong with being single anyway? [Read: 12 perks of being single during the holidays]
Why your single years are best lived in your 20s
If you feel like your 20s aren’t complete without a partner by your side, then you may be forgetting a couple of things…
#1 You can focus on your career. You’re just getting started on your career, so it’s obviously a good idea to try and build a solid foundation. While you’re still young, it’s the best time to improve your skills by learning things you weren’t able to learn in college, while also building useful connections along the way. There are tons of seminars, online courses and books on anything you want to focus on. And if you find out that this career path isn’t for you, it’s still not too late to switch paths!
#2 You can get fit. Your college life may have been filled with binge eating junk food, weekends overflowing with beer or just sitting around in your free time. Fitness may not have been your strong point, but now that you’re in your 20s, you can turn it into one of your priorities. Grab a firm chokehold on fitness before your metabolism plummets in your 30s! [Read: 25 inspirational tips to motivate you to work out]
#3 It’s the perfect time to travel. Without a partner who’s going to get all fussy about where to go, how much to spend and what to do once you’re there, you can pretty much go wherever and do whatever! Whether you want to go with friends or go backpacking alone, everything is all up to you. And if you happen to spot a place you love, you don’t have to tell a partner that you suddenly want to live there.
#4 You can get started on a new hobby. Have you always wanted to try yoga? What about arts and crafts? Looking to learn a new language? Having a hobby can take up as much time as having a significant other. The only difference is that it’s next to impossible to get into a fight with your hobby.
#5 Charities would appreciate your help. In lieu of a hobby, you can always spend your time and energy by giving back to those in need. Volunteering won’t get you paid in dollars, but with the thanks and genuine appreciation you get from those whom you’ve helped, who needs the money? [Read: 5 ways volunteer work can help heal depression]
#6 You get to relive the thrill of the first date. First dates aren’t easy, but that doesn’t mean they’re not fun. You get to meet someone new, but you have no commitment or obligation to stick around when things go awry. Besides, the more first dates you go on, the more you get used to them. That’s pretty good practice for the moment when you’re seriously looking to find a significant other. [Read: 20 ways to perfect your first date conversation]
#7 You can have a summer/holiday/labor day/travel/spring fling. When commitment feels like too heavy a load for you to take, that’s when the wonders of short flings come in. There are no strings attached, so everything is just for fun. You have company for whenever you’re feeling alone, but you can also opt out whenever you want to have some me-time. Being this carefree in your 20s also allows you to sexually experiment with just about anything and anyone. [Read: 9 brilliant tips for having a casual relationship]
#8 You can lounge as much as you like. When all your friends on Instagram and Facebook are posting about their romantic dinner dates and whatnot, you can just sit around in your home with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate. You can watch The Notebook for the 10th time. You can sprawl on the bed and daydream for hours. And the best part is that you’re not going to be interrupted by your partner asking what you’re up to!
#9 You can get in touch with friends, old and new. Ever wondered what your 3rd grade best friend is up to these days? Don’t settle for an online conversation when you can meet up in person! If you’re looking to find new friends, you can hang out where all the awesome people go and pick up some new acquaintances along the way. Whether it’s male or female friends you’re hanging out with, there’s no one in your life who’s suddenly going to get irrationally jealous. [Read: 12 quick tips to add more people to your social circle]
#10 You get to watch whatever you want. Watching a movie alone can actually be fun. Your focus is on the movie, and there’s no distracting person beside you who’s going to ask you all the obvious questions. And without a significant other to justify your movie of choice to, you can pretty much watch anything for as many times as you feel like it.
#11 You can catch up on reading. Our society would go to waste once people stop reading books. Even if you were never a bookworm, your 20s are a time to get started. There are tons of novels about the crises of the average 20-something, and you’re sure to find one you can relate to! If that’s not your thing, turn to the classics like Orwell, Lovecraft, Fitzgerald and the works. And if you want something you can easily visualize, George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series is what got Game of Thrones started, so go check that out.
#12 You don’t need to share the bed. Once you get home, the bed is all yours. You can pretend to be a starfish in your coat and shoes, and no one will complain that you got dirt on the bed. There’s no one to hog the sheets or snore throughout the night.
#13 You can spend on anything you want. The thing with having a significant other is that sometimes, you feel like you have to watch what you spend. Money for stuff you want to buy must be put in the grocery fund or the vacation fund. Without someone to judge what you spend your money on, you can pretty much buy whatever you want! A gold-plated guitar? A bedazzled iPhone case? A tiara for your pet cat? Go for it!
#14 Pamper thyself. Do you ever get that feeling where you think you’re being selfish whenever you choose to do a pamper session without inviting your significant other? Well, without a significant other to invite, you can go all in on whatever pampering regimen you choose to go on. From getting your hair styled to going to a spa to going on a shopping spree, everything is your call and for your own pleasure.
#15 Your apartment can look like anything you want it to look like. So who cares if other people think leopard print sheets and bright graphic wallpapers are tacky? You’re free to design your home in any way you like without a partner threatening to leave you unless you get rid of your cinderblock furniture.
#16 You can get a makeover without consulting anyone. Like we keep on saying, your 20s are a great time to do some experimentation. So if you want to recreate your entire look, it’s the perfect time. Besides, trying on nose rings, brightly colored hair and thematic clothes will look ridiculous when you’re in your 30’s or older.
#17 You can learn to be more independent. Having a boyfriend to do the handyman work or having a girlfriend to teach you about the finer points of housekeeping is all well and good, but learning it on your own is actually a more rewarding accomplishment.
[Read: 30 life truths you need to know before hitting 30]
I can’t stress this enough: you’re young and free! Don’t waste that youthful energy desperately trying to attach yourself to another individual. Go forth and enjoy the youth of a teenager and the wisdom of an adult!
