If the assumption that all single people are lonely, undesirable, or unhappy was correct, there would be no need for divorce lawyers and relationship counseling. Being single is not a curse nor a lesson, but an opportunity many take for granted. The best thing about being single is the opportunity to focus on yourself and get to know yourself better. And blessed are those who choose to spend that time wisely.
And if the latter reason is not good enough, the many more perks of being single might convince you there's no need to rush into relationships or feel down because you're not in one, even when most of your friends are. Around a month ago, a user on AskReddit asked, "What's the best thing about being single?" And to no surprise, the still-open thread received a lot of attention from the community's singles or ex-bachelors and spinsters reminiscing about their singlehood. From trivial things like getting the bed all to yourself to deep adult realizations like not walking on eggshells all the time, the answers varied, yet not a single one disappoints. For more honest, thought-provoking content, we also looked at two more similar threads on Reddit (#1, #2), one of which inquired about the benefits of being single, and the other asked to name the best things about being single. We then hand-picked the best responses from each to have them all in one place.
Below, you can find the list of quotes and ideas of why being single is better than being in a bad relationship—according to Redditors. Any so-called advantages of being single that you seem to agree with or can relate to from your own experiences? Let us know by giving those an upvote. Also, if this question resonated with you and you would like to add anything else regarding the topic, feel free to do so in the comments.
#1
Myzx said:
"When I get off work, I go home and do whatever I want. Make music, play video games, have a beer, work on art or a craft project. It’s great. I literally walk in my front door most days, take a deep breath, and express my thankfulness that I’m single."
"When I get off work, I go home and do whatever I want. Make music, play video games, have a beer, work on art or a craft project. It’s great. I literally walk in my front door most days, take a deep breath, and express my thankfulness that I’m single."
DaBigadeeBoola replied:
"Sometimes I miss this. I could have Tv running, a game on pause, food out all at the same time and no one to answer to but myself."
"Sometimes I miss this. I could have Tv running, a game on pause, food out all at the same time and no one to answer to but myself."
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47points
#2
AnaFan99 said:
"No arguments."
"No arguments."
Taminella_Grinderfal replied:
"This one for me. And not big arguments but the dumb little s**t that starts to really annoy. “You left your wet towel on the floor” “Well you didn’t do the dishes” “You shrunk all my clothes”. I’m at an age where I honestly don’t see myself ever cohabiting again until they stuff me in a rest home."
"This one for me. And not big arguments but the dumb little s**t that starts to really annoy. “You left your wet towel on the floor” “Well you didn’t do the dishes” “You shrunk all my clothes”. I’m at an age where I honestly don’t see myself ever cohabiting again until they stuff me in a rest home."
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35points
#3
lady_laughs_too_much said:
"I can eat whatever I want for dinner. I don't have to consider anyone else's opinions. I can plan out whatever I want."
"I can eat whatever I want for dinner. I don't have to consider anyone else's opinions. I can plan out whatever I want."
ReadySetTurtle replied:
"Legit one of my concerns. I have what I call a peasant’s palate… I like simple meals, and I will easily eat the same thing over and over again. I made a chicken and broccoli casserole thing on the weekend and ate that for four days in a row. Sometimes I have chips for dinner. I’m happy with my weird menu, and I’m not looking forward to accommodating someone else."
"Legit one of my concerns. I have what I call a peasant’s palate… I like simple meals, and I will easily eat the same thing over and over again. I made a chicken and broccoli casserole thing on the weekend and ate that for four days in a row. Sometimes I have chips for dinner. I’m happy with my weird menu, and I’m not looking forward to accommodating someone else."
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34points
#4
P4S5B60 said:
"Knowing exactly what to expect when you come home and open the front door."
"Knowing exactly what to expect when you come home and open the front door."
kkirchhoff replied:
"I’m single, but my cat makes this impossible."
"I’m single, but my cat makes this impossible."
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30points
#5
"Married father here chiming in.
The thing I miss most about being single is the ability to act purely in your own self-interest without having any sense of guilt or responsibility to another person. And I'm not even talking about something with high stakes - I'm talking about something as simple as wanting to eat an entire bag of Skittles without sharing it with another person.
Don't get me wrong, I love sacrificing for my family and sharing any and everything I have with my wife and kid, but when you're single, you have the ability and right to make every tiny decision based on your own self-interest or selfishness, and that's something I sometimes miss on a very simple rudimentary level."
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28points
#6
Salsa1212 said:
"Of all the perks I think the best one has to be getting the bed all to myself."
"Of all the perks I think the best one has to be getting the bed all to myself."
TheFalseLion replied:
"My partner and I sleep in different beds and I would 100% recommend if you have the space. Started out when we were working different shifts, stayed because we both had AMAZING sleeps."
"My partner and I sleep in different beds and I would 100% recommend if you have the space. Started out when we were working different shifts, stayed because we both had AMAZING sleeps."
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25points
#8
TheDusty01 said:
"You don't have to spend 30 minutes trying to choose a place to eat."
"You don't have to spend 30 minutes trying to choose a place to eat."
User No 2 replied:
"Sometimes you just want to go to the gas station and get some beef jerky and a red bull for dinner."
"Sometimes you just want to go to the gas station and get some beef jerky and a red bull for dinner."
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25points
#9
Earnastus said:
"Peace and quiet."
"Peace and quiet."
OzzieBloke777 replied:
"This is the big one for me. I spend all day listening to people talk, often distressed. So it's nice to come home to quiet. No more talk. Just the ambient sound of my local neighborhood, markedly muffled by double-glazed windows and soundproofed walls. The occasional quiet grunt from my dog. The quiet whir of the refrigerator motor. My own thought as to why it's spelled refrigerator, but when we shorten it, we put a d in there, and make it the fridge. The sound of me typing these thoughts on the keyboard in front of me. The quiet eeeeeeeeeeeee of my tinnitus backed all of it. Ah, yes... silence."
"This is the big one for me. I spend all day listening to people talk, often distressed. So it's nice to come home to quiet. No more talk. Just the ambient sound of my local neighborhood, markedly muffled by double-glazed windows and soundproofed walls. The occasional quiet grunt from my dog. The quiet whir of the refrigerator motor. My own thought as to why it's spelled refrigerator, but when we shorten it, we put a d in there, and make it the fridge. The sound of me typing these thoughts on the keyboard in front of me. The quiet eeeeeeeeeeeee of my tinnitus backed all of it. Ah, yes... silence."
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23points
#10
happier_days said:
"You get to put yourself first. Take care of yourself. You're your own biggest fan, and the only one you've got. 100% learn to love yourself."
"You get to put yourself first. Take care of yourself. You're your own biggest fan, and the only one you've got. 100% learn to love yourself."
ichorNet replied:
"Have learned that a lot the last few years. Watched friendships slowly dissipate and sometimes end out of nowhere, seen people move on and move out of my life even though we shared a lot over the years. Makes you wonder if there’s even really a point in making new friends or getting involved with someone else, when the investment feels exhausting and like it could go away whenever due to an infinite number of reasons. Sigh. But yes there is also a freedom in thinking this way."
"Have learned that a lot the last few years. Watched friendships slowly dissipate and sometimes end out of nowhere, seen people move on and move out of my life even though we shared a lot over the years. Makes you wonder if there’s even really a point in making new friends or getting involved with someone else, when the investment feels exhausting and like it could go away whenever due to an infinite number of reasons. Sigh. But yes there is also a freedom in thinking this way."
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23points
#11
90sTVGuru said:
"Not being a slave to someone else’s emotional state."
"Not being a slave to someone else’s emotional state."
Glowingtomato replied:
"I feel that one. You don't even realize it's happening until you are in too deep."
"I feel that one. You don't even realize it's happening until you are in too deep."
ANyTimEfOu also replied:
"Yeah I didn't truly realize how bad it was until it was finally over. I don't have any ill will towards her because I know it wasn't intentional, but it was really tearing me apart."
"Yeah I didn't truly realize how bad it was until it was finally over. I don't have any ill will towards her because I know it wasn't intentional, but it was really tearing me apart."
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22points
#12
"I can be spontaneous and do s**t without having to plan or negotiate with another person. I drove to Montreal last April and the year before that I flew to Hawaii for a week. The Hawaii trip was really only planned a month before, and Montreal was just a "f**k it, I'm going to Canada" thing that happened the moment I got my passport."
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21points
#16
frerky5 said:
"That stuff can just happen. If I want to change my entire weekend plans, bam - done. If I stumble upon a thing that happens and want to participate, boom - done. If I don't want to talk to anyone, ka-blam - done."
"That stuff can just happen. If I want to change my entire weekend plans, bam - done. If I stumble upon a thing that happens and want to participate, boom - done. If I don't want to talk to anyone, ka-blam - done."
RumAndGames replied:
"This is the only part of singlehood that I'm truly nostalgic for, and it's hard to explain to my girlfriend. When I was single and out with my friends everything was so easily spontaneous. Making plans required no mental real estate, I just did s**t, and as a result got in to a lot more unique situations and wacky hijinks. It's not even like my girlfriend is difficult to plan with or high maintenance or controlling, there's just a bit more friction on plan making when you have someone else's feelings to consider."
"This is the only part of singlehood that I'm truly nostalgic for, and it's hard to explain to my girlfriend. When I was single and out with my friends everything was so easily spontaneous. Making plans required no mental real estate, I just did s**t, and as a result got in to a lot more unique situations and wacky hijinks. It's not even like my girlfriend is difficult to plan with or high maintenance or controlling, there's just a bit more friction on plan making when you have someone else's feelings to consider."
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20points
#17
helljack said:
"I never have to justify my joy."
"I never have to justify my joy."
User No 2 replied:
"This is such an important factor in any relationship. It's a big red flag for me when I feel I need to explain to someone why I should/could be happy or excited right now. I've had hype for many amazing films and games be tarnished by bitter comments from people close to me. Just let me live my life goddamnit!"
"This is such an important factor in any relationship. It's a big red flag for me when I feel I need to explain to someone why I should/could be happy or excited right now. I've had hype for many amazing films and games be tarnished by bitter comments from people close to me. Just let me live my life goddamnit!"
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20points
#18
User No 1 said:
"Not living in fear that my relationship will fall apart."
"Not living in fear that my relationship will fall apart."
DoktoroKiu replied:
"Ha, this is honestly the only thing about it I feel is a positive for me at the moment (just broke up)."
"Ha, this is honestly the only thing about it I feel is a positive for me at the moment (just broke up)."
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19points
#19
"That's another good thing about being single, not having to go though a breakup."
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19points
#20
KingMaleficent2724 said:
"Definitely freedom. I got offered my dream job that just so happened to be across the country a few years ago and was able to accept it without a second thought. If I had been in a serious relationship I wouldn't have been able to pack up and ditch town like that, and I'm so glad for it. The life I've made here is amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anyone."
"Definitely freedom. I got offered my dream job that just so happened to be across the country a few years ago and was able to accept it without a second thought. If I had been in a serious relationship I wouldn't have been able to pack up and ditch town like that, and I'm so glad for it. The life I've made here is amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anyone."
Lasagna_Bear replied:
"I would hope that if it were really your dream job that your spouse/partner would at least consider moving with you. I've known multiple couples where the husband/wife moved across the country for their spouse's job. I mean, unless you have really deep roots or can't realistically find a similar job in a new place, it would be worth it to move for your spouse."
"I would hope that if it were really your dream job that your spouse/partner would at least consider moving with you. I've known multiple couples where the husband/wife moved across the country for their spouse's job. I mean, unless you have really deep roots or can't realistically find a similar job in a new place, it would be worth it to move for your spouse."
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19points