Opinion: People Should Stop Complaining About Being Single and Enjoy It

In today’s relationship-obsessed culture, being single often gets a bad rap. People frequently see it as something to complain about, or worse, as a flaw that needs fixing.

But being single isn’t the purgatory people make it out to be—it’s a unique stage in life that comes with advantages often overlooked or underappreciated.

Here’s why you should stop complaining about being single and learn to embrace it in ways that might surprise you.

Photo byJulien LonUnsplash

1. You Can Actually Experience Freedom without Compromise

People in relationships frequently boast about their freedom too, but it's not the same. When you're single, freedom isn’t just about choosing what to eat or where to travel. It’s about making every decision—big or small—without having to consider anyone else's preferences.

You don’t have to dilute your dreams or adjust your ambitions. You get to pursue your goals in their purest form, without compromise, and that’s a rare luxury.

2. Your Emotional Growth Happens in Hyperdrive

While many argue that relationships help you grow, solitude pushes you in ways that a partner simply can’t. Being single forces you to sit with yourself, confront your habits, and face the areas you need to improve.

You have to take full responsibility for your emotional baggage, rather than relying on a partner to either heal or enable your bad patterns. That self-awareness, often accelerated by alone time, creates a deeper sense of self-reliance that can’t be bought or borrowed.

3. Friendships Get the Depth They Deserve

In relationships, friendships tend to get sidelined. When you’re single, you can pour energy into your friendships in ways that deepen those bonds. Being single lets you show up for your friends without the guilt of splitting time between a romantic partner and your circle.

And it’s in these connections that you often find fulfillment that rivals any romantic love. You get the kind of support system that carries through life’s ups and downs—something that many in relationships forget until they’re alone again.

4. You Master Self-Sufficiency (and That’s Irreplaceable)

Being single teaches you how to function without a built-in safety net. You learn how to deal with the broken sink, the hospital visit, the overwhelming workday—without relying on someone else to step in.

That kind of independence might sound daunting, but it’s empowering. Once you realize you can handle everything life throws at you alone, you develop a confidence that no relationship can take away. You’re not looking for someone to complete you; you’re looking for someone who enhances an already fulfilling life.

5. No One Steals Your Time

When you're single, your time belongs to you. And that’s priceless. The weekend doesn’t need to be dedicated to someone else’s family gatherings or obligations you couldn’t care less about.

Every hour is yours to spend in ways that serve your interests, whether it's a passion project, learning new skills, or simply recharging in peace. In relationships, time becomes a shared asset, which means your schedule is always subject to negotiation.

Being single? You own your time.

6. You’re Off the Pressure Cooker of Societal Expectations

Society pressures people in relationships in ways singles often forget. There’s always that looming "What’s next?" question in a relationship—Are you moving in together? When’s the wedding? Are kids coming?

For many, this creates stress, leading them to fast-track life decisions before they’re truly ready. When you're single, that pressure evaporates. There’s no timeline to follow, no life milestones looming over you, and no need to keep up with the Joneses.

7. You Can Dive Into Ambition Without Apology

Being in a relationship sometimes means dimming your ambition to make room for someone else’s. When you’re single, you can unapologetically hustle for the life you want.

There’s no guilt about working late, moving for a job opportunity, or dedicating yourself entirely to your goals. You don’t have to weigh your ambitions against a partner’s needs. It’s a time in your life when you get to be as relentless as you want, and that kind of focus isn’t easy to come by in other stages of life.

8. You Learn to Love Yourself, Not Just Tolerate Yourself

Self-love isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the cornerstone of a healthy life, but it often gets overlooked when you’re caught up in a relationship. Being single gives you the time and space to cultivate that relationship with yourself.

You don’t just tolerate your quirks and habits, you learn to embrace them. You figure out what makes you truly happy and discover how to create that joy for yourself, without depending on someone else to do it for you.

9. You Set Boundaries Without Fear of Repercussions

One of the most underrated perks of being single is that you can establish your boundaries with no fear of damaging a relationship.

You can say “no” without guilt. You get to set your standards for how you want to be treated without the emotional negotiations that come in romantic dynamics. This ability to practice boundary-setting builds your emotional toolkit, which will serve you in future relationships or any aspect of life.

10. You Can Explore Who You Really Are

When you’re single, you’re not locked into an identity shaped by a relationship. You’re free to experiment with your interests, your passions, and even your lifestyle.

Want to move to a new city? Switch careers? Spend a year traveling? You can do it without navigating another person’s needs or worries. Being single is an open canvas, and you get to paint it any way you want, without restriction or judgment.

Final Thought: There’s Power in Embracing Singleness

Singleness isn’t something to be feared, rushed through, or seen as a temporary void to be filled. It’s a phase rich with opportunities for personal growth, self-exploration, and unfiltered freedom.

Instead of seeing it as a time to complain, recognize it as a season to evolve. You’ll find that being single can be just as fulfilling, if not more, than any relationship.

So, next time you catch yourself lamenting your single status, pause and remember: this is the time when your life is truly yours to live. Don’t waste it.

https://medium.com/the-ascent/dont-complain-about-being-single-embrace-it-instead-c27fb4484f8a

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/14/if-single-and-whine-online-prepare-stay-that-way

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201509/the-good-reasons-why-some-people-are-happy-being-single