Being single in the holidays can be a lonely time for some but others it can be a time of self indulgence, liberation and the freedom to do what you want without having to compromise or think about others. Here are five reasons why it’s great to be single in the holidays.
You can spend time with your friends and family
Being single in the holidays means that you don’t have to go through the drama of deciding whose family you are going to spend the holidays with and spending the bulk of your holidays avoiding sleazy Uncle Fred. Whether you’re single or in a relationship, friends have an important role to play. Being single gives you more time to reconnect with your friends and family and open yourself up to finding new friends and spending time with people you actually like.
You can focus on your career
Without a partner holding you back, you’re free to do overtime, work weekends and put in as many hours at work without feeling guilty. You don’t have to balance a demanding career with a demanding partner or family and can focus solely on your career without any distractions. With all your loved up colleagues spending time with their families over Christmas and New Year, this is the perfect time to score brownie points with your boss and show how dedicated and committed an employee you are.
Your time is your own
When you’re single, you can go and please whenever you want without having to answer to anyone or explain yourself to anyone. You can spend your holidays going to the beach, festivals, concerts or just lying in your pyjamas watching cheesy sitcoms without having to consider anyone’s feelings, work around someone else’s schedule or be under any obligation to attend events you don’t want to go to. This is a great time to learn a new hobby or a new skill and a chance for self reflection and self development and to reclaim your social identity.
You can put yourself on top of the shopping list
Dating has its price but when you’re single, you don’t have to buy Christmas gifts for your partner and his family and you can spend all your money in the post Christmas sales and be completely self indulgent. As a self respecting single, you no longer have to walk into your house and hide the Christian Louboutin designer shoes that cost half your salary or justify why you needed to spend buy five kaftans that were on sale. Your money is your own for you to spend it on what you want when you want.
You can be the best you can be
When you’re in a relationship, it’s sometimes hard to find time to fit exercise into your schedule or eat properly when you have to focus your life around a significant other or cook for someone else. Being single will force you out of your comfort zone and you can focus on your exercise schedule and eating properly without any distractions. There will be no more reasons to procrastinate or an unsupportive or an unhelpful partner trying to sabotage your gym routine.
While there are many benefits to being in a relationship, being single in society always seems to be a choice forced upon us than a choice we have made to focus on ourselves. You may not be single forever so take the time when you’re single to focus on your goals, dreams and aspirations without anyone holding you back.