Why Some People Want to Be Single

For many people, being single can seem like a scary prospect. They may long to be in a committed relationship and find a deep connection with someone special, and the idea of ending up alone frightens them to their core. However, there are others who may be perfectly content with being alone and aren’t looking for or interested in being in a serious relationship with someone else. When it comes to the idea of being single, you may be wondering where you fall on this spectrum.

1. You Wholeheartedly Want to Be Single 

If you’re meant to be single, one of the key signs is that you fully embrace and enjoy your life as a single person. Rather than wanting to find a relationship in the future, you’re perfectly content with your single status and are without a partner completely by choice. However, it’s important to understand the key distinction between people who are single because they truly want to be and people who are alone by circumstance.

For instance, just because you’re not in a relationship, were broken up with, or haven’t dated in a while doesn’t mean that you prefer being and staying single—it just means that you haven’t met the right person yet. But for people who want to live a singleton life forever, they’re not interested in meeting anyone because that’s not a priority or a necessity. They're not alone by circumstance, but rather by choice.

2. You’re Set in Your Ways

Are you completely accustomed to your routine? People who prefer staying single are often already firmly established in their ways and have no desire to change or make compromises to include others into their daily schedules. When you like things done a certain way, find that you stick to a strict schedule, or don’t want to bend or change your routine in any way, this can be a clear sign that you’d be happier being single. On the other hand, people who are hoping to find a relationship down the road are often far more able to be flexible, cooperative, and accommodating in order to appease a future partner.

3. You’re Genuinely Happy

For some people, being alone can cause great anxiety, stress, and heartache. Their confidence, self-esteem, and sense of self-worth may drop because they're not currently in a relationship. However, for those who like being single, moments of solitude can be quite invigorating and enjoyable. If you’re a person like this, you may look forward to spending time solo where you can focus on yourself and your well-being.

4. Your Life Is Too Busy for a Relationship

Depending on how your life is currently structured, being single may be the perfect choice for you and your particular lifestyle. For instance, if you travel frequently for work and are extremely career-focused, you may be a person who is better off being alone because your passion for your work sustains and fulfills you. While some people need to have a deep connection with another person to be happy, there are those who have a deep connection and enthusiasm for their work or another passion that brings them joy in return.

Again, it’s important to understand that building your life around your career should be a choice that makes you happy. Specifically, if you feel as though your career is preventing you from finding a partner because of the long hours and demanding schedule, then you’re likely not meant to be alone, but are rather in a situation where you're alone currently because of the nature of your work.

5. You’re Not Lonely

One of the central fears that many people have about being single is that they’re worried they'll feel lonely or isolated a lot of the time. However, people who like being single enjoy these moments by themselves and don't have this same type of angst because they like spending time on their own. These people may go out on the town, engage in social events, and push themselves out of their comfort zone, but they're also thoroughly happy when they can go home and spend some quality time by themselves. They look forward to and even seek out these moments of peaceful solitude. Choosing to be single certainly doesn’t mean that you’re choosing to be lonely, it just means that you’re choosing the best life for you.