In a world where marriage and relationships seem to feature in every conversation, single people often end up feeling left out.
Some well-meaning aunt or best friend is always trying to play matchmaker, and this can make you feel even worse about your status.
However, being single actually has quite a few benefits, particularly when it comes to your health.
Single people have a few advantages over their married counterparts when it comes to physical health.
Women in their early 20s have been shown to gain 24 pounds on average during their first five years of marriage, while men gain 30 pounds on average.
Generous home-cooked meals, cookouts and frequent date nights all contribute to this weight gain.
Additionally, they can be more particular about their meals instead of being stuck eating only the food that their spouse also likes.
People often enter into relationships expecting that their partner will take care of their needs or assuming that they will collaborate on certain issues.
This misplaced expectation often becomes a point of contention for couples, eating into their happiness.
Single adults, on the other hand, are in charge of their hopes and wellbeing. They are conscious of their needs and build a support system for their happiness, making them more balanced and happier.
Incompatibility between couples often leads to one party feeling stressed and unappreciated, which can lead to feelings of frustration and sadness.
Such scenarios can also set people up for many other stress-related health complications, including hypertension.
Busy schedules coupled with a lack of a fitness routine can put people at risk of a heart condition. In fact, people who have gone through a divorce have a higher prevalence of heart attacks. People in dysfunctional marriages also stand a higher chance of suffering a heart condition.
Betrayal by a loved one could also have a devastating effect on your health and mental wellbeing.
Sometimes the smallest disagreements can escalate to epic proportions. From infidelity to house work to money issues, these battles can take a toll on your health.
The effect compounds when you are in an unhappy marriage.
Some partners often go out of their way to patch up the relationship only to have their efforts spurned and trampled on. They may start to suffer from an inferiority complex, which only serves to increase their stress levels.
Single people tend to have lower stress levels because they are less likely to get into such altercations. Forgetting a friend’s birthday is unlikely to be met with the same consequences and emotional response as forgetting your wedding anniversary.
It might seem surprising, but sharing a bed compromises the quality of your sleep.
You have to put up with issues such as a snoring partner and uncomfortable sleeping positions. Some people toss and turn, talk, or even kick in their sleep.
Such occurrences tend to lower everyone’s quality of sleep. Compromising on room temperature could leave you uncomfortable or even cause a respiratory problem.
Couples spend a considerable amount of time with their significant other, gradually reducing the time they spend with other people and without their partner.
Single individuals pay more attention to their parents, siblings, neighbors, and friends than their married counterparts.
As a result, they have a greater support system than the people in relationships who tend to turn to each other at their time of need.
Having good social ties often means that you lead a fuller and happier life and have the ability to weather difficult spells more easily.
While having a dual source of income can be desirable, married couples often worry more about money than single people do.
Managing a joint account is especially stressful for couples if one partner turns out to be reckless in their spending habits.
Financial misconduct strains a relationship and breaks down trust between couples.
It can spur ugly fights as parties try to justify their use of money, and things often go downhill from there.
Single people can generally make decisions about their finances without encountering any opposition.
You can apply for a credit card, get a loan or make investments without facing unpleasant surprises down the road.
Forbes reports that married people have higher monthly expenses and less spending money left over.
In fact, single people who are financially prudent and take steps such as opening retirement accounts early and buying homes often end up better off financially than their married friends.
While some people might think that singles lead a sad and lonely life, nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone needs some time alone to recharge their minds, and married people do not get nearly as much “alone time” as married people do.
In fact, single women have an average of seven extra hours per week to themselves that married women must devote to doing chores. While too much solitude can be a bad thing, not getting that vital time to yourself can be equally unnerving.
Single people have a stronger sense of self because they are accustomed to getting things done without relying on anyone else.
Couples who are in close romantic relationships tend to cede some of their personality and control to their partners and sometimes feel uncomfortable making decisions on their own.
In some cases, one partner spends a considerable amount of time and effort catering to the needs of the other partner, losing sight of their identity and the values that define who they are as individuals.
These people can even become dependent on their partner and could have a hard time coping with life if they lose them.
Solitude, on the other hand, enables singles to work on their self-confidence, belief system, and values.
This can allow them to grow to become healthy and accommodating people without losing sight of who they are as individuals.
Contrary to popular belief, being single is not all doom and gloom. In fact, it can even be beneficial for your physical and mental health.
Whether you’re single by choice or you’re hoping to find a partner eventually, enjoy all the advantages that being single brings and never let your married friends make you feel bad about your status!
