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By Adam Schubak, Redbook
We're made to think that coupling up is the ultimate goal in life, but anyone who's ever been in a relationship can attest that it's not all it's cracked up to be. There are plenty of perks to staying single and here are just a few of them...
Freedom to Focus on Yourself
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Being single frees up your schedule and your mind, creating space to figure out who you want to be and ways to achieve that. There's nobody else around you demanding your attention, so get out there and become that person.
More Opportunities to Meet People
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Attached people have a tendency to live in relationship bubbles. When you're single, it's all about expanding your social circle — even a mismatched date has the potential to become a solid friendship.
Surrounding Yourself With the Ones Who Matter Most
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The merging of the social calendars is a turning point in every relationship. Conflicting plans are bound to happen, which means missing fun hangs with your family and friends to spend time with your significant other's loved ones. But there's no need to compromise when you've got 365 days to hang with whomever you want.
Saving Money (Seriously)
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Being in a relationship isn't cheap. Always trying to keep date nights fresh can get costly, but when you're just paying for one, you can save a lot of extra dough. Save up your excess cash and take yourself on a sweet vacation or splurge on that luxury item you've been eyeing.
Spending Your Time How You Want
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Relationships can be a wonderful, but they can also monopolize your time. Enjoying life as a single means doing whatever makes you happy. Go ahead and call up some friends and fire up the Nintendo Switch, if that floats your boat.
Staying in Shape
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Relationship weight is a very real thing. Settling down with your significant other, especially during the cold-weather months, typically means lots of vegging out and binge-watching. Without that temptation, single folks are more likely to stick to their fitness routines.
No Petty Arguments
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Sure, the honeymoon phase of a relationship seems fun and all...but occasional bickering is nearly impossible to avoid. Flying solo means avoiding arguments over where to go to dinner or who skipped ahead on that TV show you're supposed to be watching together. Singles get to watch anything their heart desires and eat wherever they want—without fear of having to share the last slice.
Exploring New Hobbies
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The world is your oyster when you're single. Sign up for lessons in some hobby you've been itching to try. You're not entirely cut off from the world when you're in a serious relationship...but lets be real, it's easy to get stuck in a rut of movie nights and dinner dates. Make the most of your solo time and expand your personal horizons.
Experimenting With Your Style
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As mentioned, your single days are all about finding yourself and that goes for clothing as well. Take advantage of being the king or queen of your closet by wearing that hat you've always thought you could pull off or finding your signature scent without any worries about someone else's preferences.
Customizing Your Own Space
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Cohabiting with someone takes work. Accepting your significant other's decorating style is the first hurdle. Having your own bachelor/bachelorette pad means it's all your aesthetic. Try out a little mood lighting.
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