Cosmic Night Owl

How to Make the Best Out of Being Single

Now before I begin, I just want to say that I am by no means a relationship guru. Nor am I an expert at knowing how to properly recoup after bad breakup. But the one thing I do know is that while it’s great to be in a romantic relationship, not being in one isn’t the worst thing in the world. In fact, being single can be an incredible experience!

I’ve been single for about seven years now, and during that time I’ve seen friends fall in love, break up, make up, and even get married. And of course I’ve been that sad soul sitting in the corner, watching them live their happy romantic lives, and pouting about not having a special someone. I was overcome with insecurities that I hoped would dissipate once I found a boyfriend. But I eventually realized that you don’t need a boyfriend to make you feel better, or to make your life better. Being single means you have an opportunity to explore yourself, to reinvent yourself, to chase away those inner struggles.

So how do you go about doing this? Well, I’m glad you asked. Here are three simple examples of how you can distract yourself from the intense feelings of loneliness.

I. Pump Some Iron

A healthy body equals a healthy mind. Sitting on the couch and moping about isn’t going incite any change. Getting in shape is definitely a confidence booster. We all know that it’s best to have at least an hour of exercise a day, but my advice would be to mix it up a little. There’s no need to follow the same old routine day in and day out. If you to the gym, check to see if there are any dance classes available, for example. Or if that’s not your forte, then there’s also indoor rock climbing, yoga, spinning classes, etc. Venture outside on a beautiful day and take a long stroll with your pet. Being active will help you feel refreshed every day, thus making it a sort of cleansing.

II. Focus on Friends & Family

It’s best to not go hunting for a potential partner every time you’re out and about. Don’t set your expectations to high. Be open to working on building strong platonic relationships. And at the same time, it’s best to strengthen the relationships you already have with your family. Meeting new people is the weirdest thing, especially if you’re an introvert like me who likes their alone time. But you’d be surprised at how many interesting people you can meet once you strike up simple conversations with them. As we get older, we’ll lose friends and gain friends. So maintaining these alternative relationships is definitely important.

III. Relish in Smaller Adventures

One of the best parts of being single is that there’s no restriction. You don’t necessarily need to ask permission if you want to travel or try new things. Use this time in your life to expand your horizon. Take up some new hobbies, such as learning to play guitar, go hiking regularly, taking up writing classes, or learning a new language. For a sweet dose of escapism, immerse yourself in a good book or film. Doing volunteer work, joining a cub, or getting involved in a local church are great ways to contribute your ideas and to meet new people. I like to think of these activities as small adventures. They allow you to explore new things and open up a new world of possibilities.