Life

13 Things To Do When You’re Single And Not Dating

by Amanda Chatel

I know not everyone agrees, but personally, I think being single is great. It gives you ample time to work on yourself, explore your options solo, and it’s a necessary component to life. If you’re constantly in a relationship, how are you supposed to know how you’d function on your own? Single time is basically downtime to catch your breath and realize who you are as both a person and a member of society. These are important things to know.

According to a Gallup poll from earlier this year, 64 percent of Millennials were single in 2014. But although that number is in the majority, for some reason, being single still gets a bad wrap. And, when you're single, looking, and not finding anyone you're clicking with, it can be extremely frustrating. But being single also means ultimate freedom. This isn’t to suggest that being in a relationship is a trap, but it does mean you have to check in with your partner on certain things, share responsibilities, financial and otherwise, and you’re simply committed to not just them, but the relationship itself. Commitment to someone you adore completely is wonderful, but sometimes being single is just as wonderful in different ways.

If you’re currently single and not dating anyone all, don't get down on yourself! Use this time when you're not seeing anyone as special you time. So let me help; here are 13 things to do when you’re single.

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1. Get On A Plane To Somewhere You’ve Never Been

You can finally go on that trip to Cambodia you’ve been dreaming about or, if you’re really adventurous, pack up and move across the country. No attachments means getting to do what you want to do, without the weight of either missing someone or feeling guilty for spontaneously taking off.

2. Have A Couple Of NSA Flings

Just because you’re single and not dating doesn’t mean that hooking up should be put on hold. If you know you can have a one-night stand and not feel bad or regretful about it, then there’s nothing stopping you. You're human, so it’s only natural that you might crave human contact in the form of getting laid at some point.

3. Get Involved In Something You’re Passionate About

Being single means lots of time to pursue other endeavors, especially ones for which you have a deep passion. You can take a class in painting, or volunteer at the ASPCA, or finally start that novel you’ve been talking about for the past five years. There’s no time like the present.

4. Master Your Masturbation Skills

Not being in a relationship means it’s the perfect time to explore your body and your sexual desires. You’re not just doing it because it feels good, but because there’s a good chance you’ll be in a relationship again and having mastered your masturbation, you’ll be having even better sex than you did before. Knowing your body is the ultimate power when it comes to great sex.

5. Hone Your Social Skills

Sometimes when we’re in relationships, we get stuck in ruts with our partner. You order from the same pizza place, go to the same bar, and socialize with the same people. In being single you finally get to break those old habits and try new things, go to places where you’ll meet new people, and finally try a new pizza spot. You might even be daring enough to leave your apartment and have the pizza there instead. Exciting!

6. Relish In Girls’ Nights

Your friends love you, but unfortunately, sometimes friends get the shaft when we’re in relationships. If you’re single, it’s the perfect time to not just see your friends more regularly, but cultivate friendships from your past, the ones you let slip between the cracks.

7. Let Yourself Have Crushes

Crushes are so fun. They’re harmless, they usually involve some amount of butterflies, and they give you an extra incentive to get out of bed in the morning ― especially if that crush is on someone who works in your office.

8. Do Something Scary

I firmly believe that being single is the time to push the boundaries and break out of your comfort zone. If you’re scared of heights, take a trapeze class. If the thought of cockroaches keeps you up at night, go to an insect zoo. Give yourself a little jolt that reminds you how fun it is to be alive.

9. Throw Yourself A Party

People throw parties for engagements, birthdays, and weddings. But what about throwing a party because you’re single and awesome? Crack open a case of champagne and invite your buddies over to celebrate YOU.

10. Take A Break From Looking

Although it’s not scientifically proven, they say it’s when you’re not looking for love that ― bam! ― it finds you. So, if you spend a lot of time looking for someone else to date, give yourself a little break. Log off all your dating apps for a few months and don’t let that stuff even cross your mind.

11. Reinvent Yourself

In being single, you have a lot of time to figure out who you are, what you want, and in which direction you want to head. If you don’t like where you are or who are, change it. It’s the perfect time to do so.

12. Work On Your Relationship With TV

When you were in a relationship, you got way behind on your shows, didn’t you? Well, now it’s time to remedy that. Besides, you already know that your relationship with binge-watching is one the healthiest relationships of your life.

13. Enjoy The Hell Out Of It

Being single doesn’t last forever. So instead of worrying about when the next time will be that you’ll find yourself on a date with someone who’s potentially "The One," enjoy every second of being single. Because when you're in a relationship again, you may very well miss being single.

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