No matter how on track your life is, there’s always room to better yourself and ways to encourage self-growth. When you’re single, it’s a great time to consciously dedicate some time become the best version of yourself. Self-improvement is a life-long journey that will not only make you a better person but a better partner as well if and when you end up in a relationship.
- Your career goals No matter what your job is and how much you love it, there will most likely still be days where you feel drained, uninspired, downright tired and uninterested in your job. However, the more you pursue your passions and work towards accomplishing your goals, the less amount of time you’ll spend miserable at work. Even if you do land your dream job, it’s still normal to get burned out from time to time, but being in a field that you love will definitely minimize the time you feel overwhelmed at work.
- Developing strong relationships with your family and friends Once you settle down into a serious relationship, it’s inevitable and natural to have less free time to spend with your family and friends. While you’re still single, focus on spending time with the people who you love and who love you right back. You’ll be happy because you’re surrounding yourself with people who genuinely care about you, and you’ll cherish these carefree moments when you have a family one day.
- Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone Now is the time to push yourself out of your comfort zone and take risks. Whether it’s moving across the country, backpacking in Europe, starting a new business, or any other decision that’s not exactly a safe bet, being single is the perfect time to take risks. Even if these ventures fail, you’ll gain experience, life-changing memories, and lessons that can only be learned by making mistakes.
- Making the effort to meet new, different people One of the best ways to learn more about the world around you and also about yourself is by meeting new people, especially people that you wouldn’t normally cross paths with in your everyday life. You’ll learn about their different lifestyles and world views and it might even make you think about your own. You might meet new best friends or you might realize why you like to keep to yourself, but either way, when you’re single, making the effort to surround yourself with a multitude of different people will make you a more understanding person overall.
- Finding causes you believe in and ways to help make a difference Whether you’re single or in a relationship, charity will always help you grow as a person and make you more compassionate. When you’re single, there’s a good chance you have more free time on your hands than you will when you’re in a relationship. It’s the perfect time to research different causes and take a stand for the ones that speak to you the most. You’ll become more humble, more understanding, and more loving, and you’ll also be giving back to the community and possibly the planet. You’ll likely find that your perspective changes and grows with each act of charity you participate in. You’ll also be more appreciative of what you have and grateful for your own good fortune.
- Challenging your own personal beliefs Have you ever wholeheartedly believed in something, only to later prove yourself wrong or experience something that changed what you once knew to be true? When you’re single, it’s a great time to challenge your own personal beliefs so that you can figure out who you really are and what you really value in this life. Of course, our values can change as we grow and learn throughout our lives, but do some research, read some stories, and figure out what it is that you absolutely stand for while you’re single.
- Taking care of yourself and cherishing your alone time It’s easy and comforting to become codependent in life, whether it’s with our parents, our siblings, our best friends, or the person we’re in a relationship with. When you’re single, it’s a perfect time to consciously work on being able to take care of yourself, by yourself, with no help from anyone else. Being independent not only feels good and makes you more confident, but if you love your alone time and know that you’re perfectly capable of taking care of everything by yourself, you won’t let just anybody average into your life based on necessity.
- Discovering your guilty pleasures are and indulging in them We all have guilty pleasures, but once you’re settled down in a serious relationship and are starting a family, we have less time for self-care and for the things that we know aren’t super productive or financially smart but that we enjoy. It could be binge-watching reality TV, being first in line at a sample sale, or spending money on luxurious beauty treatments—whatever it is, figure out what your guilty pleasures are while you’re single and indulge in them while you still have the extra time and resources to do so.
- Finding out what it is about yourself that you love Are you generous, forgiving, caring? Easygoing, understanding, loving? Competitive, hard-working, goal-oriented? When you’re single, it’s a good time to focus on what qualities are your strengths and what traits you have that you love. While you’re at it, you can also evaluate your weaknesses and see what areas of your personality you might want to be aware of and maybe even work on.
