Keep Your Brain Happy in Any Situation
Some swear by the single life. Others can’t live without their partners. But what if we told you that both scenarios have significant mental benefits? Whether you’re head over heels or focusing on yourself, here are some of the best things about each life path.
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1. Emotional Support
Our partners are our biggest fans, and that endless emotional support does wonders for our self-esteem. It’s a huge confidence boost to know that someone always has our back and genuinely cares about our hobbies or goals.
2. Decreased Anxiety
One of the scariest things about staying single too long is heightened anxiety. In a relationship, you don’t have to worry about that. With so much security and emotional support, many partners experience alleviated symptoms, not exacerbated ones.
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3. More Motivation
That little voice in our head can do more harm than good, but do you know who drowns out the negativity? Our partners! They cut right through the fear and encourage us to chase our dreams, which leads to a greater sense of motivation.
4. Higher Self-Esteem
Partners do a lot more than encourage—they make us feel incredible. Did you cook a yummy meal? Wear a jaw-dropping outfit to dinner? You bet your partner will be right there with a heartfelt compliment. It might not seem like it in the moment, but persistent positivity can reshape our mindset over time, which only heightens self-esteem.
5. Less Stress
Chronic stress is no joke, often wearing down both our bodies and minds. Dealing with the symptoms alone can impede sleep and even cause physical symptoms like high blood pressure or migraines. When you’re with a partner, you always have someone to talk to and help work through problems, which seriously improves mental health.
6. Healthier Habits
It’s not always easy to stick with healthy habits, but a good partner encourages the right steps forward. Together, you can make better choices about your diet, your exercise regimes, and even hobbies. For example, instead of watching TV together every night, schedule an hour to read the same book—something you can talk about when you’re done!
7. Improves Sleep Quality
We sleep better when we’re happier, and the right partner can bring a smile to our faces! Couples constantly experience feel-good hormones like serotonin and oxytocin (otherwise known as the “love hormone”), which improve mood and therefore sleep quality. And as we all know, a well-rested mind is a happy mind.
8. Adds Purpose to Your Life
Relationships do wonders for our self-worth and life purpose. You encourage each other. You support each other. You experience new things together and grow as a unit. With so much on the horizon, there’s an endless sense of purpose, and that connection only boosts mental health.
9. Chance to Alleviate Depression
Your partner isn’t a cure for depression, but they can help alleviate symptoms and provide proper support when you need it most. No one deserves to feel alone, especially at their lowest point, and having someone there reduces isolation and helps build a routine.
10. Endless Encouragement
We’re not always our biggest fan, but partners step up to the plate and challenge our negativity. That kind of encouragement carries long-term effects: improved self-esteem, a stronger connection, improved resilience, and the strength to look ahead. Not bad for a few kind words!
That’s not to say that single people can’t foster their own positivity. In fact, riding solo comes with its own set of mental benefits, so let’s explore a few of them.
1. Stronger Relationships
It’s no surprise that couples can drop off the map, especially when they have children. As our lives change, so do our relationships, and the sad fact is that we sometimes lose touch with those closest to us. However, single people can foster friendships without distraction.
2. Increased Focus
Single people have all the time in the world to boost their focus. Whether it’s their careers or finding a new hobby, they don’t have to worry about someone else’s needs—that kind of freedom fosters a clearer path forward.
3. More Time for Self-Care
Couples don’t always have the time for self-care. Sure, the right partner encourages a little me-time, but obligations and clashing schedules can impede that bubble bath. When you’re single, you can indulge whenever you want! You’ll manage stress, improve your well-being, and reduce anxiety symptoms.
4. Freedom to Explore
Who wouldn’t love the chance to explore their city? To explore themselves? Without a partner to worry about, single people can stay laser-focused on self-growth. You never know what new interests you’ll discover, and just how beneficial they’ll be to your mental health.
5. Learn Independence
Everyone benefits from independence, even couples, and being single means relying on yourself to boost self-confidence. You don’t need someone to replace the faucet. You ran that marathon with your own hard work. You cooked your own delicious dinner. Be your own cheerleader and watch how fast your mental health improves!
6. Fewer Confrontations
It’s healthy for couples to argue occasionally, but not everyone wants to duke it out. Single people can rest easy knowing they’ll never have blowouts with someone or the odd disagreement. Even small tiffs get the blood going, and some people prefer to stay on the sidelines.
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7. Build Hobbies and Interests
Our hobbies do a lot more than we think. Those knitting needles improve everything from cognitive function to stress reduction, and single people can really hone in on what makes them happy. You don’t need to find a gym partner or a reading buddy—you can indulge in what you want, when you want to.
8. No Need to Impress Someone
It’s stressful to try and impress someone. Though long-term couples don’t fret over that stuff, new relationships come with hidden quirks and best behavior, both of which weigh heavy on the mind. Single people don’t need to put themselves, or others, on a pedestal.
9. Financial Autonomy
One of the biggest reasons couples break up is because of money. But guess what you don’t have to worry about! Financial autonomy fosters a greater sense of independence and freedom, giving you full control over your life without any stress.
10. You Make Your Own Schedule
Making your own schedule doesn’t seem that great, but take a step back. You don’t need to go out when you’re tired. You’re in charge of your own social obligations. You control who you spend time with, and for how long. There’s no negotiating, there’s no head-butting, and there’s no stress!
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