Being single isn’t usually something people see as an accomplishment — it’s just something that happens because of timing, circumstances, or preference. But the longer you’re single, the better you’ll probably get at it. You might even get so good at it that you can’t imagine going back to being in a relationship, even if you ultimately want one. Being a professional single person has its perks, but there comes a point where you might be so good at it, it’s actually hurting your chances at finding love.
- You ideal date night is between you and a bottle of red. The thought of actually getting dressed up to go out and order an overpriced drink at a bar reminds you how grateful you are for your pajamas and $12 wine.
- You sleep beside a pile of clothes, snacks, and books. If you aren’t sleeping stretched out in the middle of the bed, you’re sharing it with a human sized pile of stuff. No point in keeping everything tidy when you’re the only one that ever sees it.
- You can always find something wrong with every guy you go on a date with. Even if he seems like a great guy, there’s always a deal breaker to be found if you dig deep enough. No one is suggesting you should settle, but if you’re looking for perfection, you’re pretty much sealing your single forever fate.
- You’re all your friends’ go-to for single girl advice. Whenever a friend goes through a break up, you’re the one she turns to for reassurance that being single isn’t the end of the world. And you take that as a compliment, of course. But it’s also a pretty clear sign that your friends consider you “the single one”.
- Your standards are impossibly high. You might have the opportunity to go on dates all the time, but most of the time you eliminate guys from the running before you even meet them for any number of reasons. You’re looking for a guy with the right job, the right lifestyle, and the right look, and you’ll never stoop to dating what you think is below you.
- You have the perfect response for anyone who asks why you’re still single. You’ve had so much practice answering this question that you’ve drafted a tailored response for anyone who might ask it. But anyone who knows you has long since ceased questioning your single status. At this point, it’s just a part of who you are.
- You don’t even realize when you’re the third wheel. Almost all your friends are coupled up, so if you want to hang out with them, you have to be okay with being the odd one out. It’s gotten to the point where you don’t even notice you’re hanging out with a bunch of couples, which, good for you! But bad for actually finding another single person you might be able to date.
- You don’t notice when a guy is flirting with you. You’re so out of practice at reading the signs that a guy could actually ask you on a date, and you wouldn’t realize it wasn’t just a friendly hang out until he showed up wearing a nice button down, holding a bouquet of flowers.
- You sabotage relationships. As soon as you realize the guy you’re seeing is steering you onto the relationship expressway, you start to pull away. Not because you don’t like him, but because being single is all you know, and you don’t want to jeopardize your freedom.
- You’re set in your single person ways. You like sleeping alone way too much, and you’re used to cooking just enough for dinner so you have leftovers for lunch the next day. Making tiny adjustments to your routine to accommodate a developing relationship doesn’t come naturally, and you end up feeling like you’re losing more than you’re gaining when you start to get serious with someone.
