Benefits Of Being In A Relationship vs Being Single

At Energetics Institute, we often work with individuals navigating the balance between independence and connection. In today’s world, where being happily single is celebrated just as much as finding the right person, it’s easy to wonder whether being in a relationship offers tangible benefits. The answer, like most things in psychology and life, depends on the person, the relationship, and the stage of life you’re in.

Whether you’re considering a new relationship, reflecting on your relationship status, or exploring what love means for you, this article explores the science-backed and lived benefits of being in a romantic relationship, while acknowledging the valid strengths of the single life.

Comparison Single Life vs. In a Romantic Relationships

Understanding both sides of the coin helps you make informed choices:

• Being single allows for complete control of your time. You can schedule your day around your preferences without negotiating with a partner’s commitments.
• In a relationship, there’s emotional support, but there can also be financial disadvantages. Shared outings, gifts, or moving in together often lead to increased spending compared to the typically leaner single lifestyle.
• Some individuals in long-term relationships report becoming too comfortable, sometimes losing motivation to maintain their health or appearance, which can affect their sense of self-worth over time.

Benefits of Being Single

The single life isn’t just a waiting room for love. For many, it’s a meaningful and self-defining chapter:

1. Personal and Professional Growth

Being single provides space to focus deeply on your ambitions without compromise. You can take jobs in new cities, invest long hours in a startup, or study without guilt.

• You’re free to shape your day around your needs.
• There’s no pressure to accommodate someone else’s schedule or expectations.
• You can define what success means for you on your terms.

2. Greater Self-Awareness and Emotional Independence

Spending time alone gives you the clarity to identify what you truly want in life and in future relationships. It also helps build emotional independence.

• You learn to manage your own emotions, regulate stress, and create boundaries.
• You develop resilience by handling setbacks on your own, which supports mental strength.

3. Healthier Lifestyle Habits

Multiple studies show that single people tend to have healthier lifestyles than their partnered counterparts.

• They engage in more physical activity.
• They have more time to prepare meals and eat more consciously.
• They often prioritise sleep, exercise, and hobbies without distraction.

4. Freedom to Explore and Discover

Being single offers unmatched flexibility.

• You can travel or relocate without needing to check in with a partner.
• You can experiment with new interests or social circles.
• There’s more freedom to invest in diverse experiences and passions.

5. Deeper Friendships and Social Connections

Single people often build stronger friendships and maintain broader social networks.

• They can invest more effort in friendships, sibling bonds, or extended family.
• They spend more time with a diverse range of close friends, often resulting in richer social lives than those in romantic partnerships.

6. Self-Discovery and Identity Development

Being on your own is one of the most powerful ways to understand your identity.

• You reflect more deeply on your values, needs, and patterns.
• You gain self-worth by proving to yourself that happiness doesn’t depend on external validation.
• You discover who you are, not who you are in relation to someone else.

7. Greater Happiness Through Autonomy

Research shows that single individuals often report higher levels of satisfaction than assumed.

• They engage in more recreational activities.
• They report less stress about managing conflicts or expectations.
• Their fun comes from a wider variety of sources, including travel, hobbies, and friends.

Benefits of Being in a Relationship

Despite the many perks of being single, there are unique benefits to building a loving, committed relationship:

1. Emotional Support and Shared Joy

The companionship of a caring partner is irreplaceable.

• After a rough day, having someone who listens and validates your feelings matters.
• You can celebrate wins together, which deepens intimacy and joy.
• You develop a rhythm of care, creating emotional security over time.

2. Best Friend and Confidante

Happy couples often describe their partner as their best friend. This trust and familiarity fosters:

• Deeper communication
• Shared memories
• Playfulness and fun in daily life

The most successful couples don’t just love each other — they genuinely like each other too.

1. Emotional Support and Connection

Humans are social creatures. At our core, we’re wired for bonding, touch, and connection. One of the most significant benefits of a relationship is the emotional support it offers during tough moments, the kind of comfort that helps after a rough day or when life becomes overwhelming.

Having a relationship partner can help you:

• Feel less lonely
• Co-regulate your nervous system
• Talk through daily challenges or bigger decisions
• Share burdens without fear of judgment

While close friends and family also play key roles, a loving partner often becomes the anchor we turn to consistently. This type of intimacy, when healthy, becomes a powerful source of support, connection, and safety.

2. Improved Mental and Physical Health

Numerous studies in psychology and health research show that people in positive relationships experience better overall wellbeing. This includes:

• Lower levels of stress hormones
• Better cardiovascular health
• Longer lifespan
• Improved immune function

Married people, in particular, often report better outcomes across multiple health markers. However, the quality of the relationship matters far more than the label. A good relationship supports your emotional health, while a bad relationship can do just the opposite.

3. Growth Through Shared Experiences

The best romantic relationships don’t just offer comfort, they challenge us to grow. A relationship partner helps reflect our blind spots, encourage better habits, and hold us accountable.

Together, couples experience:

• Spending time in meaningful ways
• Shared learning and goals
• Building routines that support mutual values
• Reassurance during periods of uncertainty or change

Growth in relationships isn’t always easy. But when approached with mutual respect, effort, and trust, these moments of tension often produce the most significant breakthroughs, emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically.

4. Increased Resilience and Life Satisfaction

Feeling like you’re on the same team with someone can be one of life’s most grounding experiences. When you know someone has your back, whether it’s your best friend, partner, or spouse, your confidence grows.

Research suggests people in committed relationships often:

• Have higher life satisfaction
• Are more likely to take risks and pursue goals
• Show increased self confidence
• Bounce back from setbacks more quickly

This doesn’t mean single people are doomed to dissatisfaction. In fact, many single people tend to invest deeply in friendships, passions, and personal development. But in a healthy relationship, those areas of life are often amplified, not sacrificed.

5. Better Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills

Being in a relationship naturally teaches you how to feel, express, and manage emotions. You’re forced to navigate differences, compromise, and practise empathy.

Over time, this strengthens:

• Active listening
• Constructive feedback
• Emotional intelligence
• Conflict de-escalation skills

These communication habits spill into other relationships too, including work, and friends, improving your overall social and emotional toolkit.

6. Shared Joy and Day-to-Day Fun

Let’s not forget the lighter side. There’s something inherently joyful about spending time with someone who knows you deeply. From inside jokes to spontaneous weekends or choosing what to watch on Netflix, being in a relationship can make everyday moments feel richer.

This fun isn’t limited to grand experiences. It’s about shared laughter, being silly together, and celebrating the small wins.

And yes, there’s research to back this too. Couples who laugh together are more likely to stay together and report higher relationship satisfaction.

7. Security for the Future

For many, having a partner offers emotional and logistical security, knowing that whatever happens, you won’t have to face it alone. Whether it’s planning for children, managing finances, navigating illness, or building a shared vision for the future, a relationship can offer predictability in a world that’s often uncertain.

With a relationship partner, you can:

• Plan long-term goals
• Manage money as a team
• Build rituals that anchor your life
• Share decisions without feeling overwhelmed

Security in a relationship is not about control. It is about mutual commitment, shared trust, and a sense of home.

8. Creating a Foundation for Family and Community

For those interested in marriage, parenting, or community building, a relationship often becomes the foundation. Healthy couples can offer a nurturing space for raising children, supporting one another through job changes or life transitions, and expanding their social ecosystems through mutual friends.

Even if marriage isn’t the goal, forming a stable, loving partnership can fulfil similar longings, such as connection, shared meaning, and legacy.

9. Encouragement to Become Your Best Self

One of the most beautiful outcomes of a strong relationship is that your partner often becomes your biggest cheerleader. They see your potential even when you can’t. They remind you of your values when you feel lost. They offer focus and structure during chaotic times.

Whether you’re building a business, healing from past relationships, or chasing creative goals, your partner’s belief in you matters.

Of course, this requires effort from both sides. A relationship is a living thing. It requires spending time, communication, and willingness to work through the hard stuff. For those who commit, the emotional rewards are vast.

10. Love Isn’t the Only Answer, But It Can Be a Powerful One

Let’s be honest. Not every relationship is worth staying in. Many people choose to stay single, and for good reason. Some are happier single, more self sufficient, or waiting for the right person. Others may choose to remain single after a painful bad relationship, or simply because they value total control over their time, space, and routine.

In contrast being single can bring more freedom, flexibility, and more opportunities to explore other things. Being independent is powerful, and for many, being single means autonomy, clarity, and the ability to focus fully on personal growth.

There’s no right or wrong path. Married people can feel lonely just as single people can feel fulfilled. The real point is to build a life, with or without a partner, that feels aligned with who you are.

Final Thoughts: Choosing What’s Right for You

So, what are the true benefits of being in a relationship? Connection, growth, joy, shared purpose, healing, and security. But none of these are automatic. They depend on the person, the effort, and the relationship itself.

Whether you’re single, dating, married, or somewhere in between, your emotional wellbeing comes first. Healthy love, from a partner, friends, or your own inner self, should never cost you your peace, your truth, or your voice.

At Energetics Institute, we support individuals and couples in building emotionally intelligent, conscious, and healing connections. If you’re reflecting on your relationship status, exploring new relationships, or wanting to build a deeper bond with the right person, we’re here to help.

Need support navigating your relationship journey or your being single?
Contact the Energetics Institute to explore relationship therapy, personal counselling, or to learn how to build stronger emotional bonds with yourself and others.