Why Happy Singles Always Seem More Content Than Unhappy Couples

Singledom is better than unhappy coupledom.

A woman with short blonde hair smiles slightly while standing outdoors. She wears an orange shirt over a white top and blue jeans. There are wrought iron fences and stone columns in the background. The setting appears to be sunny.

While a lot of people are happy when they’re in a relationship, a surprising number of singles seem far more content than their partnered counterparts—especially if the latter experience tension in their relationships. Here’s why:

1. They enjoy complete autonomy.

A man with short dark hair and a slight beard gazes into the distance. He is wearing a light blue sweater, standing against a soft, blurred background that hints at a serene, overcast sky.

They have the freedom to do whatever they want, when they want, instead of having to compromise with another person or explain their decisions to someone else’s satisfaction. Instead, they can live their lives entirely on their own terms.

2. They have time for the personal pursuits they love.

Two men wearing vintage-style tennis outfits walk on a clay court, carrying wooden rackets. One wears a red jacket and the other a black and white one. Both are smiling and talking, with empty spectator seats in the background.

Many people are held back from doing the things they love because their partners think their hobbies or interests are dull, or want to spend weekends doing something else, together. When single, these people can pursue everything that piques their interest, without being mocked or pressured to do otherwise.

3. Authentic self-expression.

A person with short hair, wearing a wide-brimmed red hat and a striped shirt, is captured mid-expression with their mouth open, eyes wide, and one hand holding the brim of the hat. The background is blurred.

Countless people are held back from dressing or appearing the way they’d like because their partners have expectations about their appearance. When they’re single, they can dress as they like, dye or style their hair in the way they love best, and live true to their amazing, authentic selves. Who wouldn’t be happy with that?

4. They don’t have to carry another’s responsibilities.

A person with red hair is smiling and wearing a black and white striped shirt. They're in a room with blurred bookshelves in the background.

Many married people have to do an extraordinary amount of emotional labor with regard to their spouse. They have to remember (or even carry) their partner’s responsibilities in addition to their own, while doing more than their fair share of chores, cooking, money earning, and so on, which is exhausting over time.

5. They don’t have to deal with a partner’s annoying family members or friends.

A family of four gathers in a bright kitchen. A young man and woman on the left are focused on a tablet and laptop respectively. An older woman in the center appears to be talking passionately, while an older man on the right listens intently. The counter has breakfast items.

When you’re in a relationship or marriage, you’re also in a relationship with your partner’s family members—including rude, obnoxious, or otherwise unpleasant ones. Singles don’t have to deal with awful in-laws, nor are they forced to spend time with their partner’s irritating or offensive friend groups.

6. They aren’t “tied down” and can travel at will.

A person with shoulder-length hair, wearing glasses, a black hat, and a leather jacket stands on a train platform with a blurred train in the background. They look confidently towards the camera.

A single person can book a flight to wherever they like and travel there on their own terms, instead of having to negotiate and argue about destinations with their partner. There’s nobody complaining about the holiday, asking when they’ll be home, and so on—just the sheer joy of freedom and independence.

7. They can enjoy complete focus without interruption.

A man with dark hair, wearing a coral-colored shirt, sits on a couch and reads an open book. The background is dimly lit with blurred shelves holding books and a chess set. The man appears focused on his reading.

Many people are far happier single than they are as part of an unhappy couple because they don’t have someone else’s unceasing demands intruding upon all their personal pursuits. They can read, do crafts, or binge-watch their favorite series without having their name called 300 times a day, every day.

8. They can live their Truth.

A person with sunglasses and a dark jacket leans on a wooden railing along a boardwalk. They are surrounded by tall grasses, and the atmosphere is calm and overcast.

They draw from the truth of knowing themselves and being fulfilled by what they’ve discovered, rather than being performative in order to maintain codependency. A lot of people stay in bad relationships because to them, that’s easier and more comfortable than facing potentially challenging truths about who they really are.

9. No possessive partner dictating their behaviors (or friendship groups).

Four smiling friends gather closely for a selfie outdoors in a sunny urban setting. The group, consisting of two men and two women, appears happy and joyful, wearing casual clothes and standing in front of buildings with a clear sky in the background.

When a person is single, their actions are their own to govern. They can spend time with whomever they like, eat what they like (and when they like), and not have a controlling or insecure partner constantly questioning their choices and/or dictating their behaviors to them.

10. There is no sense of obligation toward anyone but themselves (or their kids, if there are any).

Young man with curly hair and sunglasses, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, is sitting on the grass in a relaxed pose on a sunny day. He is smiling and leaning back on his hands with a carefree expression.

When a person is in a relationship, there are a lot of duties expected of them, in addition to their chosen obligations—such as child raising. These can add up and leave them feeling stretched thin and even used. In contrast, single people only have said chosen obligations, and aren’t beholden to another adult.

11. They tend to have a lot of animal companions.

A woman with long hair wearing a red and blue plaid shirt is playing a ukulele. A green and gray parrot is perched on her shoulder, looking at the ukulele. The background is blurred, focusing on the woman and the parrot.

Many people prefer the company of animals to people, since they offer unconditional love and companionship without the tensions and obligations that come with human partnerships. As such, happy singles tend to feel that way because they have veritable zoos at home to tend to and love, and find complete fulfillment with them.

12. No subtle digs about their appearance.

Close-up of a woman with wavy gray and brown hair, resting her chin on her hand. She has a contemplative expression and is looking off to the side. The background is blurred, focusing attention on her thoughtful face.

So many people have terrible self-esteem issues because their partners put down their appearance with backhanded or passive-aggressive comments. When single, they can dress how they like, and work with their body’s inevitable changes without having to contend with someone else’s observations and snide remarks about them.