Being single in the U.S. seems to be steadily on the rise since 2020. About 41 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 to 29 are single. About 51 percent of men under 30 are single, compared to 32 percent of women in the same age bracket. Half of U.S. women who are 65 and older are single, frequently as a result of being divorced or widowed. Overall, the data suggest that nearly one in four U.S. adults today may remain single for their entire lives, and half of all singles are not even looking to date.
While most people feel that dating has become harder over the last 10 years, women seem to be having a more difficult time finding someone who meets their relationship standards. As a result, many are embracing singlehood as an opportunity to maximize their personal happiness, careers, and mindfulness. Singlehood can have many benefits, such as fostering autonomy and independence. Singlehood can allow individuals to pursue their personal goals, put their careers first, and embrace personal interests such as travel, education, hobbies, dogs, or family.
In a new study on what it means to “ride solo,” researchers found that being single does not necessarily make you happier or more fulfilled, but believing it does. Believing that being single is an opportunity to grow leads us to pursue more growth-oriented activities, such as workshops, travel, yoga, or book clubs. Unfortunately, we cannot just convince someone that being single is good for them according to the research. Just as we cannot make someone optimistic, you cannot make someone believe that being single is good for them. Feeling fulfilled when we are single is something we develop on our own.
5 films to help you embrace the growth mindset of singlehood
How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998): If you are feeling stressed and maybe down after a hard breakup or a divorce, this film is for you. 40-year-old Stella (Angela Bassett) jets to Jamaica and has an island fling with Winston (Taye Diggs), a handsome 20-something. In this film adapted from Terry McMillan’s best-selling 1996 novel of the same title, Stella reclaims her desire and aliveness on her own terms.
Frances Ha (2012): If you see being single as a legitimate, authentic life stage rather than just a period spent waiting for romantic love, then this is the film for you. Aspiring dancer Frances (Greta Gerwig) meanders through the thrills and humiliations of her late 20s in New York City alongside her best friend, Sophie. Frances’ real love story is her own actualization into her self and her friendship with Sophie.
Thelma and Louise (1991): If stepping out of the role of wife, mistress, or even victim in a relationship seems scary to you, then this is the film for you. Thelma (Geena Davis) joins her friend Louise (Susan Sarandon) on a short fishing trip. However, their trip becomes a flight from the law, and when Louise decides to flee to Mexico, Thelma joins her, choosing their friendship over the men they leave behind.
High Fidelity (2000): If you are playing your breakup on repeat, this film shows the importance of taking time to sit with your relationship history rather than rushing past it. Rob Gordon (John Cusack) is the owner of a failing record store in Chicago when his long-time girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjejle), walks out on him. As he examines his failed attempts at romance and happiness, the process drags him, kicking and screaming, into adulthood.
Private Benjamin (1980): If you have previously defined yourself through your relationships, this film is about discovering who you are once that is all stripped away. In this ’80s classic comedy, Judy Benjamin (Goldie Hawn) is devastated when her husband (Albert Brooks) drops dead on their wedding night. While she grieves, she decides to enlist in the army. As Judy goes through basic training, she learns how to rebuild her own life.
