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Many single people feel the pressure to be in a relationship. The common sentiment from social media and other media channels is that you can’t be happy when you’re single, and that true happiness comes from being in a relationship.
The refrain that to be single is to be sad is untrue and harmful. Constantly straining for a new relationship, dreading alone time, and being unable to be happy outside of a relationship is not healthy and can be detrimental to physical and mental health.
How then can we be single and happy? Is it even possible?
Yes! And this Singles Awareness Day, we’re going to tell you how.
What Is Singles Awareness Day?
Single Awareness Day is the day after Valentine’s Day, February 15th, 2026. It is a day to celebrate being single. It’s nicknamed S.A.D as a humorous nod towards most people’s views on being single, which is. . . well, sad.
But why is being single always equated with being sad? Is there a way to be both single and happy?
Yes! Absolutely. Being single and happy is a reachable goal that can have huge positive effects on your life.
Eight Steps to Be Single and Happy
It’s easier to say that you want to be single and happy than actually being single and happy. Years of societal pressure and thinking you have to be in a relationship with your “other half” in order to be happy will make it hard to be okay with being alone.
These eight steps are a way for you to start. It may take time, and there might be times when you’re not happy being single. That’s okay! The goal is not to be happy all the time. (That’s its own kind of unhealthy mental state called toxic positivity.) The goal is to let go of the pressure of being in a relationship and allow yourself to find peace being with yourself, by yourself.
Deconstruct your need to be in a relationship.
It’s the day after Valentine’s Day, and you’re scrolling social media. That pinch in your chest and sour feeling in your gut won’t go away as you scroll past couples celebrating their love together.
You want that type of relationship badly.
The first step to being happily single is to understand why you want a relationship. Some common reasons people crave relationships include:
- Validation
- Fear of being alone
- Societal pressure to be with someone
- The desire to love and be loved
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a relationship. The issue is when you feel like you are broken because you are not in a relationship.
Understand that there is nothing wrong with being single. Once you do, you can start being happy as a single person.
Get comfortable with yourself.
Some people like relationships because it shields them from themselves. They don’t have to have as many independent thoughts or make as many decisions when they’re with someone else.
When you’re single, you spend a lot more time with yourself. Your thoughts, emotions, desires, and fears all sound a lot louder.
Get comfortable with them. Have fun getting to know yourself. How do you like your coffee in the morning? What time do you actually like to go to bed? What do you enjoy doing?
Reestablish these things for yourself, outside of the bounds of a relationship.
Allow yourself to be bored.
In the early stages of a relationship, our brains are flooded with brain chemicals that make us feel good and give us a lot of energy. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin make those beginning days of a relationship feel like the best days ever. It’s called the “honeymoon phase” for a reason.
But eventually, those feelings fade. In a long-term relationship, they turn into a deeper attachment. Other people crave the high of a new relationship, and quickly cycle through situationships and short-term flings, always seeking that new emotional high.
If you’re used to the rush of new-relationship dopamine, single life can feel boring. Sit with that feeling.
Reestablish your hobbies.
Many people lose some of their hobbies when they are in a relationship. More time is spent with their partner, doing things they mutually enjoy, and less time doing things that they themselves enjoy.
As a single person, now is your time to get really into these hobbies. Learn a new skill! Craft something cool. Travel somewhere you’ve always wanted to be. Learn, create, and explore. There is more to life than date nights, and now is your chance to explore all of it.
Take yourself on dates.
Another reason people miss relationships is that they miss doing fun things, but nothing is stopping you from doing fun things as a single person.
Go to a museum, eat at a restaurant, take that road trip, and go see that movie. Trust us, no one actually cares that you’re by yourself. More likely, they wish that they had the courage to do the same.
Here are some dates you can take yourself on this Singles Awareness Day:
- Go see a movie
- Eat at a nice restaurant
- Go for a hike
- Go to a museum
- Buy the cheap Valentine’s Day chocolate
- Have a crafting night
What would you do if you were in a relationship? Can you still do that today?
Hang out with friends and family.
Some things are more fun with other people. When you don’t want to take yourself on a date, and you’re really craving human interaction, hang out with friends and family!
Remember that just like how not every moment with a significant other is as perfect and full of love as what we see on social media, not every hangout or conversation with a friend is going to be the type that people write stories about.
And that’s okay.
Build a community of people that you can rely on and who you show up for when you’re needed. Hang out with them even if you don’t always feel like it. Do life with them.
A support system can be much more than a romantic partner. Start building one today.
Take care of yourself.
The “post-breakup glow-up” can be real. Single people often have more time than people in a relationship. Put that time and energy back into yourself.
Where do you see yourself in 6 months? A year? 5 years? What do you look like? What is your mental state like? What does your house look like? What are your weekend plans like?
You may not be able to get all of those things right now, but you can start working on them.
Don’t look for another relationship.
This one might hurt. After a breakup, a common salve is to go out and immediately find a rebound relationship. Or to start working on yourself so you can be ready for your next relationship.
Part of why being single hurts so much is that we are always looking ahead to the next relationship. We never allow ourselves to be okay with where we are.
Being happily single means not waiting for the next fling or situationship. It means not actively looking for love but allowing it to come to you naturally, by simply living your best single life.
Be yourself. Be okay with being yourself. And celebrate the unique freedom of being yourself by yourself.
How Can I Celebrate Singles Awareness Day?
February 15th can be a painful day if you are struggling with being single. Doing something fun on Singles Awareness Day can be a form of self-care that helps you get through this period of sadness.
Here are some things you can do:
- Treat yourself to a favorite meal, dessert, or coffee
- Plan a solo date (movie night, museum visit, hike, or spa day)
- Practice self-care (bubble bath, skincare routine, meditation, or journaling)
- Spend time with friends or other single loved ones
- Buy yourself flowers or a small gift
- Focus on personal goals or hobbies you enjoy
- Volunteer or do something kind for others
If you’re feeling especially down, take some time to care for your mental health. You could:
- Make a list of all the things you’re proud of
- Take a break from social media
- Set healthy boundaries with your ex
- Use deep breathing exercises or meditation to ground yourself
- Do something soothing for your nervous system (nature walk, gentle stretching, warm shower)
- Practice gratitude for supportive people, stability, or small daily comforts
- Schedule a therapy session
If you’re struggling with being single, a therapist can help. A licensed therapist will help you understand why you feel such a need to be in a relationship, deconstruct cognitive distortions around being single, and help you find happiness as a single person.
Ready to enjoy single life? Call Lifebulb’s support team to be matched with a therapist near you.
