If you're single, there's a good chance you're hitting the gym more often than your married peers:
A 2011 study found that men and women who have never been married exercised more than people in any
other marital1 category (including currently married men and women, as well as divorcees and
widowers). You're also more likely to maintain a healthy weight. Multiple studies have found that
men and women tend to pack on the pounds after they get married. One study found that married men
are more likely to be overweight than their single peers, while another found that women who lost
weight in preparation for their weddings had a tendency to gain weight in the six months following
the ceremony. It should come as little surprise that sharing a bed with another human being can
affect how much sleep you get. After all, having someone tossing and turning, snoring, and talking
in their sleep beside you can affect even the deepest sleepers2. Being single cuts down on
nighttime disruptions and can help you get a more peaceful night's sleep.
If you hate doing chores, single life might be right for you. A 2008 study found that single men and
women spend fewer hours a week doing basic housework than their married counterparts.
Single people are the glue that keeps families together. According to one study, single siblings3
are more likely to keep in touch with, and reach out to, their siblings than those who are
married. Another study found that single people also spend more time with friends than those
in long-term relationships. Being single doesn't just benefit your waistline and social life:
It also benefits your wallet. Researchers have found that married people have more credit
card debt than single people, and people who are married with children have the most debt of all.
Staying single can help you prevent certain kinds of stress and depression. One 2014 study found
that marital stress may make couples more prone4 to depression, while couples who experience
severe, ongoing5 marital stress were less able to enjoy positive experiences.
Staying single now can benefit your romantic relationships in the future. In general, people
who wait longer to get married have lower rates of divorce.
For people who truly hate conflicts, staying single can have real psychological benefits. According
to a 2015 study, people who are conflict-averse (those for whom relationship fights and arguments
can cause severe stress) may experience less anxiety when they're single.
A wide range of studies have looked at the impact marriage and singledom can have on health. While
being single isn't necessarily healthier across the board, there are plenty of situations where
being single seems to be beneficial. Single men, for instance, were found to experience less
heart disease, while single women are less likely to take sick days and visited the doctor less
frequently than married women. Being single can even help your chances of keeping off weight
after surgery: One study found that unmarried men and women were 2.7 times more likely to keep
to diet and exercise goals after weight loss surgery.
Being alone doesn't necessarily mean being lonely. Spending time on your own gives you time
to clear your mind, identify your own goals and priorities, and participate in activities
that interest you. Research has even found that a bit of alone time can help us become more
empathetic, foster creativity, and even improve our relationships.