How to Enjoy and Embrace Single Life in Your 20s (Find Freedom and Connect with Yourself)

Co-authored by Cristina Morara and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

When you’re in your 20s, you’re probably going through a whole lot of life changes all at once. Being single during this time period can actually be a blessing in disguise since you can focus on yourself and do whatever you want to do. Keep reading to learn how you can make the most of your 20s and appreciate the single life while it lasts.

1

Enjoy your freedom.

You get to do what you want to do on your own schedule. People in relationships often have to check in with their partners before making decisions, whether they’re big or small. When you’re single, you can head out on your own and take charge of your own life.^{[1]
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- Plus, when you’re in your 20s, you’re still young, so there's plenty of time to settle down later if you want to.
- Think about your life as an adventure—there are endless possibilities for you right now!^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Cristina Morara
  Dating Coach
  Expert Interview. 29 September 2020.}

2

Get to know yourself.

Focus on who you are and what you want in life. If you’re in school still, explore a few different majors to see which one you like. If you’re in the workforce already, take the time to try a few different jobs or career paths. Make an effort to get to know yourself and your values.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Cristina Morara
Dating Coach
Expert Interview. 29 September 2020.}^{[4]
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- When you’re single, you have more time to check in on yourself. You don’t have to worry about someone else’s wants or needs because it’s just you!

3

Explore new hobbies.

Try something new that you’ve always wanted to try. Never been roller skating? Pick up a pair of skates and head out there! Want to go rock climbing? Join a group and learn how! Use your free time to explore new skills and fun things to do on your own.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Joining a hobby group or club is also a good way to meet new friends or potential romantic partners.

4

Travel more.

Take a road trip or save money for a trip abroad. When it’s just you that you have to worry about, you can plan things on your schedule. Invite a few friends to make it a group trip, or just head out on your own to explore the world by yourself.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Cristina Morara
Dating Coach
Expert Interview. 29 September 2020.}^{[7]
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- If you do travel by yourself, be sure you’re staying safe! Keep in contact with friends and family at home so they know you’re alright.

5

Move if you want to.

When you don’t have a partner, you can go anywhere you want. If you don’t like the city you’re in right now, explore your other options. If you find a cool job opportunity somewhere else, go for it! When you’re young and single, you can go wherever you’d like to without someone else tagging along.^{[8]
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- Moving can be expensive, especially if you go somewhere far away. Keep that in mind if you want to head out somewhere on your own.

6

Make money.

Dedicate your free time to odd jobs or your career. When you’re single, you don’t have to worry about spending your money on someone else. Focus on making money and building up your savings account to help you out in the future.^{[9]
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- If you’re still in school, working at the same time might be a little tough. Part-time work is always an option, or you could look for a paid internship.

7

Connect with family and friends.

When you’re single, you have more time for your loved ones. Reach out to your friends and try to hang out with them often. Call your family members or invite them over so you guys can hang out. You don’t need a relationship to feel fulfilled—you probably have tons of people in your life who love you already.^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- If you live far away from your family, try talking with them over video chat to stay connected.

8

Date yourself.

Don’t wait for someone else to take you out. Buy yourself flowers and take yourself out to dinner. If there’s a new movie that you want to see, go out to the theater and see it!^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- When you’re in your 20s, there’s a good chance that some of your friends are single, too. If you don’t want to head out alone, consider inviting some of them along.

9

Practice self-care.

Make time to pamper yourself and stay relaxed. Take a bubble bath, put on a face mask, listen to your favorite music, or read a great book. Try to do something like this every day to make yourself feel good and give yourself something to look forward to.^{[12]
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- Self-care looks different for everyone. Don’t be afraid to try out a few things until you figure out what you like!

10

Have sex if you want to.

You don’t have to be in a relationship to get intimate. If you’d like to have sex but you don’t want to be in a relationship, consider meeting other single people for a casual fling instead. You can download dating apps or simply meet someone on a night out—just be sure you make your intentions clear so they don’t think you want a relationship.^{[13]
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- If you don’t want to have sex, that’s fine too! Everyone moves at their own pace. Do what you want to do whenever you want to do it.
- Having casual sex can be a little more risky than having sex with a commited partner. Make sure you protect yourself against pregnancy and STDs by using birth control and condoms.^{[14]
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