Getting through the holidays when you’re single is about being in a state of mind. Warm holiday movies and staying in from the cold weather outside can make you feel rather lonely. It reinvigorates the idea of not wanting to die alone and makes you re-evaluate the people and priorities you have in your life. However, single people are among the most adaptable out there. They learn to build larger social networks that become what they consider “family”. When I was single, the holiday was also a time when all my exes seem to come out of hiding to rekindle a holiday romance with an expiry date that came around the new year.
With a new generation that embrace being single, what are their thoughts on being single during the holidays? According to dating website Plenty of Fish who surveyed over 9,000 users, 57% of singles often feel lonely during the holidays. 40% of singles would also like to hook up with their high school sweetheart if they could.
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The holidays apparently also lead to some conservative behaviors when it comes to cheating and behaviors to retain your mate. 96% report that it’s unlikely they will cheat on their partners over the holidays. 46% also report that they will be intensifying their social media creeping behavior during the holidays by checking their partner’s profile.
For those who are unhappy in their relationship, pulling the trigger on ending the relationship becomes more difficult as Christmas gets nearer. 60% of people said that they would breakup with their partner before December while 74% of people said that they have never broken up with someone during the month of December.
It looks like singles are looking to nest during the month of December, which makes sense since the environment during this cold weather period is conducive of coupling up. While having someone warm to cuddle with during the holidays may be ideal, people report thinking about the person they want to date more than the person they are currently dating.
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Even with questions that target hooking up with a boss during the holidays, a majority of people opted no to that option. With the advent of countless apps and dating website, it’s not exactly difficult to find someone who is looking for a one nightstand. It’s clear that most people aren’t looking for the casual hookup during this season although some people resort to that in hopes that it will blanket the feelings of loneliness.
Whether you’re in a romantic relationship or single, it has less to do with your relationship status and more to do with the quality of existing relationships you have in your life. If you’re single this season, rather than feeling sad about not having that special someone, be glad that you’re in not in a terrible relationship. Enjoy the simple pleasures such as being able to have control of the television, not share your side of the bed and the freedom to leave for a trip anywhere in the world without a care of the world. What could be better than that?
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Amy Yew is a registered clinical counselor and relationship therapist. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to [email protected]. You can also tweet your thoughts on Twitter @AmyYew.
