Proven Benefits of Being Single

Being single on Valentine's Day can be a bummer. But there are some benefits of being single the rest of the year and they're all backed up by science.

You have more friends. A study in 2015 found married people have fewer close friends. Their friends aren't as supportive as friends of people who never marry.
A study in 2008 found that having regular contact with at least 10 friends made people significantly happier.
Single people stay in better shape. A 2004 study showed they exercise a lot more than married people do. Another study in 2015 backed it up. On average, married people weighed five pounds more than single people did.
Single people have more alone time, which makes them more productive. Studies have found it's easier to focus without all the distractions that come with having a spouse and a family. Which can make advancing your career a little easier.
And other studies have suggested that staying single also makes it easier to grow as a person and try new things.