“Are you dating anybody?” is a common question that I get asked as I have gotten older. Honestly, I have never had a boyfriend before which often makes me wonder if I will ever have one. It is easy for me to get in my head and fixate on whether or not I will meet the “one” for me someday. Especially in today’s world of social media posts, it can be easy to feel lonely and discouraged if you are walking through a season of singleness. It can often feel like every person you know or follow on social media is dating, getting engaged or getting married. Even though I am open to being in a relationship, I am also content in my single life as I have had time to grow, mature and discover myself during this time. I have found ways to be content in my singleness which I share below.

• Use this time to focus on yourself. Being single gives you time to learn more about yourself before you commit to dating someone. In my time being single, I have had the opportunity to grow in my Christian faith, exercise more, spend time baking in the kitchen and dedicate time to managing my anxiety. I believe that being single has allowed me to grow into a more mature, confident woman which will help me to be a better girlfriend one day. In this past season of my life, I have been working on managing my Crohn’s disease, applying for full time jobs and completing my schoolwork for my upcoming graduation. Being single has given me more time to focus on each of these important tasks in my life, and I feel more prepared to dedicate time to a relationship in this upcoming season after graduation. If you are single, I would encourage you to spend time focusing on growing as an individual while also looking for the positives that have come out of your time being single.  
• Take a break from social media. While I do enjoy spending time on Instagram and connecting with people on this platform, I do find it helpful to take short breaks from social media. Seeing pictures of couples on Instagram has caused me to feel lonely, doubt myself and wonder if I will ever have a boyfriend. Of course, I am happy for the people in my life who are in healthy relationships, but I have found it emotionally helpful to spend some time away from social media. Typically, I will delete the Instagram app for a few days at a time to help myself feel less lonely and anxious. Then, when I get back on Instagram, I am not as anxious or discouraged.
• Surround yourself with people you love. Being able to spend time with my family and friends has helped me to feel encouraged in my singleness. I feel happier, less stressed and supported by the people I trust and love. I have found that putting myself in other social settings such as church and the gym has helped create a sense of community in my life. By being in a community, I have met other people who are walking through a season of singleness, too. We can encourage one another and give each other advice on what has helped us to manage feelings of loneliness, etc. If I did not surround myself with people that love me, support me and encourage me, then I know that I would not be as content in my singleness as I am today. 

If you are single and reading this article, I hope that this article will bring you hope and encouragement during this season in your life while knowing that you are not alone.