If you’re the only single one among your friends, it can feel lonely sometimes. Meeting new people and establishing traditions with friends may help you feel more connected.

Engagements, weddings, and pregnancy announcements from your friends as an adult can be exciting, but if you’re single without kids, it may also make you feel lonely. If everyone you know is married, embracing the single life can be challenging.

If you’re having trouble accepting that everyone around you has already gotten hitched, there are ways you can learn to enjoy the single life more. You can have just as much fun on your own. There’s nothing wrong with being single; you can still have a very satisfying life.

Maintaining your friendships when all you’re friends are in serious relationships can present some obstacles. If your friends are settling down, their friendship with you may shift.

Having that one person always there for you that you spend considerable time with, share experiences with, and tackle parenting with can make you closer. This is one reason why it may be harder to maintain relationships with friends who are hitched.

It may be even more difficult if you have friends with children, as caring for children can be demanding and exhausting. As a result, their friendships and the priority of their friendships in their life may change.

Married people and people with children may need friends more than ever. Having support is crucial in the ups and downs of life.

2022 research indicates that strong friendships may be essential to those that have romantic partners. The researchers note that those dissatisfied with their romantic relationships may depend more on their friendships.

It’s about finding a balance between relationships with your partner, friends, and other social supports.

Benefits of friendships

There are many reasons you need friendships. Friends help keep you connected and can help alleviate feelings of loneliness.

According to 2019 research, some benefits of friendships include:

  • improved psychological well-being
  • alleviating loneliness
  • companionship through mutual hobbies and interests
  • emotional support
  • improved cognitive function in old age
  • improved physical health in old age

This research suggests that friendships are vital for a variety of reasons. You may notice that you gain a lot from your emotional connections with others; company can help you feel less lonely and have more fun.

If you need to enjoy your single self a bit more, it’s perfectly OK. Likewise, it’s OK not to be in a relationship with someone; you can still have fun.

1. Attend local singles events near you

If you constantly feel like the third or fifth wheel, you may find joy in connecting with other singles in your area. Depending on where you live, there may be meetups or events for single people to have fun.

If this sounds like something you would enjoy, consider searching for singles meetups near you. You never know what fun events your community may have for singles.

2. Start a tradition with your friends

If all your friends are married and have kids, they may reduce spending time with you. One way to ensure you still get to see them is by designating a specific time to hang out.

You might even consider starting a new tradition with them, such as having monthly game nights or weekly phone check-ins. Beginning a tradition may help you feel more connected and is a way to ensure you can keep in touch.

3. Consider new hobbies

Do you have an old hobby you haven’t engaged with in a while? Are you chomping at the bit to learn something new? Hobbies are a great way to meet new people and feel fulfilled and satisfied in your single life.

Maybe you play a musical instrument, and it helps you connect with yourself and others. You can volunteer for a cause that is meaningful to you and help others in the process. You could also take a new class and learn a new skill, such as taking a pottery class or learning how to garden.

2021 research suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, people who maintained or engaged in leisure activities and hobbies had higher overall well-being. The researchers also found increased creative pursuits such as painting, music, and home improvement during the pandemic.

Finding new hobbies or picking old ones back up can leave you satisfied and help you live a fuller life.

4. Make new friends

If your friends are at a different phase of their life than you, consider trying to make new friends. New friends who are also single may help you feel less alone.

Some ways to meet new friends may include:

  • trying new hobbies
  • volunteering
  • online apps for friendship
  • attending meetups

Making new friends can help you feel more connected to others, and you may meet some interesting people in the process.

If your friends have settled down before you, you may notice changes in your friendships. Married people may lean on their significant other more often than their friends, causing you to feel left out. If your friends have kids, they’re probably exhausted and have to prioritize caring for a child.

While being single can feel lonely sometimes, it’s a good time for you to explore your interests and passions.

You can learn how to engage in hobbies or activities you find interesting. Additionally, you can prioritize your friendships by carving out time for social activities or learning to make new friends.

Being single doesn’t have to be unfulfilling. There are ways to live a satisfying life as a single person.