Perhaps it’s unfortunate, but many people find it impossible to manage romantic relationships while focusing on their careers. Without a significant around, you can stay at the office as late as you want. Want to work weekends without catching grief? No problem.

Maybe you’ll decide to start a relationship later, but for now, you want to focus on building your career.

3. RELATIONSHIPS STEAL YOU FROM YOUR FRIENDS

You always said you’d put your friends before your relationship. How many times have you seen one of your friends fall away from your usual group because they started dating some someone?

You could fall into that trap, too. At the beginning of their relationships, couples often want to spend as much time together as possible. That’s fine for a while, but then it becomes a routine. A year later, you wonder why you never see your friends anymore.

4. RELATIONSHIPS RESTRICT VARIETY

Do you really want to restrict yourself to one person? Most romantic partners will want monogamous relationships that restrict your variety. It’s not just about sex, either. You can learn a lot about life by dating people casually. Once things start getting serious, though, you can wave goodbye to spending one evening with a person who likes to go to art museums and spending the next with one who loves going out to dance.

If you want that kind of variety in your life, you either have to remain single or find the coolest partner in the world. Good luck with the latter.

5. YOU DON’T NEED THEM

Society tells you that you need a romantic relationship, but you don’t. Where’s the proof that you have to settle down with one person to have a good life? It just isn’t there.

Consider all of the famous, powerful, amazing women who never got married. That list includes:
Susan B. Anthony
Florence Nightingale
Coco Chanel
Greta Garbo
Winona Ryder
Kylie Minogue
Cameron Diaz

If you’re single, you’re in good company with these women.

6. YOUR DOG GIVES BETTER KISSES WITHOUT ALL OF THE DEMANDS

You don’t need a romantic relationship to have a great companion. Dogs give better kisses, and they don’t get pushy about those kisses leading to other things.

Besides, who’s happier to see you when you come home, a dog or a romantic partner? If you want unconditional love, then you have to go with the dog.

7. UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS CAN LITERALLY MAKE YOU UNHEALTHY

The stress of a bad relationship can last a lifetime. It could also shorten your lifespan (which might not sound so bad after a few years of scowling across the breakfast table at the same person).

Researchers at Ohio State University found that couples in unhealthy, stressful relationships were actually less healthy than people who didn’t live with that stress. To test the hypothesis, they gave individuals small blisters on their arms and had them discuss difficult topics with their spouses.

Those who had hostile communication styles healed slower than those who knew how to communicate in a positive, respectful manner. That doesn’t mean all romantic relationships are killers, but do you really want to take that chance?

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