Let’s be honest: our society still kind of treats singleness like a “pause” before life really starts.

You know the vibe—people ask, “So, seeing anyone?” like your worth is on hold until you say yes. TV shows and movies wrap everything up with a romantic partner, like that's the ultimate goal. But here’s the thing: being single isn’t a limbo.It’s not the absence of love. It’s a completely valid, beautiful chapter in your life.

When you’re single, you’re not empty—you’re full of possibility.

You’ve got uninterrupted space to figure out who you really are outside of someone else’s influence. You’re not adjusting your personality to fit anyone’s comfort zone. You’re not compromising your dreams to make someone else feel secure. You’re not living on someone else’s timeline.

Instead, you’re choosing to prioritize yourself. That’s not loneliness—that’s liberation.

Let’s talk about your brain for a sec.

When you actively choose to spend time alone and pour into yourself, you’re rewiring your mindset. Here’s how dating yourself can genuinely boost your mental health:

🧠 1. Higher Self-Esteem

When you consistently choose yourself, you build inner trust. You stop needing external validation to feel worthy. That like on Instagram? Nice, but not necessary. That text back from someone cute? Fun, but not your lifeline.

You realize: I’m already enough. Full stop.

🛑 2. Clearer Boundaries

Spending time with yourself helps you figure out what you’re actually okay with—and what you’re not. You learn what drains you vs. what fuels you. You stop overcommitting, over-apologizing, and over-explaining. You stop saying yes out of guilt.

Boundaries stop being scary. They start becoming empowering.

🧘 3. Emotional Resilience

When you’re not relying on a partner to help you process every feeling, you build emotional muscle. You learn to sit with discomfort. To cry, breathe, journal, go for a walk, and regulate instead of spiral.

Being alone teaches you that you can handle hard things—and still be okay.

🔮 4. Self-Awareness

Let’s be real: if you don’t know what you want, you’ll settle for whatever shows up. But when you date yourself, you get clarity. You know what your values are. You know your dealbreakers. You stop playing guessing games in relationships because you’ve already done the inner work.

IRL Perspective: Taylor’s Story

Let me introduce myself real quick—I'm Taylor, founder of Living Revive, a community built around well-being, self-care, and mental health. For years, I was out here preaching the importance of balance, rest, and inner peace… but I wasn’t really practicing what I preached, especially when it came to being alone.

I was constantly on-the-go. Helping others, showing up in my work, being the “strong friend.” And then I hit a wall. I realized I hadn’t taken real time to check in with myself.

So I made a shift.

I started scheduling monthly solo dates. Not just vague “me time,” but actual, blocked-off calendar events—like you would with a romantic partner. I’d take myself to a fancy dinner, hit up a Broadway show I’d been dying to see, or explore a new spot in the city. Sometimes I’d just wander with no plan at all, letting the day unfold.

And wow… it changed everything.

I fell in love with my own presence. I learned to slow down, sip my wine without looking at my phone, and really listen to my own thoughts. These solo dates became sacred. They became a way to recharge, reflect, and just exist without pressure or performance.

Now here’s the twist: while I wasn’t looking to meet anyone during my solo adventures… I often did.

I’d be sitting at a wine bar reading a book or waiting for a show to start, and someone would strike up a conversation. Not because I was putting myself out there with a neon sign, but because when you’re genuinely enjoying yourself, you give off a vibe. A “this person knows who they are” vibe. People notice that.

Some of those convos turned into friendships. Others were just great moments. Either way, they reminded me that being alone doesn't mean being disconnected.

You’re not closed off. You’re just not chasing anything.

And ironically? That’s when the best stuff tends to find you.

When you’ve dated yourself, loved yourself, and taken care of yourself—you enter romantic relationships completely different.

You’re not desperate. You’re discerning.
You’re not clingy. You’re curious.
You’re not trying to be chosen. You’re checking if they align with you.

You don't settle because you know how good your solo life already feels. So if someone’s going to come in and take up space, they better be adding to the vibe—not draining it.

Dating becomes less about finding someone and more about matching energy.

You approach love with confidence, not fear.
With clarity, not confusion.
With standards, not desperation.

So, Should You Start Dating Yourself?

Absolutely. 100%. No question.

Even if you’re in a relationship, you still need solo time. You still need space to grow as your own person. And if you’re single? There’s literally no better time to start.

So here’s your homework (don’t worry, it’s the fun kind):

✅ Make a solo date plan:

• Book a table for one at a restaurant you’ve always wanted to try.

• Go see a movie or play—yes, alone.

• Spend a Saturday morning walking around your city with no destination.

• Visit a museum and take your time.

• Buy yourself flowers. No occasion needed.

✅ Reflect:

• Journal after each solo date.

• Ask yourself: What did I love? What felt awkward? What surprised me?

✅ Repeat.

Make it a habit, not a one-off.

At the end of the day, dating yourself isn’t about being alone forever. It’s about making sure you never lose yourself—whether you’re single, dating, or fully cuffed.

It’s about realizing that you don’t need to wait for love to live beautifully, joyfully, and fully. You can create that energy right now, with exactly who you are.

So the next time someone asks, “Are you seeing anyone?”

Smile and say, “Yeah—me.” 😉