Why You Shouldn’t Regret Not Dating During High School

Living in a culture that's obsessed with dating and relationships at a young age can be challenging and even overwhelming.

After all, from Twilight to The Summer I Turned Pretty and countless other books, films and TV shows, it's nearly impossible to escape the tropes of high school dating in media. On top of it all, there's also a rampant romanticizing of "high school sweethearts" that can make it feel like you're missing out on something major if you aren't dating someone during this time in your life.

But how are you supposed to be expected to find your person when you haven't even found the right colleges to apply to yet? We're here to tell you that there's no need to worry, and there certainly is no reason to feel regret about not dating (yes, even at all) during high school. Here's why.

Because You Have Better Things to Spend Your Time On

Dating—whether you decide to do it or not—is only a single aspect of your life. There are so many other parts to you and what makes you you that your single status really isn't all that important. In high school, you're expected to deal with so many things all at once that it's hard to believe how many people do actually have time to date amidst it all. Instead of worrying about being single or feeling upset that you've never been in a relationship, you can use your time on things that do bring you joy or even that could have a positive impact on your future.

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Also read about: Why You Should Embrace Being 'The Single Friend'

 

Because You Haven't Met Even a Fraction of All the People You're Going to Meet

Think about it: In high school, you're surrounded by people that you probably spent most of your life up until now surrounded by. Once you graduate and leave these halls behind, you have an entire world ahead of you to explore and potentially meet someone that you find worth dating. There's no need to settle for someone or feel bad about yourself just because there's a certain pressure to date right now.

 

Because Dating in High School Is Nothing Like Dating in the 'Real World'

Speaking of that whole world you have ahead of you, that world feels a whole lot different than the one you're in now (don't worry, we promise that's a good thing). People "dating" in high school don't have the same pressures on them as those in college and especially not those in the world beyond school, and that kind of makes high school relationships feel a little more like a luxury than a necessity. The money you spend is different, the places you go are different and generally, even your feelings are different. There's nothing wrong with dating when you're ready if that's in high school, but there's also nothing wrong with waiting to date until you're really ready for it, either.

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Also read about: Your Guide to College Dating

 

Because There's a Lot Less Awkwardness

Not dating means not having to have an awkward conversation with your parents (or trying to hide your relationship from them), but it also means not having to endure the awkwardness of first dates and a whole array of social interactions that happen when you're dating. There's no "define the relationship" talk that needs to be had, no worrying about this person's feelings about you and generally just a lot more time to spend focusing on yourself and the things that make you happy instead.

(via Unsplash)

 

All in all, there's just no reason to ever regret remaining single during high school. You can still figure out what you eventually want from a relationship without actually being in one, and you aren't missing out on as much as you might think you are.

 

Plus, being single can just be really fun! Don't believe us? Click HERE for your go-to guide on how to get really good at being single.