The holiday family matching pajama sets are on full display at Target, often serving as a reminder to single people that they currently have no need for those in their lives.
According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, there are nearly 127 million single adults in America—a national average of approximately 50%, which is consistent with the singleness rate in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. While many single individuals are often swiping in apps and going on dates, they still find themselves single during the holidays, a time that often reminds them of the companionships they wish they had.
“I think the reason people struggle being single this time of year is two-fold,” former Dallas resident Wesley Sheridan, who recently moved to Colorado, said. “One, there has always been an odd social stigma/pressure—parents and grandparents asking when you’re going to pump out a few babies—to be with someone during the holidays. Two, if all of your friends are posting pictures of them (allegedly) happy, it can cause some FOMO.”
Lyndsey Kohn, former Dallas-area resident who recently moved to Austin, said that it can be somewhat difficult when family members ask if she’s in a relationship yet, but she finds that not having a significant other this time of year can be beneficial at times.
“The holidays are way less stressful being single, in my opinion,” she said. “You don’t have to coordinate between two (sometimes more) family gatherings, and the worst is when both families live in the same city. I remember one Thanksgiving holiday, I went to three different celebrations in one day. By the time it was 6 p.m., I didn’t want to talk to anyone or eat anything for a full day.”
And Kohn isn’t alone in this opinion. Dallas resident Dan Sullivan, who believes the only real negative aspect of being single this time of the year is the stigma society creates, said he doesn’t mind not having a significant other during the holidays.
“I’m a firm believer that being single during the holidays is vastly underrated,” he said. “I think if you’re doing it right, you’re not just ‘surviving’ but ‘thriving.’ I hear cringe-worthy stories from married friends about awkward visits to in-laws, not to mention the obligatory post-meal time that can be beyond painful.”
Sheridan, who thinks the drawbacks of holiday singleness include potential boredom and loneliness, also said there are numerous benefits of flying solo.
“To name a few, there’s one less person to buy gifts for,” he said. “[There are also] fewer stressful obligations with people you don’t necessarily know or like. And navigating an airport with a significant other [when there are] delays or hiccups is a great way to shorten a relationship. Throw in a canceled flight on Christmas Eve, and you’ll see a side of your significant other you didn’t realize existed. To sum it up, you can do whatever you want.”
Sullivan said that he is a fan of not only the freedom but also the opportunities that singleness provides when it comes to festive celebrations.
“I think some people view being single as a stigma during the holidays, but they’ve got it all wrong,” he said. “The world is your oyster—you have complete flexibility to pop in and out of any friend or family holiday gathering that you want. And once you’re back in your own homestead, you get to choose whom you hang out/spend time with. I think that’s a pretty good deal. It’s thrive time!”
For those who are struggling with being single during the holiday season, Kohn said it’s important to focus on oneself and on the love that already exists in one’s life rather than on the love that’s absent.
“As we wrap up the year, the holidays are really a time to pause and reflect on your life,” she said. “If you haven’t been working on yourself or developing a strong sense of self-awareness, the holiday season can be a trigger to feel really lonely, isolated, and sad that you don’t have your ‘person.’ Conversely, I think if you have been working on yourself, you can recognize that feeling seen and loved during the holidays doesn’t have to just be with a romantic partner. Some of my favorite holiday seasons have been with close friends whom I truly consider family.”
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