1. You can be your own boss
Loafing at home in front of the TV is the single man's prerogative
Get up when you want, stay out as late as your liver allows and play Halo 2 all afternoon in your pants. All these delights are available to the single man, and nothing but a shimmering mirage to the man ensconced in a serious relationship. If you want to take advantage of the situation, fight for your right to slob around the house in a onesie.
But if you feel like you've had enough of all this freedom to slob around, you could take the opportunity you have to be your own boss and make some key decisions. Finding a new job, moving house, getting some new qualifications or taking up a new hobby are all fruitful uses of your time. Additionally, they're much easier to put into action when it's entirely down to you.
2. You can give your mates the time they deserve
Your best mates are always there for you, and as long as you're single (or dating but not serious) you can always be there for them. This is the time to build friendships that can last a lifetime, not put your buddies on the backburner. Enjoy your holidays away with them, Saturday afternoons at the game and curry night - they're a lot of fun. Relationships, children and careers all require your time and attention, and something will have to give as demands on your time increase. So devote time to your mates now while you can.
3. Your career will benefit
Now's the time to give your career the best possible chance of success
When you're on the first few rungs of what could be a dream career, you might feel you want to put work first. That means working late at short notice, and maybe even pulling the occasional all-nighter. It might mean spending Friday nights in the bar with your boss, rather than your friends, or a date. It could mean cancelling your holiday to make sure a pitch for new business is as perfect as it can be.
All of which might not seem ideal, but putting everything you've got into your work will do wonders for your career, and you may well find yourself enjoying it more as a result. Needless to say, that sort of dedication is easier to follow through without the implicit guilt - and frustration - of not being there for your girlfriend when you'd like to be. Go on dates, obviously. But it might be better saving the serious stuff until you're well and truly established.
4. You can do impromptu
A weekend in Amsterdam with your mates? A night at the dogs? A year in Provence? Or a midnight flight to a new city to shake off the cops and hoodlums that want a piece of the action?
You might not want or need to do any of those things, but it's nice to know the option's there should you ever change your mind. Being in a relationship takes effort, energy and no small amount of time. The single man often has more spare time to indulge in impromptu plans like these. But in reality, it's the idea of boundless freedom which is such a boon for the single man.
5. You could, in theory, meet anyone
Whether you do or don't, it's at least nice to think you could go out with anyone(Getty Images)
You might not be the world's greatest talker, or the world's best dresser. Nevertheless, it's good to know that if you wanted to, and if you really put in the effort, you're open enough to meet just about anyone on a night out.
You don't know who you'll meet next, if anyone, and yes it might - just might - be the attractive blonde you've started smiling at on the bus to work. Or it could be a man about town who can get you into some gigs you've been struggling to land tickets for. If nothing else, being single means all your options are open.
6. You can go to your favourite pub
Men and women often don't like the same pubs and bars, nor the same atmospheres. If you're a man who enjoys a quality real ale, then it's unlikely your idea of a great pub will exactly mesh with that of your wine-loving other half. Similarly, some men quite enjoy the atmosphere of grubby dive bars - that's not the sort of spot that goes down well with the fairer sex. So enjoy your favourite local (and the things that you like, but she might not) while you can.
7. Make time for your family
It's sometimes hard enough making time for your own family, let alone someone else's too
As soon as you hook up you also take possession of an entire surrogate family. If you're lucky, she'll have a witty brother and a dad who sees you for the man you are and who's fun to watch the football with.
But the flip side of this new extended family will be the extra demands on your time, the debate about where and how to spend Christmas split between families and additional birthday weekends away for them.
The single man has as much time as he likes to devote time to his own family, and that's good news for family relationships.
8. You can avoid heartache, for now
Because, though falling head over heels in love might be great, falling out of love can be one of the biggest bummers of all. Unless you end up falling for the girl you're going to spend the rest of your life with, it's worth remembering that what goes up must come down. That bump back down to earth may actually consist of several bumps and play havoc with your mental state.
Of course you may want to explore the full range of human emotions at some point in your life, but why let them spoil your fun now? It's one thing confronting you're future, but another thing wishing for it.
9. You can enjoy your quirky habits...
So you enjoy chewing your fingernails, you're happy with a thrice-weekly washing up rota and you really like to stretch out in bed. They may be unpleasant habits, but they're who you are and you enjoy it. If you're single, keep doing what makes you happy. If you become part of a couple, expect to come to your senses and to make a few changes.
10. ...and your hobbies
You won't have to choose between your favourite hobbies and a partner
We're not saying that being in a relationship means she wants to change everything about you, but it's only natural that she'll want considerable chunks of your time. So out of Sunday morning football, your weekly poker game and the traditional, set-in-stone, never-to-be-missed Big Friday Night With The Boys, the only question is this: which one are you prepared to lose?
So don't envy the loved-up. Staying single could be the best option of all.
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