The Disadvantages of Having a Boyfriend

Single people have more time to hang out and relax.
... Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images

Although there are plenty of single people who would like nothing more than to find a partner, there are also those who are ambivalent about the idea or who actually prefer being single. Romantic relationships have both good points and bad points, and sometimes it makes sense to think about the disadvantages of having a partner.

1 He Takes All Your Time

When you're single, you can have a fun and fulfilling social life with a diverse range of people. You can go out for coffee or a slice of pizza with different friends every week if you want to, and you can go out to parties or go away on trips with your friends any time you like. When you start a relationship with a new partner you may want to spend all your time with this new person at first. But after a while, you may come to miss the carefree times you had with your friends and wish you had more time for them.

2 He Distracts You From Other Things

A serious relationship can also distract you from other things in your life that are important to you such as your schoolwork, family, career or personal interests. Single people have time to focus on the things they want to pursue. If you're interested in becoming an actor, learning how to paint or making music, you'll have more time for all these things if you stay unattached. If you want to pursue a particular career, staying single will help you get the grades you need to make that dream come true.

3 He Can Stress You Out

A happy and stable romantic relationship can be a wonderful experience, but a relationship filled with conflict and drama can be draining and stressful. Single people may not have a special person to call their own, but they don't have to spend nights waiting anxiously for a phone call or wrapped up in a painful argument either. If you can handle being single without feeling too lonely, you might find that it's a lot less stressful than being in a bad relationship.

4 You Can Lose Your Independence

The biggest disadvantage to having a partner is the partnership itself. Instead of being an independent person with control over your own actions, you have to make every major decision as part of a team. You can't just move to a new city because it sounds like an interesting place or go backpacking to see the world. Of course, if you meet the person who's right for you, you probably won't mind trading some of your independence to be with this person. If you haven't met a person who makes you feel that way, you don't need to rush into a relationship just to avoid being alone.

Scott Thompson has been writing professionally since 1990, beginning with the "Pequawket Valley News." He is the author of nine published books on topics such as history, martial arts, poetry and fantasy fiction. His work has also appeared in "Talebones" magazine and the "Strange Pleasures" anthology.

×