Singles are painfully aware of the pressure to find a partner. It can also be scary to remain single. You may feel guilty, or afraid that someone will take advantage of you. Luckily, there are many ways to avoid ending up single. Listed below are some of them.

Lessening your standards

Lessening your standards is a dangerous thing. It puts you at risk of falling into a toxic relationship. This is never fun, and it can reduce your chances of happiness. It also makes you feel inadequate. It is better to wait for someone who is worthy of your time and love than to remain with a toxic relationship. In the meantime, you can look for someone who will make you happy and fulfill you.

If you want a woman with high standards, be prepared for them to have higher standards than you. Women with high standards want to feel taken care of and treated right. They want a man who is capable of taking care of them and being there for them no matter what. Lessening your standards is not wrong, but it will likely lead to the wrong match.

As you get older, your chances of falling in love with the wrong person will diminish. It is better to be single than to be in a poor relationship with someone who does not deserve you. While it may seem counterproductive to lower your standards in order to avoid loneliness, it is not a good idea. When you lower your standards, you risk falling into a vicious cycle that will make you unhappy.

Putting yourself in new environments

Putting yourself in new environments can help you meet new people and expand your social circle. Volunteering, attending new events, and participating in hobbies will all introduce you to new people and foster new friendships. You can also enroll in an extension class at your local college or take an art or cooking class. By doing so, you’ll meet a variety of people with different backgrounds and interests and make new friends.

Working on yourself

If you don’t want to end up single, start by working on yourself. You can work on your career, your hobbies, your health, and other aspects of your life. This way, you can better understand yourself and what you want in a life partner.

Getting out into the world and meeting people can be a great way to meet new people and avoid negative thinking. Joining a book club, joining a running group, or attending happy hour are some of the best ways to keep busy and avoid negative thoughts.

Avoiding red flags

Avoiding red flags in a relationship is vital if you want to avoid ending up single. People tend to overlook red flags when they’re deeply in love, but this could lead to more pain later on. As a relationship progresses, dysfunctional relationship dynamics and abusive behaviors tend to escalate. In order to avoid ending up single, you need to take proactive steps to change your behaviors and avoid getting involved with someone who is abusive.

Relationships should add depth to your life and make you feel alive, not detract from it. A new relationship may require you to spend less time with friends and family, and you may even have to give up goals that you once held dear.

Red flags are subtle warning signs that a relationship is not healthy. While they might take time to manifest, they are signs to back out of a relationship and look elsewhere. They’re also signs that you shouldn’t put too much stock in a new relationship.

Don’t waste time on dating someone who complains about their exes. This is one of the biggest red flags in dating. This person might be running away from a relationship. They may be hiding a negative trait or trying to distance themselves from it.