Dear Fanny,
I am the only person in my group that’s single, and it’s never bothered me before but recently it’s got me overthinking so much. Have you got any advice on how to enjoy time alone/ not be insecure when single, as the Sheffield dating scene is diabolical?
Dear Lone Wolf (for now),
First off, you’ve cracked the code by realising the Sheffield dating scene is diabolical. Corp romance? Questionable. Tinder dates who “forget their wallet” at Bungalows? Tragic. Honestly, being single might be saving you from blue-pint heartbreak.
But I get it. Watching your mates pair off can make you feel like the odd one out: like you’re missing a seminar you didn’t even sign up for. The trick is remembering: being single isn’t a “waiting room” until someone picks you. It’s a whole era in itself.
Some ways to enjoy it:
Do the selfish stuff. Go out when you want, buy the takeaway you fancy, decorate your room however you like all without compromise.
Find your people. Join a society, sports team, or even just a random SU activity night. Sheffield’s full of single students who are just as keen to have fun without worrying about coupledom.
Romanticise your alone time. Solo trip to the Peaks? Coffee + book in Steam Yard? Netflix in bed without negotiating? That’s not “lonely”: that’s elite.
Flip the narrative. Your friends aren’t “ahead” ,they’re just in a different chapter. And honestly, half of them are probably looking at you with secret envy when they’re arguing over dirty dishes with their partner.
The insecurity creeps in when you treat singleness like a problem to fix. Instead, treat it like a luxury you won’t always have. The right person will come along but in the meantime, there’s no shame in enjoying being the one in the group who never has to leave Foundry early for a “relationship talk.”
Yours in single girl solidarity,
Fanny x
