Writing tons of papers for my classes, tutoring in the afternoon and working a handful part time jobs to pay off tuition are difficult tasks but adding a relationship in the middle of it equals chaos. As much as my friends tell me that time management will make things simpler, it won't. I am a mere twenty years old, and I still have a problem deciding what kind of dressing I want on my salad; I do not believe juggling all of these important things in my life will be solved by a planner and a few apps on my phone. These items will only take up space in my already small backpack and memory on my cell phone. Perhaps, a couple of these tips do help a boatload of people but it does not help me. Maybe you, the reader, can understand the agony I go through. Here are a few reasons why I believe that relationships are difficult for a person entering their twenties.
1. Working multiple part-time jobs and dealing with management.
After undergoing a tough time at work, a long drive home and reading are my only outlets from the pain of standing all day and dealing with angry customers with a brooding manager for eight hours. Dating is the last thing on my mind. As much as I would adore to curl my hair and spend hours getting dolled up for a guy, I much rather prefer staying home and catching up on some sleep.
2. Dating is expensive.
Earning money is hard. As a child, I underestimated the pain my parents underwent to get me through school. After wearing tons of heating pads on my shoulders from the hours of work I have endured to pay for textbooks, a car loan, and college tuition, I do not have any money leftover to go on dates. I barely have enough money to purchase a new pair of shoes for school; in my current financial situation, a small purchase of a coffee at the school library is a bit of a stretch for me so I do not have money to go on dates.
3. Lack of time.
Dating is very time-consuming. I have multiple things I want to do throughout the school year like clubs, volunteer trips, an internship, manage to keep up with all of my schoolwork and tuition payments. As small as this list may seem, each item takes up a good portion of my time throughout the week. I do not believe that all relationships can be time-consuming but most, in general, are. I do not have enough hours in the day to make the relationship go steady, if anything, I will be the reason this relationship boat sinks.
As much as I will be criticized for not going on dates and participating in the hookup culture at twenty years old, I still continue to see the benefits of refraining from those things for the meantime. I have a good group of friends, in the process of getting my internship, and managing to process my bill payments on time. I have to say that it is a great accomplishment for me so far. However, I do applaud others for being able to juggle a relationship and their other responsibilities at the same time. If you can manage to do that, kudos. But, do not be afraid to be like me and live the way you deem fit.
