Let's admit it, girls. Sometimes the real reason we want to change our relationship status on Facebook is because we see all the cute stereotypical things our friends' guys do for them and we want that, too. While of course we really would love a best friend to travel through life with, we also would really like someone to do random cute stuff for us. Shallow? Maybe. Do most of us still want it? Yup.
But here's the thing. You don't NEED a boyfriend to enjoy all the perks that Tumblr and Instagram and Buzzfeed advertise as "boyfriend perks." Nope. Here's eleven ways you can rock that single-as-a-pringle life and get all the cute benefits of having a significant other... without actually having said significant other!
1. Going out and doing things
There's a lot of posts online complaining in one way or another like, "I wish I had someone to go do fun things with." Guess what? You do! You! By yourself, you can choose where you want to go and what you want to do without worrying about where Bae wants to go or eat or see (or if he would rather just stay home and watch the game.) Or even better, grab some friends, both guys and girls, and go crazy. Random day trip to Niagara Falls? Check! Midnight run to Papa John's? Oh, yeah! Stargazing on your roof? You bet!
2. Stealing clothes
At my college, everyone buys sweatshirts and hoodies. But the girls buy their own size, only to steal their boyfriend's because it's big and floppy and comfortable. Me? I just blew past the girls' section and bought me a men's extra large. And you should do the same! Who needs to steal someone's wardrobe when you can just get your own big comfy sweatshirts?
3. Spontaneous cute things
There's all these "LOOK WHAT MY BOYFRIEND DID FOR ME!" posts online. They usually involve surprise coffee or surprise flowers or a surprise present, just because they love their girl SOOOO MUCH.
And the rest of us just eat our ice cream and sigh and dream.
Well, what if we just did this for our friends? What goes around comes around and it's a lot of fun! Surprise your bestie with her favorite candy or drink or with a cute note. No one said cute surprises were limited to romantic relationships!
4. Snuggling
You really don't need a boyfriend for this one. If you don't have a pet, you should definitely get one. If your pet doesn't like hugs, get one that does. Or if you are allergic to furbabies, get one of those giant teddy bears at Walmart. No one around you will be weirded out by Public Displays of Love for Your Animal.
5. Netflix
Oh, Netflix and Chill. Well, you know a way you can bingewatch your favorite show with whatever food you want and no one to complain about your taste in TV and movies? Netflix by yourself! Or with your pet or giant teddy bear from #4. They won't judge you, either, when you cry at your favorite scenes.
6. Eat out
Who said you need a boyfriend to dress up and go to dinner? Girls' night out, anyone?
7. Take pictures
Let's be honest. We're all annoyed by that couple whose Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook are filled with selfies of them together and that's about it. Groups of friends shots on the other hand? Totally fun. Show the world you don't need no man to get out there and love life!
8. Dressing up
There's a big difference between my single friends and my taken friends when they ask me for fashion advice.
Single friends: "Does this look like me? Does this look good on me?"
Taken friends: "Do you think he'll like it?"
My response is usually, "Do YOU like it?"
Because for goodness sake, dress up the way you like to look! Most taken girls I know, whether their boyfriend cares or not, worry to some degree if he'll like their look. We single girls have none of that (mostly self-imposed) pressure. Dress to impress? No thanks!
9. Dancing
Single girls have the most fun at dances. They can dance with whoever they want to! With community swing dance back on the rise, check out if your town has an event near you. Grab some friends and go dance the night away!
10. Exchanging compliments
We all like to be told we're drop-dead gorgeous once in a while. For some reason though, some of us feel more validated when said compliment is coming from our crush or some other cute Mr. Nice than from those closest to us. But guess what? What the people closest to us in our life have to say carries more weight than any guy we might like.
11. Feeling fabulous
If you need a guy to be happy in life, you're doing life wrong. Get out and enjoy it! As we just saw, we single girls can totally have an awesome time and do fantastic things just as well as our taken sisters. You'll get to know yourself better, get closer to your friends and family and won't have to deal with the social pressures that come with having a relationship. That's not to say relationships are bad at all! I'm sure most of us still hope to have one someday, and it'll be great, too! But in the meantime, discover and enjoy all the perks of you, now. Because you're fabulous, and no guy is going to add to that fact!
