It's February, and you know what just happened, Valentine's Day. All things associated with February are hearts, chocolates, and love. So what is a single person like me to do during this month of couples and love? Simple. Embrace your singularity and own it. You don't need to be in a relationship to be happy!
I've compiled all the ways I can think of to make the rest of the love month a little less lonely. I am telling you right now, most of these things beat going to an expensive restaurant in tight, uncomfortable clothing with a date.
1. Find single friends.
They understand what you're going through and are free any weekend to hang out. These are the people you can talk to and wonder why the hell you're all still single. Eventually you realize it's because you're all awkward and weird, but you're awkward and weird together.
2. Have a movie night with said friends.
You can stay up all night watching sappy romantic movies and cry when Jack dies at the end of "Titanic" without judgement. Pining over Ryan Gosling just isn't the same without your friends.
3. Tinder.
Need I say more? Tinder is a dating app for those of you who don't know. It's where you find extremely attractive, sometimes weird, and just downright hilarious individuals. I even have a group chat on Facebook titled "Tinder Fails" with some of my single friends. It serves for a good laugh every now and again.
4. Call up an old friend.
This is for when you're feeling lonelier than ever. Catching up with a good friend and reminiscing about the good old days cheers most everyone up. You also don't have to worry about your significant other being jealous about you talking to them! Double win.
5. You don't have to share the blankets. Or a bed.
No 6-foot-2 blanket hog here! You can snuggle up in bed knowing you won't wake up freezing because your S.O. took them off of you in their sleep. And that queen size bed you're in? It's all yours. No sharing necessary.
6. Have a dance party.
Hell, have a dance party in your underwear if your little heart so desires. Dance like no one is watching (oh, wait... No one is). You don't have anyone there to judge your awful dancing and tone-deaf singing.
7. You are able to meet new people.
Go out once in a while to the club! Being single lets you meet these new people and you get to choose how far the relationships go. If you don't ever see that guy again, it's not going to impact you all that much.
8. You do you.
You don't have to feel obliged to do things that you wouldn't normally do just because your S.O. enjoys them. Do things you love with people that enjoy them as well. Your happiness comes first, so go out there and be happy doing the things you love!
9. Love yourself.
It's incredibly important that you find yourself and love that person before loving someone else. Doing so makes you feel so much better about being single! You get to understand and embrace that the right person is out there that will love you for you, they just aren't in your life yet.
10. Embrace the independence.
Going out to eat alone is such a liberating feeling. You're there without the need to make hasty small talk or rack your brain for a new subject to discuss. Being alone doesn't always have to feel lonely. Some of the best conversations I've had are with myself.
11. Never settle.
After being single for a long enough time, you find yourself and realize how much of a catch you are. This keeps you from wasting your time on someone that's not worth your time. You understand who isn't good for you and who is. So when you do fall for someone, this person obviously has to be good, since you develop high standards.
12. Don't feel obliged to shave.
The feeling of freshly shaved legs is great, but shaving is just so time consuming and I'm guilty of being much too lazy to shave. Since you don't have a S.O. to complain about your hairy legs, you can let those hairs grow out to your heart's desire. It's so much easier and when you do finally shave, the smooth skin feeling is ten times better.
13. You don't have to spend five hours on Google searching "gifts for him."
We've all been there. So desperate for ideas that you surf the web for something, anything, to buy him for Christmas, a birthday, or other special occasion. Without a S.O. you can spend those five hours surfing the web for new clothes for yourself or watching Netflix.
14. Farting. Anytime, anywhere.
Yes, we girls fart. They are not little puffs of air that smell like flowers; if they did, my roommate would not hate me so much. You can let them out whenever and wherever you please. Unless you have a roommate, you won't have anyone there to complain about how awful it was.
Being single isn't the worst thing in the world. It can help you in the long run! It helps you understand that you don't need a S.O. to be happy. So, go out there and love your life the way it is! Embrace your singularity and learn to love it. Then you can focus on finding the right person.
