Relationships are a lot of work.

It’s no secret, but it’s something that I think a lot of people overlook. When you’re in a relationship, you have to consider them in every decision you make and they’re involved in so many areas of your life.

Honestly, I don’t really have time to consider anyone else right now. This summer I’ll be working two jobs and going on trips, all while trying to get ready for college and maintain the friendships with people that I actually want to see after graduation.

A boyfriend doesn’t fit into my life whatsoever, and that’s okay.

I’ve always been independent and I have a lot of goals that I want to accomplish between now and when I die.

I’m moving away for college and I plan on studying abroad at some point when I’m there. One of the biggest pieces of advice I’ve gotten from everyone I know who has studied abroad is that 99.9% of the time, relationships don’t work out while you’re overseas.

While I’m out having fun and studying in a country of my dreams, I don’t want to have to work my schedule around another person who’s at least six hours behind me.

Instead of forcing myself and someone else to have to go through the emotional toll that is inevitable in that situation, I’m choosing to stay single.

This doesn’t mean that I’m going to be single forever. If I meet someone with the same drive as I do and that makes the hard work worth it, then I’ll think about putting the work in.

I just haven’t met anyone that I think makes the effort worth it.

So many people that I follow on social media are obsessed with relationships. At any given moment on any of my feeds, I’ll always see people complaining about why they’re single and about how they wish that people would stop “sleeping” on them and just date them already.

News flash, that might be why.

I’m not searching for my perfect "other half" because I’m not half of a person. I’m sure I’ll meet “the one” someday. Until that day comes, I’m going to focus on being the best version of myself that I can be.

That way when I do meet someone who deserves a secure place in my future, I won’t have to worry about myself as much as I do them.

Being alone isn’t bad. Being single doesn’t make you any less of a person. Relationships sometimes aren’t worth the work that they require, and that’s OK.