I'm an independent woman and I'm completely okay with it. It's not always easy and of course I crack sometimes. Being a strong person and being an independent woman tend to go hand in hand. Independent women have priorities, goals, aren't afraid of handling their own situation and so much more.

Putting yourself as a priority is something that every independent woman does. Spend a Friday night by yourself, drinking wine, binge watching your new favorite show or making progress in one of those books that has been on your bookshelf for ages. Sometimes a little personal time is exactly what you need and an independent woman knows when they are in need of this relaxation and reflection time.

Not only do we have priorities, they also have goals. Short term and long term. Goals for their personal lives and for their professional careers. We keep these goals written down in a place they will see them every day. You could write them on your mirror, in a note on your phone, or even create a background for your laptop with them there. Goals should be measurable and reachable. Pro tip: break down your long term or complex goals into smaller goals which will keep you on track.

Independent woman are ok with being alone. We don't mind heading to the movie theater alone or sitting in a coffee shop for a couple of hours by themselves. This is a key part of being an independent. We don't need someone to run errands with or go shopping. We can handle our business by yourselves. We may have friends who we bounce ideas off of and seek advice, but ultimately we make decisions for ourselves and we follow through with these decisions.

We don't stop learning. Learning builds confidence, skills and inspiration. New knowledge is empowering and helps further our careers, goals and sense of self. Reading an article a day or spending thirty minutes catching up on the news and world events is a great start. Pro tip: find a blog that is related to your interests and sign up for their daily or weekly newsletter.

Independent women come in all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities. However, we all have a few things in common. We don't let others dictate our lives. We take control of situations that directly affect our careers, personal lives and goals. We are always working to better ourselves. Above all, independent take charge of their own lives.