1.) Bedtime is anytime

Never again will you have to go to bed at 9 p.m. because your roommate shuts off the lights and crawls into bed. No, no. Stay up, watch Netflix, eat food, make a mess, do your homework, stare at the wall. You might wake up hating yourself in the morning, but doing what you want was worth it.

2.) Eat what you want, where you want, when you want

Food shaming is a serious issue in today's culture. I myself am a self-proclaimed foodie, and I am passionate about food. I'm also a music, theater, and graduate student which means that I often don't get home until close to midnight, having worked, rehearsed, or been in class all evening with no dinner break. I admit to preferring certain foods at certain times of day, but I also will eat ice cream for breakfast, cereal for lunch, and scrambled eggs for dinner.

3.) Netflix and Chill like a pro

So we all know what Netflix and chill means if you look it up on Urban dictionary. By all means, go for it. Lack of roommates certainly makes it easy. Or you can simply enjoy the fact that you can watch whatever you want without judgment. No nerdy SiFi films or Cheesy Chick-flicks are going to pop up on your recently watched or suggested movies for your mates to judge you about. Your Netflix info is all yours, so Start Wars and Nicholas Sparks to your heart's content.

4.) Interior decorate (aka, leave it messy)

I like blue. and purple. and green. And that is very obvious in my room. I have pictures all over one of my mirrors, candles on the mantle, papers and markers on top my desk, and jewelry hanging on hooks on the walls. There are folded clothes on top of my dresser (cause putting things in the drawers is sometimes too challenging). I also have a pile of unfolded clean clothes on the floor, because I haven't taken the time away from Netflix-ing and homework to put them away (if you have enough hanging space, it tends to be faster than folding, btw.) The dogs I sit for and live with leave copious amounts of hair everywhere, and I do not sweep. I generally wait until it all collects into piles in the corners of the room and will sweep once I can't stand it anymore. Dust, dirty clothes, dog hair, homework and papers everywhere...Some might call it messy. I call it avant-guard interior design.

5.) It's totally okay to be alone

Life is hard. And sometimes....well sometimes we just want to crawl into bed, shut away the world, and act like we are the only person alive. It's just easier that way.

6.) It's totally okay to have a ton of people over

Aaaaaand then there are they days where everyone is your best friend and you've got enough love to go around. As long as there is love, food, and no one calls the cops about the noise level, you can have as many people over as you want.

7.) "Oh, did I eat your ice cream?"

I don't get angry easily, but when you touch my food without permission, I get mad enough to end a 10-year friendship. If I make a casserole and someone eats a bit, it's not a problem since I made plenty to share. But if you eat my last pizza roll, or finish off my Half-Baked Ben&Jerry's, I might contemplate less than legal activities to make you regret your actions. Living alone removes this temptation, and therefore allows me to stay a happy law-abiding citizen.

8.) Eat-for-a-week Theory

Coming home at the end of a really long day can be a pain. Cooking just isn't a thing. There is a solution! Casseroles! Pasta Dishes! Rice and Stir-Fry! All of these beautiful things can be cooked at one time, in large amounts. If you aren't a picky eater, you can make one meal that lasts you for a week. or make three large meals and cycle through them for the next two weeks. Never underestimate the power of the left-overs. (Also, no roommates to eat your leftovers, means a constant supply of junk in the fridge and pantry.)

9.) All of God's Glory

I think everyone has had those days (some more often than others) where the idea of wearing clothes is completely repulsive. The amount of freedom that comes from walking around your house without worrying about being seen in all of God's Glory = unparalleled.

10.) The bathroom is ALL yours

Your roommates will never again use all of your shampoo or conditioner, or those really expensive bath salts your mom got you for your birthday. Going to the bathroom and looking over to see that there is no toilet paper will never happen (or if it does, it's your own fault). And we all know how it goes when that water gets flowing, and you decide you are the next contestant on America's Got Talent. Go ahead, make the neighbors wonder who's cat is dying

These are just a few of the limitless reason living on your own is awesome. Leaving home is sometimes scary, and leaving college is even worse, but in all reality, there is nothing to be afraid of. Just remember to keep your mom and dad on speed dial so you can ask if the milk in the fridge is still good, or so one of them can come help you when the door falls off the hinges (that seriously happened to me) and everything will be just peaches and cream.