Going through a breakup is one of the hardest things you’ll go through in life, but it can also lead to bigger and better things. As someone who has personally just gone through her first breakup, I’m finding out all of the best things about being newly single. It’s difficult to see when you’re going through the pain of heartbreak, but it may turn out to be one of the best things that has ever happened to you!
1. You can wear whatever you want.
One of my favorite things about being single is being able to wear crazy colored lipstick everyday and never worrying about smearing it on someone’s face after a make-out sesh. When you’re not in a relationship, you don’t have to take anyone’s opinions into account when you choose what to wear. So whether it’s a bright pink lip or your favorite comfy t-shirt, rock that single look!
2. You can become closer with your girlfriends.
Being in a relationship can be a huge drain on your girlfriend time, so use this opportunity to form closer bonds with your main ladies. Especially in this difficult time, you’re going to want your besties around to make you laugh when you want to cry and are willing to watch every rom com known to man with you (with a couple bottles of wine). There’s no reason to feel alone when you have friends by your side.
3. You can focus on yourself.
Being in a relationship can be exhausting! Especially if it was… not so great. Now you can spend all that energy into yourself! Give yourself a spa day, take up a hobby you’ve always been interested in, or sign up for a new club. You’re going through a hard time and not only will trying new things take your mind off of it, but it is an amazing chance to better yourself in whatever way you see fit. Plus, if you ever run into your ex, you can show him/her/them that you are the best you’ve ever been.
4. You don’t have to share your food. Ever.
I can’t stress this one enough: you don’t have to share food with anyone. ANYONE. I mean, you can if you really want to (crazzzzy), but you no longer have to order delivery with the intention of splitting it or only order one dessert at a restaurant for two. I say you go ahead and eat an entire pizza by yourself just for the hell of it. Trust me, there’s no one around to judge you. Not that I’ve ever done that or anything…
5. You don’t have to pretend to be interested in your partner’s hobbies.
Let’s face it, we didn’t always love listening to our significant others drone on and on about something we found boring. I swear, if I never hear another lecture about plant research in my life, I’ll die a happy woman. You still have to listen to your friends and family blab on, but now you have one less person to pretend to be interested in! But in all seriousness, enjoy the freedom of completely zoning out without hesitation.
6. No. Shaving.
I know we all love the feeling of freshly shaved legs, but sometimes you just want to Chewbacca out and skip the razor for a few days (*cough* weeks). Go prickly or go full-on au natural, it’s up to you! But now you don’t have any pressure on you to shave your legs, armpits, lady bits, or even your ‘stache! Plus think of all the time you’ll save in the shower – more time for shower karaoke!
7. You figure out what you want and don’t want in a relationship.
So obviously your last relationship did not work out and that’s OK! With time, you’ll be able to look at your ex with a clear perspective. You can see exactly what you loved and didn’t quite love about your partner and decide what you’ll want in the future. Sometimes love can blind us from the flaws in our significant others, but once you gain objectivity, you will be able to recognize what worked and what didn’t and keep that in mind when you decide to start dating again.
8. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
It’s a cliché, but one that holds up to the true test of experience. Going through something as painful as heartbreak truly makes you a stronger person. Once you’ve experienced that, you realize you can go through anything. It also gives you the confidence to be the badass bitch that you’ve always been. You’ve lost a lot, but you have so much more to gain now and the inner strength to go for what makes you happy. So ask that cute guy from your Psych class out or try out for your school’s acapella team. What’s the worst that could happen?
9. You get a (limited time offer) free pass to drown your sorrows.
After a breakup, you’re feeling every possible feeling: fear, anger, sadness, pain. It’s totally natural and totally OK! If you want to drown those feelings in wine or macaroni and cheese, no one will judge you (and if they do, screw them!). For the first couple of weeks, you’ll need to let yourself cry and vent, but the best way to cheer yourself up after an emotional breakdown is to indulge! So take an extra shot before you go out on Friday night or spend an entire day on the couch watching Friends on Netflix or sit down to an entire plate of crispy bacon (again, definitely NOT a personal experience). Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do, and sometimes that means eating or drinking your feelings. Just remember that at some point you have to return to the real world and put down the wine glass!
10. You regain social and sexual freedom.
Being in a relationship can be totally restricting and by being dumped you have just won the golden ticket of freedom! Rejoice! But actually, now that you’re single you are free to do whatever you want and whomever you want. So go out with your girlfriends to the club and stay out all night. Or go home with the hottest guy at the party. The world is now yours and you are the only one in charge of your life. You no longer have anyone holding you back from making your own choices. Being young and single is going to be one of the most exciting times of our lives – so go out there and enjoy it! The world is your oyster – your beautiful, bangable oyster.