If you’re feeling a little blue about your relationship status, here’s are some tips to not only enjoy, but thrive, as a singleton.

Being single is the ultimate freedom. You don’t have anybody else’s opinions or preferences to take into account, meaning you can be the ultimate badass you were born to be. Want to lay in bed all day watching rom-coms and eating ice cream? Do it. Want to party all night and come home in the early hours? You go, sister. Being single frees you to do all the weird and wonderful things that you often let go off when you’re part of a duo. So embrace having all the time in the world to focus on your needs and desires. 

We’ll let you in on a little secret, everyone in a relationship wishes they had more alone time. Whilst it might not feel like it at times, actually the moments you have where you get to be by yourself are a blessing. These are the moments we get to sit with, and understand, ourselves better. Who are we truly without the safety blanket of a partner to shield us? Being single is an opportunity to explore everything that makes you..well, you. Read all your favorite books. Take walks and just sit with your thoughts. Dance around your living room with no-one watching. The self-confidence you build will be invaluable when you do decide to enter a relationship.

Being in a relationship is like an emotional shield. We tend to lean on our partner to support us through the challenging times, or to encourage us when we feel self-doubt. Being single is the perfect opportunity to remind yourself just how strong and capable you are as an individual. So do something that scares you and be your own emotional support – you’ll be so proud of yourself afterwards, and you’ll enter your next relationship with a level of self-assuredness you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Being single does naaat mean you should sit at home alone in your downtime. Get out there, meet new people, make new friends. These are things we all neglect when we’re in the comfort of a relationship, so take your opportunity now to broaden your social horizons and develop your network. Who knows who you might meet along the way

Traveling solo is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. Buy a ticket somewhere knew, and experience the joy of being a stranger in a foreign land. You’ll find that when you travel alone you are so much more open to making connections with others. So expect lots of conversations in broken English with the locals, perhaps a few crises (that you will definitely be able to figure your way out of), and a thousand new memories that will shape you forever more.

Now’s the time to take risks and make mistakes. We live in a culture that sees making mistakes as a failure. But on the contrary, mistakes are opportunities to grow. They shape us, make us wiser, and build our confidence. Don’t do anything dangerous, but do do things that make you feel alive. 

We’re all weird in our own ways. But sadly when we’re in a relationship, our oddities tend to get diluted somehow. As a single person you have full license to be totally weird, and own it. Wear the clothes you didn’t have the confidence to with your ex. Sing too loudly in the shower. Be unapologetically you – and when you enter your next relationship, hold on to all those quirks. They’re your best bits

Though it might not feel like this, being single doesn’t mean you’re alone. You simply need to shift your focus to involve others you have perhaps overlooked to fulfil your emotional and social needs. When we’re in a relationship we tend to put all of our eggs into one basket. But now’s the time to widen your net. You can start to rely on some people for emotional advice, others to go dancing with, and others for help with DIY. You have more love and support around you than you perhaps realise- you just need to know where to look for it. 

Hopefully these tips help you reshift your perspective on life being single. It’s a rare opportunity to really embrace yourself. So roll with it, have fun, and know that you have it in you to be happy – no matter your relationship status.