When people talk about being single, they usually do it with a negative connotation. But why? There's absolutely nothing wrong with being single, and by no means does your relationship define you. Whether people are talking about wanting to Netflix and chill, have a New Year's kiss, or a person to constantly be their crutch, everyone seems to yearn for a relationship. Of course, it's nice to have someone there for you, and to have someone that feels the same way about you as you do about them, but we can't forget about ourselves! There are so many reasons why being single will do you good and will really help you to discover yourself. We need to remember to take care of ourselves first before we worry about anyone else; after all, we're all we've got in the end! There's definitely way more perks to being single, but I've narrowed it down to 11 that'll make you think differently about your single life.

1. Happiness

One of the most important reasons to be single is to truly find your own happiness. I am a firm believer that no one should rely on another person to make them happy. This is one of those things where you come first, so being single is a great time to work on increasing your happiness.

2. Discovering yourself

When you're in a relationship you tend to spend more time discovering things about your significant other rather than discovering what sparks up your interests. Being single allows you to look deep inside yourself without having to worry about anyone else.

3. Less stress

Let's face it, whether they're tiny squabbles or full blown arguments, relationships usually come with drama. Are they still mad that I had to cancel plans? Maybe I should have used a different tone. Did he really have to say it like that? When you're on your own the only arguments you should be having are with yourself and what you should have for breakfast.

4. See things from a different perspective

Instead of seeing things together with someone else's input, you can see things in a different way by yourself. Maybe you'll notice that different things catch your attention and maybe you'll understand other people in a way you never could before.

5. Try new things

Maybe your ex-boyfriend wasn't into adventurous things, but now you can jump out of all the planes you want! No one's stopping you from discovering new hobbies that you never knew you'd enjoy.

6. Meet new people

I'm sure this one appeals to a lot of people. Do you know how many dates you'll be able to go on? Because the answer is a lot. Whether you want to make new friends or maximize your list of no-strings-attached kisses, there's nothing holding you back!

7. Discover the importance of being your own best friend

Instead of being someone else's best friend, it's time to look at how awesome you are. With all the "me" time in the world now, it's your chance to take yourself on a coffee date and go shopping to pick up that little number you think you'd look great it!

8. More time to be with friends

I'm not saying it's impossible to handle both, but I do know a lot of people in relationships that tend to forget about their friends and it's very unfortunate. Without a significant other to worry about getting jealous, you have the ability to call up a friend to do something every day of the week without feeling bad.

9. You don't have to answer to anyone

Although you should always be independent, we tend to run certain choices we make by our significant others, and sometimes the outcome might not be one we wanted. Now the choice can be all yours.

10. Focus on your work

Whether you have college essays to write or papers to organize for internships, relationships can sometimes distract us from the work we have on hand. With being single comes more ability to be on top of things.

11. Find intimacy and love in other places

Finally, being single will help you realize that love doesn't only exist in the person you had feelings for. It exists in family, friends, your favorite movies, your favorite restaurants, and just about anything else that makes you smile!