If you believe you’re the only lonely single out there, you are definitely mistaken. Loneliness is common, especially around the holidays. When you’re single, you may feel vulnerable and empty. There are times when the emotions can be minor, but there are other times where the feelings are pretty intense. Feelings of loneliness can also bring on feelings of incredible stress, can make you feel isolated, and close you off from the possibility of new relationships. It’s common to look at other couples with some envy during the holidays, wishing that you were walking in their trues. While it may be hard to see it now, many benefits to being single often get overlooked. If you’re feeling down about being alone on New Year’s Eve, consider these six things.

More time for yourself.

If you’re single on New Year’s Eve, it can allow you to really focus on yourself without the distraction of someone else. While being in a relationship doesn’t mean you will automatically be distracted from the things you care about the most, being single allows you to focus on the things that matter to you the most. If you want to stay in your house in your pajamas or watch the ball drop with your friends, that’s your business. The same goes for your life. You can decide to train for a marathon, focus on your career or your new hobby, and be able to focus on these things solely. Ultimately, you will have time to get to know yourself. This is so important because there will be points in your life when the only person you can trust and rely on is yourself. Being alone can help you figure out what you really need from someone else. There’s no point going into the New Year not clear about this.

You have more freedom.

You will never have more freedom than when you are totally single. When you’re a free agent, you can navigate the world based on your own needs and desires. This is incredibly liberating. It’s not that you won’t be able to retain your individuality when you’re with someone, but relationships do require sacrifice. You won’t have to check in with anyone or have somebody guilt you into doing anything. If you plan to stay out late with friends or at dinner at midnight, that’s your prerogative. If you want to spend the entire day shopping or riding around the city, there isn’t anyone stopping you. Relationships require compromise. There is no compromise needed when you’re single.

You have less drama to deal with.

Think about the fact that you won’t have to deal with any relationship drama in the New Year. When you’re with someone, you have to balance your needs and their needs as well. You have desires and needs, and they will have them too. If you don’t choose to compromise, no one fully gets what they want, or only one party wins. This can create major resentment, drama, and stress. If you’re single during the holidays, you won’t have to worry about this confusion and stress. Then you can completely focus on your own needs and not feel selfish about those needs.

You can focus on friends.

One cool thing about being single on New Year’s Eve is the fact that you can focus on your friends and loved ones. Usually, we put our partner’s wants and needs first. When we’re in relationships, our lives revolve around our partners. We generally don’t have the time and energy we used to focus on our friendships like we previously did. If you’re single around the holidays,

You can go wherever you want.

You can go where you want on New Year’s Eve when you’re single. You’re not tied to one place. You can choose to visit family, or simply stay home. It’s all up to you. If your company has given you some time off, use it to your advantage. It’s not that you can’t travel and have fun with a person you’re dating, but being single allows you to pick up your suitcase and go anywhere without feeling guilty about it. Take some time to really relax. The only schedule you’ll have to consider is your own. It is a lot easier to satisfy your traveling desires when there isn’t someone at home waiting for you who has specific expectations. Do these things now before you’re caught up in a relationship.

You can open your heart for love in the new year.

Casual dating is really great because it gives the opportunity to meet new people. It’s also a great time to have a lot of fun and learn what you’re looking for in someone new. When you’re casually dating, you don’t feel completely single, but you also don’t have the limitations of a long-term relationship. It allows you to meet different people, some who may appeal to you more than others. If you’re single on New Year’s Eve but open, it allows you to meet and possibly open your heart to a new person. The people you meet at your friend’s New Year’s Eve party may not be a dating match, but it may open up the opportunity for some great conversation and new friendship.

You may have spent the last 365 days thinking about your single life, but New Year’s Eve isn’t the time or place for feelings like this. There is no greater time to embrace your singleness than the biggest holiday celebration of the year. We should be thinking about all the good things we have to look forward to in the year ahead. Being single isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You may not feel like it’s fun or enjoyable to be single, especially during the holidays, but there are so many doors that open up when we’re actually single. Bask in the glory of your freedom by remembering these six things.