Feelings about Valentine’s Day seem like a roller coaster. As a child, it was the perfect occasion for a party. Everyone would hand out valentines, eat lots of candy, and be on their way. At a certain age, the meaning of Valentine’s Day seems to become more serious. Some young adults find it a romantic holiday while others find it along the lines of a chore.
Some even find Valentine’s Day annoying and a waste of time. It is commonly referred to as ‘”Single’s Awareness Day”—note the acronym SAD.
Here is a list of ideas for those riding solo this February 14.
– Throw an Anti-Valentine’s Day Party. Invite over friends who also do not have plans for the “big day”. Rent some movies, grab some take-out and just relax. One of the best ways to not think about being alone on Valentine’s Day is to spend it with singles you care about.
– Buy yourself a gift. Spend the money that you would have had to spend on somebody else. Get yourself that video game you’ve had your eye on or that new pair of shoes. Treat yourself every once in a while!
– Try something new. There has to be something that always seemed to be interesting to you, so give it a try! Whether it’s going skiing for the first time or a different workout routine, Valentine’s Day would be the perfect opportunity to discover a new hobby (and you just might meet someone new in the process).
– Treat yourself to a spa day. With such busy lifestyles, it is easy to forget what it feels like to be pampered. For girls, manicures and pedicures and for the guys, massages. A spa day would take the tension away from the idea of being alone. Plus you would be treated like kings and queens. How can you go wrong with that?
– Enjoy the single life. Write down a list of all the good things that go along with being single, such as free time, fewer obligations, etc. After you write your list, cross out all of the items that cannot be accomplished while in a relationship. This will show how not having a boyfriend or a girlfriend is not the worst thing in the world. Actually, it can be more productive for you that way!
– Cook yourself a nice meal. There isn’t always time to prepare and sit down to a home cooked meal. Search for a recipe that looks delicious, buy the ingredients and get started! Cooking can be very calming and, not to mention, fun (See our Recipe for Disaster column for ideas). It is also rewarding to see how tasty a meal you made can o be. Who knows, you may have just found a new passion!
– Volunteer to babysit. It does not matter if the youngsters are siblings, cousins. Parents would love to get some alone time on Valentine’s Day. It can be hard for couples to find date time and this would give them the perfect opportunity. Plus, the gesture would be greatly appreciated!
– Call your family and friends. Even though this should be done on a daily basis, take 10 minutes out of your day and tell them that you love them. Remind them how happy you are to have them in your life and they most likely will say the same to you. Chances are that you have made their day as well.
– Love yourself. This is probably the most important thing to do every day of the year. It is easy to forget to appreciate yourself with everything upon your shoulders. Take the time and be grateful for all that you have and all that you have accomplished. Remember that you are important and a romantic relationship is not necessary to feel this way!
Instead of thinking about how awful it is to be single on Valentine’s Day, think of how great it can be. There are so many perks! There will be no stress in planning the perfect date, less money will be spent, and there will be more time this Valentine’s Day to focus on all of the reasons you are happy to be yourself, by yourself!