Now that the festive season is over and the Day of loved-up-couples-in-your-face is fast approaching, we’re here to tell you it’s not the end of the world if you don’t have a date for Valentine’s Day! Some singles might feel like V-Day is a reality check on their love life, telling them that singledom is a sucky place to be, while others relish the fact that they don’t need to be in a relationship to be content.
However you approach the Day of Cupid and love hearts, it can be a sensitive time for singles and couples alike – put it this way, at least you won’t be disappointed by the lack of effort from your partner because you know exactly what to expect from yourself! If you’re looking to avoid the sea of red and pink hearts, icky PDA, and the overwhelming smell of flowers this Feb 14, take a look at our list of things to do if you’re single.
1) Make It Galentine’s Day
February 14 falls on a Friday this year, so it’s the perfect time to grab your gal pals and turn up for TGIF! You can go one of two ways with this; you can make your catch-up with the girls like any other Friday night after-work drinks and ignore the fact it’s Valentine’s, or you can take the opportunity to embrace the anti-Valentine’s Day theme and go all out.
Whichever way you and your gals want to handle Valentine’s Day, celebrate being single in style. So whether you take cheese boards and red wine to someone’s home, go to your favorite tapas bar, or take over the dance floor singing ABBA classics – make your Galentine’s Day one to remember. It’ll be a healthy reminder that you don’t need to settle down to be happy because you have your best girls to give you all the laughs, love, and support you need.
2) Did someone Say #TreatYoSelf?
Congratulations, you’ve saved so much money by not being in a relationship; why not use a bit of that cash to give yourself a treat? Rather than spending money on presents for your SO or shouting at them about dinner every weekend, you’ve got enough in the bank for the ultimate pamper session.
Book a massage and facial at your favorite spa, take yourself out for a nice breakfast and unrushed coffee, read your book in silence, and take in all the wonderful reasons why being single is good for you right now. If you prefer to be a busy bee on Valentine’s Day, why not use your extra dosh for a shopping spree? Go out to the shops, browse, or spend hours online scrolling in your PJs with wine.
3) Digitally Detox
It’s hard to execute but might be beneficial if you find yourself down the rabbit hole of Instagram, scrolling through profiles of couples and ultimately throwing yourself a pity party. Take Valentine’s Day as the perfect opportunity to unplug from social media and skip the engagement announcements and dinner pics.
While off the social grid, use this time to catch up on hobbies that your soul enjoys – drawing, painting, writing, reading, cooking, or baking; this is your time at its finest. Then, if you start to reach for the phone, switch to the laptop and put on some Netflix stand-up comedy!
4) Be A Fake Couple
You’ll enjoy this if you like taking advantage of Valentine’s Day deals without being in a relationship because if anyone deserves a 2-for-1 dinner discount, it should be you! So grab a single friend and pretend to be a loved-up twosome; search for deals online that you can use on V-Day and make light of the fact that you can have the best of both worlds.
Plenty of deals for couples include massages, discounted movie tickets, free drinks on arrival, and even free dessert after dinner, winning! All you need to do is hold hands with your “partner” no kissing is required, and the employees will never suspect a thing.
5) Do Something Different
Distractions are key if you get into a rut every Valentine’s Day because you go home, put on a rom-com, and cry while eating ice cream from the tub – so try something different this year! However, the best way to break the habit is to start with something new and exciting. You can also try that pilates class that’s always booked out or take a weekend road trip to that cool beach spot with your friends.
By consciously deciding to do something different, you’re putting a new experience at the forefront of your mind and not thinking about what everyone else is doing on Feb 14. For example, you could see an exhibition at the museum and take in the culture, or try your luck at a new language on Duolingo. Whatever it is, your brain and heart will thank you for putting your needs first!
Dr.Lurve’s Final Thoughts
Being single on Valentine’s Day isn’t the worst thing in the world. You’re probably going to have a better time than those in relationships. However, Valentine’s Day puts a lot of pressure on couples—especially those on the rocks—to patch up their relationship for one Day of the year, looking happy on social media and miserable behind closed doors.
