February is the month of love. If you go into most stores now, you will notice that Valentine’s day specials and decorations have been up for awhile..
When you’re single, having all these things up in your face can be stressful.
In a way, it is a constant reminder that you are not in a relationship. In some cases, it can also make you feel lonely during a time when everyone seems to be focused on love and relationships.
Firstly, just because you aren’t seeing anyone doesn’t mean you:
- aren’t loved (There are lots of types of love beyond romantic love.)
- don’t deserve love and all the good things that couples do for each other
Below are some ways you can enjoy Valentine’s Day alone and show yourself some love.
9 Ways to Enjoy Valentine’s Day While Single
Pamper yourself.
You might need to book for this in advance before all slots are taken.
Find a spa that meets your standards and treat yourself to a day (or a few hours) of pampering. You can also pamper yourself at home.
Go to a movie.
Theatres don’t close because it is Valentine’s Day.
Get yourself a ticket to a movie you like or a new movie you’ve been meaning to watch. If you’re a movie buff, it’s Oscar season, so now is a great time to catch up on this year’s nominees and prepare for the big night.
Snack options have also greatly improved over the years, so you can find a theatre that serves everything from frozen yogurt to pizza to nachos to go along with your box o’ popcorn.
Get out of town.
Explore the outskirts on your own, especially if you live in the city.
Book yourself a room away and enjoy some fresh air for a few days or so. Allow yourself to escape from the buzz of the city and ground yourself this way.
Extra pampering tip: If you are booking a night away, look for a place that offers a hot tub, room service, or even a Bed & Breakfast where people will make you food in the morning!
Catch up on your favorite shows or your book.
Enjoy your peace and quiet while everyone is out on dates.
Make yourself comfortable and take this time to catch up on your favorite shows or reading that book you keep wanting to get to. Spend the day in comfy clothes (or even in bed) just relaxing.
Spend time with your single friends.
Since people with partners will most likely be doing something with their better halves, the single side of the squad can organize something fabulous.
This could be a dinner, a game night , karaoke, bowling, whatever. Something fun that will remind you that you are still surrounded in love, even if you’re not coupled up.
For the ladies, if you’ve never put on your own Galentine’s event, you really should look into it. Yes, it’s traditionally done on February 13th, but you can make your own rules up on this one, it’s kind of the point.
Journal.
Spend some time transferring your thoughts and feelings onto a piece of paper or your notes app.
While you’re at it, remember to also make a list of the things you enjoy about being single.
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Buy yourself flowers.
There is something about receiving flowers that just makes me (and many people) happy.
Just because there is no one to buy you flowers doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a beautiful bouquet. Get yourself one. It doesn’t even need to be from a fancy florist. Anything that is beautiful will make you feel happy and content.
Treat yourself to something special.
Most of us have that one thing we’ve got our eye on, but we can’t quite pull the trigger.
This month of love is a chance for us to finally get that thing. They say money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy treats and that is almost the same as happiness right?! Splurge a little on yourself.
Stay away from social media.
Spending time looking at how everyone else is spending their day can do you more harm than good.
Focus on you and protect yourself from the superficial world of social media. (Unless you’re following accounts that are celebrating not focusing on Valentine’s Day or offer interesting content on something completely unrelated.)
Anyone Can Enjoy Valentine’s Day!
Being single on Valentine’s Day is not the worst thing in the world.
It might seem so because for some reason it looks like everyone is in a loving relationship. But that is not the case. There are so many people out there who celebrate Valentine’s alone and absolutely enjoy it.
We all have the capacity and power to create and experience the love we deserve.
Rather than spending time thinking about your relationship status, get out there and do what makes you happy. Get yourself flowers, chocolates, a card or anything special.
Not only will this make you feel happier, but it will also just make you feel good.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published Feb 7, 2023 and has been updated to improve reader experience.
