Valentine’s Day can be a tricky time for singles.
Instead of spending Valentine’s in self-pity, you can redefine it as a time to celebrate all kinds of love, from love with your parents, pets, friends, and yourself.
Reframing Valentine’s Day in this way helps nurture your relationships with other important people who may have taken a back seat when you have a partner.
It’s also a reminder that loving yourself is an essential part of a fulfilling life.
So, whether you’re single by choice or circumstance, here are some ideas to make your Valentine’s Day this year worth remembering.
10 Ways to Enjoy Valentine’s Day When You’re Single
1. See a Movie.
Who says you need a partner for movie night?
Going to the movies solo for Valentine’s Day can be an incredibly liberating experience.
You can have total control over choosing the film, pick your favorite seat, eat all the snacks, and allow yourself to laugh or cry – as long as you don’t bother other people.
Picture this: no more convincing your partner to watch movies you like, or getting annoyed when they don’t enjoy it.
Or even worse, your partner falls asleep in the middle of the movie.
This Valentine’s, you can enjoy some quality time with the most important person in your life: yourself!
So, pick your movie and enjoy the night!
2. Have a Fancy Dinner.
You don’t need to wait for someone to take you to a fancy dinner on V-Day.
If you’re single, take yourself to a nice restaurant, wear your best outfit, pick the dish you like, and enjoy your own company.
Making yourself feel special on February 14th sets the tone for how you want to be treated by your future partner.
If you treat yourself with honor and kindness, you won’t stand for anyone who treats you carelessly.
When you’re alone, enjoy your food, and have a conversation with yourself.
It’s a moment to celebrate love, and this time, you can celebrate it with your inner voice.
Remember that your gut is there to protect you, so take a moment to listen and take a mental note of what it’s saying.
3. Take Yourself on a Staycation.
This Valentine’s Day, you can book a cozy Airbnb or a luxurious hotel room in your city.
Planning a short gateway like this should be easy because you’re hanging out in a familiar city.
Even if it’s for one night, it will help you mentally relax and recharge.
To make the most out of it, plan how you want to spend your staycation.
You can enjoy spa treatments, order room service, take a leisurely stroll at a hotel, or simply unwind with a good book.
4. Celebrating Love with Others.
Being single, this is the best opportunity to spend Valentine’s with your family, friends, or even your pet.
If a couple celebrates Valentine’s with a fancy dinner or short gateway, why don’t you arrange the same event for your friends and family?
You can laugh at dinner, enjoy a barbeque at a cottage, and let your furry friend have a special treat.
These moments will warm your heart and create beautiful memories.
Celebrating love with others on Valentine’s Day reinforces the importance of all kinds of relationships in your life.
It’s a reminder that you can be happy even without a partner.
And when you finally get a new partner, it will only add to your happiness.
5. Take a Yoga or Meditation Class.
Amid the hustle and bustle of your daily life, you may struggle to slow down and process your feelings.
This is where taking a yoga or meditation class on Valentine’s Day can be a beautiful gift to yourself.
It allows you to focus on your mind and listen to your inner voice.
Science has already proven that yoga and meditation have a positive impact on your mental health.
But most people don’t have the knowledge to do it themselves.
By taking yoga or meditation classes, you can learn new skill sets to nurture your mind, body, and soul.
6. Stay In and Pamper Yourself.
Valentine’s Day is special, but sometimes you want to keep things super simple by staying in and pampering yourself.
You can prepare a bubble bath, enjoy aromatherapy, and calm your nerves.
It’s also a great time to keep up with your skincare if that’s your thing.
As for food, you don’t need a fancy restaurant.
Getting your favorite food delivered to your door can be enough.
Don’t forget to buy your favorite chocolate, wrap yourself in a snug blanket, and enjoy a movie marathon with Netflix.
7. Turn off Your Phone and Focus on Yourself.
Have you ever thought about totally unplugging this Valentine’s Day?
Spending a solitary evening in silence might sound like the most boring idea.
But just for fun, give it a try.
You can switch off all your electronic devices and give yourself undistracted attention.
During this quiet time, you can read your favorite book, meditate, or simply sit and enjoy silence.
The first hour will be the most difficult.
Most people will give up and get back to the screen.
But if you push through, you might learn something new just by sitting by yourself and listening to your mind.
Grab your journal and write everything that pops up in your mind.
These few hours with yourself can soothe your soul like no other.
8. Do Something Nice for Others.
If spending Valentine’s Day with your friends and family doesn’t sound interesting, you can take this special day as an opportunity to spread love to other people.
You can start by sending thank you emails to your co-workers, giving a cupcake to your neighbor, or doing random acts of kindness to strangers.
When people thank you, your heart will feel warm.
That’s a kind of happiness that money can’t buy.
9. Go for a Long Drive and Listen to Your Favorite Music.
When you’re single, you can spend Valentine’s Day by going for a long drive and listening to your favorite music.
Feel free to sing as loud as your ear can bear.
This is your showtime!
This suits adventurous souls who don’t like preparing too much before going on holiday.
Let your feelings lead the way, and if you end up at a hotel in a new town, don’t worry, you always have Google Maps to help you get back home.
Of course, safety should be a priority when you’re traveling solo.
You can update family or close friends with your location, so they know you’re okay.
Don’t bring too much cash or wear too much jewelry.
Make this trip super simple, but fun!
10. Self-Reflective Exercises.
On Valentine’s Day, taking time to appreciate yourself can be the best gift for yourself.
You can write a letter to yourself, highlighting your achievements, and give yourself a pat on the back for surviving to this point.
You can do this exercise alongside journaling and have quiet time with yourself.
By taking time to write yourself a letter, you can gather your thoughts, pour them on the paper, and empty your mind.
This letter is for your eyes only, so feel free to write anything you want.
You can then burn it to make sure nobody will ever read it.
But, you can also keep it in your wallet to look at when you’re feeling down.
Treat it like a love letter from someone who loves you the most: yourself.
Making Every Day Your Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day can be tough to navigate as a single person.
It’s hard not to get triggered when you are surrounded by lovey-dovey couples while you’re still struggling to get over your broken heart.
However, you’d better put some effort into making your Valentine’s Day special as a single.
The love you give to yourself will speed up your healing process.
The ten ideas shared in this article should give you some ideas to start with.
You can mix and match each idea to suit your situation.
Even more, you don’t have to wait for February 14th to roll around to treat yourself nicely.
Instead, incorporate it into your routine to nurture your well-being.
Happy Valentine’s!
Anggi Pradhini
Anggi Pradhini’s passion for writing a blog ignited after she experienced the pain of three breakups of long-term relationships. But as she rises from her pain, her three failed relationships make her way to rebuild her life in the right direction. In this blog, she wants to inspire people to bounce back from broken hearts and revamp their lives.
