Every January, once the Christmas season fever is over -don’t ask me why-, we all start stressing about the next major holiday: Valentine’s Day. It makes sense in a way, since we’re all searching for love across different aspects of our lives, but this date tends to put us under a lot of pressure, especially if we don’t have a partner or anything even close to a relationship.
Now, over the last few years, we’ve seen how the market has tried to turn things around to reach all of us, by telling us it’s also a date to celebrate friendship and stuff like that, but deep down it’s all focused on romantic love and the capitalization of relationships. So what are we single people to do? Instead of freaking out or getting depressed as the day gets closer, we should start thinking about how this could be a great opportunity to love and treat ourselves. You don’t know how to do it? Here are a few tips:
A stress-free day
First of all, leave all the stress and pressure about Valentine’s to one side, and focus on yourself. If being around everyone else’s Valentine’s Day-induced hysteria affects you, escape somewhere you feel free and happy. Give yourself a relaxing time without all those pink and red hearts everywhere you look. Going on a little solo getaway or even just retreating into the comfort and peace of your home is a great opportunity to forget all your worries and devote the day to yourself, which is the next gift on our list.
Some good, old “me” time
It might sound repetitive and a bit cheesy, but there’s nothing better and more satisfying than getting some solo time to do the things we love. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a spa-day -that’s a little bit cliché, to be honest-, but even staying home that day, watching movies or reading a book can be an invigorating experience.
Treat yourself to a cheat day
It’s called comfort food for a reason. If Valentine’s Day has got you feeling a little down, why not indulge in your favorite foods? Think about it: pizza for breakfast, a burger for lunch, ice cream for dinner, and some chocolate before bed. Sounds like a terrible idea for a daily diet but a great way to treat yourself once a year (or better yet, once in a while).
A night out with friends
The first items on this list were pretty solitary ideas, but even if you don’t have a partner to spend Valentine’s Day with, you can always spend it with the people that love you the most, your friends. Valentine’s isn’t only about romantic dinners with a significant other, or long walks under the moon, or whatever cheesy ideas we see around this team of the year. Instead, why don’t you go dancing with your friends or even just for a few drinks?
Retail therapy for the win
This is probably my favorite thing to do on this list and the ultimate gift I’m giving myself this Valentine’s Day: a huge shopping spree to treat no one else but me. Not only is shopping therapeutical, it’s also a great way to spend your money on yourself. I mean, at the end of the day, we all work too hard not to enjoy the money we make by getting things we love. Yes, Valentine’s is a super commercial holiday, so why not embrace it by getting some goodies for ourselves?
A solo getaway
Traveling is basically in all of our bucket lists and New Year’s resolutions, so why not start the year off on the right foot by going on a solo trip? It doesn’t have to be a major one or one that requires a lot of money and organizing: a nice, weekend getaway will do the job just fine and will give you that extra boost you need to carry on with your everyday routine.
A fancy and expensive date
If you actually love everything that Valentine’s Day represents, you can actually embrace it in all its cheesiness, even if you don’t have anyone to share it with. Take yourself on a nice and fancy date to celebrate. An expensive restaurant, fancy clothes, and a nice bottle of wine? Why not? You deserve it! If I were you, though, I’d make a reservation a few days in advance. You know how restaurants get on this day…
Now, repeat
Finally, go over all of these gifts every once in a while. It doesn’t have to be a special day: we all deserve nice gifts and treats year round. So, mark your calendar and make it a monthly thing. You’ll see that devoting time to treat yourself will make you infinitely happier and more satisfied with yourself.
Write for us!
Are you a confident and strong person who would give the best love advice? We’d love to hear them! Read our submissions guidelines and send us a 500-word article to storyteller@culturacolectiva.com
You might also want to see these:
The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide To Have The Best Valentine’s Without A Valentine
Shopping Anxiety And The Paradoxes Of Looking For The Perfect Gift
The Chinese Tradition That Celebrates Everlasting Love And The Hope To Find Your SO
Who Was Saint Valentine? The Truth Behind The Day Of A Roman Martyr
Images by @rianne.meijer
