No boyfriend? No problem. Really. Valentine’s Day is here again, but that doesn’t mean you need to subscribe to a dating app so you don’t spend your time alone. Here’s how to have fun as a single woman on a holiday that’s marketed as being strictly for couples. Newsflash: it’s totally not.
- Chat to your girls. You might not be able to spend time with them face to face or go out to the bar together, but you can still have fun via a call or video chat. There’s nothing better than laughing with your best friends to the point where you can’t breathe and tears are streaming out of your eyes.
- Splurge on yourself. You don’t have to worry about what to buy your boyfriend for Valentine’s Day because there is no boyfriend. Yay! That means you can splurge on a luxury item for yourself. Think about what you’ve been dying to buy and get it. You deserve it!
- Bake a cake. Who doesn’t want to splurge on some calories too? If you want to indulge, now’s the holiday on which to do it. Plus, by baking a cake instead of buying one from the bakery, you’ll feel like it’s so much more special. FYI, baking can also be a great stress reliever, I’m just saying…
- Binge-watch your favorite shows. Right now, you might not be in the mood for anything soppy, so why not binge watch some documentaries about charming men who kill? Okay, it sounds grim, but it will put the way we worship relationships into some perspective. Better yet, watch them with your single gals.
- Get a makeover. Valentine’s Day can be the perfect day to start afresh. Maybe you’re tired of your current hairstyle or dye job. Go on and try something different. You’ll get a spring in your step and feel like a million bucks. To be honest, this is something I recommend anytime, not just February 14.
- Give yourself self-care. This can be soaking in a hot tub of delicious suds or sleeping in a bit more or spending some quality time just meditating. If relationship stresses are getting you down, then now’s the perfect opportunity to give yourself some TLC the way a loving partner would, only better because you can choose exactly what you want to do to make yourself feel good.
- Do a good deed. If you have friends in relationships or marriages who need someone to babysit for them so they can go out on the town (assuming it’s safe to do so where you are), why not offer your services? You might not think it’s fun, but is there anything more rewarding than doing a good deed for someone you love? Besides, kids are a hoot!
- Surprise yourself ahead of time. This might take a bit of pre-planning, but it’s totally worth it. Go online and buy yourself something special then organize for it to be delivered to you on Valentine’s Day. By the time the date swings around, you’ll be surprised by the bouquet of your favorite flowers or the special jewelry you purchased for yourself.
- Unplug yourself! If you’re always locked into your devices, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to switch off and forget about what social media is up to, especially if it stresses you out to see all those couple appreciation posts. Bonus: Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, so you can totally do this.
- Go on a mini trip. Seeing as though Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend, why not grab your bestie, sister, or mother and head out to do something fun? Yes, it’s winter, many businesses are closed, and we have to be super careful because of the pandemic, but there are safe ways to enjoy time with your loved ones in many places. Make sure you go somewhere you’ve always wanted to and enjoy yourselves. If no one is available or it’s not safe to get together, go on your own! It will feel so rewarding.
- Have a stress-free date. If you have been flirting with someone for a while, consider going on a socially distanced Valentine’s Day date with them. But the key is to make it as enjoyable as possible. That means doing something more exciting than the usual “coffee and a movie” thing and not thinking about being perfect, wondering if you’ll have a future with him, and all that anxiety-boosting stuff. Ideally, make sure that no matter what happens, you’ll be fine with it so you can really enjoy the experience. This takes the pressure right off.
- Do what you loved as a child. Think back to the things you loved to do when you were a kid, like running through sprinklers, dancing around the house to your favorite music, or painting up a storm. Now go and do it again! It’ll make you feel so light and happy. Plus, it might just rekindle the passions you’ve left behind.
- If all else fails… Remember, it’s just one day that gets ramped up to be the most romantic and special day of the year, which really doesn’t make sense. Try to have fun in these 24 hours, but don’t sweat it too much.
