Updated Feb 10, 2022
Fun fact about me: I have never been a fan of Valentine’s Day. Whether I’m in a relationship, dating, or single, my feelings on the day always remained the same. While I wouldn’t call myself anti-Valentine’s Day, I do feel like it’s a bit impersonal. For a long time, Valentine’s Day felt like a performative holiday meant to show the world how you feel about someone–even before social media. It’s the direct opposite of my personality since I very much prefer private, sentimental displays of affection and gifts that are tailored to the person.
If you’re a longtime reader of the blog, this may not come as a surprise. I can count on one hand the number of Valentine’s Day posts I’ve published over the years. So if you have ever wondered why specific content isn’t on the site, the most likely answer is that it simply isn’t interesting enough to me.
How Every Relationship Status Can Celebrate Valentine’s Day
As I’ve grown older, I’ve started to embrace Valentine’s Day with each passing year. Today’s post is for those of you who feel indifferent about the holiday. I’m sharing a few simple ideas that will encourage you to celebrate Valentine’s Day, even if you’re single! The holiday is all about love in whatever way you feel fits. If you’re here for the fashion, I still put together a cute date look in the pics! I also swapped out the sunglasses and earrings because I couldn’t decide which combination I liked more–what do you think?
Shop for your Valentine’s Day Look:
Love Your Friends? Celebrate with Galentine’s Day!
Anyone familiar with Parks & Recreation should recognize this term. I’m not sure if that’s where it originated from, but it is certainly where I heard it first. Galentine’s Day is exactly what it sounds like–getting all your friends together and celebrating the love you have for each other. This concept is something I really appreciate as an adult because making time for friend outings gets harder and harder as we age. Everyone lives in different cities, with different work schedules, and varying obligations.
It’s important to keep in touch and this holiday is a fun way to proactively schedule time for each other. You can even make it a tradition and turn it into your annual get-together! My friends and I did this with Christmas for several years and it was always a joy to look forward to the festivities.
Much like the show, Galentine’s Day doesn’t have to be limited to your single friends. This special day is typically celebrated the day before Valentine’s Day for that reason. Round up your group and take part in something fun!
- Go to brunch at a new spot and create some fun memories together
- Head to an art class for a fun sip and paint challenge
- Stop by a local market to do some shopping while you catch up
- Go see a cheesy rom-com and follow it up with fun manicures
No matter what you do, one thing I love is that the show shared what they loved about one another. Be sure to take time out of the day to have a toast to your friends. Celebrate their accomplishments, show appreciation for having them in your life, and spread the love!
In a Relationship? Try Something New with Your Partner
Okay, so I couldn’t talk about Valentine’s Day and not mention plans with a significant other! Of course, this option doesn’t specifically apply to the single folks out there, but you can absolutely turn it into a solo date trying something new on your bucket list!
As I mentioned at the top of the post, my feelings on Valentine’s Day remain constant no matter my relationship status. If you’re like me, there are plenty of reasons to brush off the holiday when in a relationship:
- You’ve settled into a comfortable groove and know how you feel about each other.
- You’d rather not go out due to (understandably) lower service quality and crowded restaurants.
- The holiday season ending has you wanting to budget and save money.
Now let’s talk about how to shift your mindset and make it fun! Here are a few ideas that help curb some of those reasons why you wouldn’t want to celebrate:
Add Some Spontaneity
Valentine’s Day dates with your partner don’t have to be traditional romantic outings.
- Try out a retro date like going to a drive-in movie
- Get active and create fun competition with a mini-golf date or laser tag
- Bring out your inner child with bumper cars or indoor rock climbing
Get Creative in the Kitchen
Want to avoid crowded restaurants and save money? Step outside of the traditional dinner and a movie date accompanied with flowers and chocolate by swapping it for one of these options:
- Beat the crowds and enjoy lower prices with a cute breakfast date
- Experiment by cooking your own meal together
- Order lunch portions for takeout and bake your own dessert
Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to curate a more thoughtful date. Not only is it more fun and personal that way, but you also get to create new experiences with each other. And don’t forget to dress up and take some cute pictures! You can never have too many photos of your loved ones, and getting all dolled up makes it fun!
Single? Spend Valentine’s Day Treating Yourself
This one is for those of you who are single and can’t align your schedule with friends, so you’ll be planning a solo date. There’s a quote from one of my favorite coming-of-age books, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, that speaks to self-love. It primarily talks about the importance of being happy from within, which will lead to happiness outside of yourself. Take that attitude and apply it to this day of self-love.
- Spend the day doing something that you’ve been meaning to make time for
- Stay in and enjoy some of your favorite treats while pampering yourself with a DIY spa day
- Enjoy a mini shopping spree and “treat yo’ self” to something nice
…and don’t forget to have fun!
No matter what you end up doing and who you end up doing it with, be safe and have fun! I’ll leave you with one of my favorite book quotes I referenced earlier:
“It’s like when you are excited about a girl and you see a couple holding hands, and you feel so happy for them. And other times you see the same couple, and they make you so mad. And all you want is to always feel happy for them because you know that if you do, then it means that you’re happy, too.”
Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
A Valentine’s Day Celebration for Every Kind of Love
TL;DR? Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about romantic relationships, it can extend to loving those around you–including yourself! No matter what your relationship status is, there’s someone out there who could benefit from having a wonderful holiday:
- Platonic Love: Round up your friends for a Galentine’s Day outing.
- Romantic Love: Get personal with your spouse and try something new.
- Self Love: Flip Valentine’s Day into a Treat Yo’ Self Day and do what you love.
Thank you to DIFF Eyewear for partnering with me! Additionally, this blog post and featured shop widgets contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission when purchases are made through the links I provide. Please show your support for the blog and my content by using my links to shop online.
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