Valentine’s Day is one of the holidays that never seems to go as well as you hoped. If you’re single, you are probably dreading pretending you are happy celebrating Galentine’s Day with your gal pals while being bombarded with social media posts of couples in love. Meanwhile, people in relationship are just as likely to be let down. While you might be excited at the prospect of a romantic night with your SO, chances are slim the night can live up to your expectations. But, if you opt out of the typical festivities of love, you could end up having a night much more fun and memorable. Being single doesn’t mean you need to spend the night alone and being in a relationship doesn’t mean you need to spend the night together.
Here’s what you can do instead:
Related: 6 Ways to Have Better Sex this Valentine’s Day
Eat junk food
There’s no need to pretend your idea of the perfect meal is oysters because it is on the set menu for the night. Erica Galluscio, a Hunter College student of the class of 2019 says, “If you wanna be low key this year, or if you’re going out with someone you’re not really DATING yet, then grab something cheap and fun like Crif Dogs or Atomic Wings.” Going to a drive-through instead of having a fine-dining experience will set a more relaxed tone for the night and really allow you to enjoy the company of your SO. Your date – and wallet – will also be thankful for the cheaper menu and casual dress-code, which will help alleviate any financial pressure from the night.
Go stargazing
While it may still be a tad cheesy, going stargazing is an often forgotten way to spend a romantic night. If you live in a big city, take a trip to the planetarium and learn about the lights in the sky. Or, if you live somewhere with dark and clear enough skies to see the stars laying out in the grass, find any nice and relaxing place. You can still get some information about stars regardless of where you are through stargazing apps, and in doing so will come to share with your SO the inevitable moment of realizing how small we are compared to the world. After hearing all about the vast spread of the universe, any issues in your night or relationship will start to seem a lot less important.
Skip the date
Even if you are in a relationship, you don’t need to spend the day with your SO. Not all relationships, especially those on the newer side, are ready for the pressure that Valentine’s entails. Amy Galland, founder of Plume and FlirtyQWERTY, explains that in a new or unofficial relationship, “the best idea is to celebrate yourself and spend the day alone or with friends, create your own rituals, and don’t put any unnecessary pressure on a relationship (new, committed, non-committed, or otherwise).” Watch your favorite rom coms, dress head to toe in red and pink or try out some Valentine’s themed Pinterest recipes; do anything fun and relaxing. Celebrate love without the concern of falling in love.
Explore nature
Taking a risk and exploring an exciting new area in your college town is a fun and adventurous way to make memories of Valentine’s Day you can cherish forever. Go to an outdoor skating rink and try to keep each other from falling or wander a new hiking path leading to a gorgeous waterfall. Instead of using Valentine’s to examine the state of your relationship, going on an outdoor journey will give you an exciting way to keep building its foundation and enjoying each other’s company.
Get creative
Being far away from your Valentine doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate if you want to. Galland notes, “When the person you care about is not nearby, it gives you the opportunity to be creative. Write them a poem, draw a picture, record a song, make a video and send it to them. I treasure the limericks, haiku, songs and drawings I received over the years so much more than the jewelry and fancy dinners.” Making something meaningful will make the day special regardless of where you spend it. Don’t worry if you aren’t an aspiring poet or painter; it’s the thought that counts and your SO will be able to see how much you care regardless of how it turns out.
Regardless of how you choose to spend the day, make sure not stress over it too much. There’s nothing wrong with being a little cliché, but trying something unexpected will take away the belief that the night needs to go a certain way. Galland says, “Know that you are amazing and Valentine’s Day exists to sell products, not to confirm someone else’s feelings about you and in turn validate yourself. Because you are fantastic sitting on the sofa with a bottle of wine and a tub of ice cream.” If you relax and get original this Valentine’s, you can have a great night instead of being disappointed by expectations for the night that never really made sense anyway.