No matter if you’re single, casually dating, or in it for the long haul, Valentine’s Day is stressful. If you’re single, you spend the entire day realizing just howsingle you are. If you’re dating, you’re writing and rewriting a text to your new boy, asking if he’ll be your valentine. And if you’re in a relationship, your boyfriend might give you three roses short of a dozen, forcing you to spend the rest of the night wondering what happened to those missing flowers (true story). Every one of those situations is a serious let down. So why not make this year’s Valentine’s Day disappointment-free? Set that as your goal and take action with the tips below:
You’re single, and love sucks
It looks like everyone around you is pairing off except for you. It feels like you’re excluded from the Valentine’s Day festivities due to your relationship status. I say, celebrate it anyway! This year, ask a close (and single) girlfriend to be your valentine. It sounds cheesy, but imagine if she were asking you. It would brighten your day, right? Right. The two of you can have a girls’ dinner or coffee-date, so neither of you has to actually bealone. But make sure to enjoy each other and not just complain about boys all night.
You’ve just been dumped, and love hurts
If the wounds are fresh, Valentine’s Day is tough. Make it your first priority to stay active and busy (and avoid the Haagen-Dazs). See your friends but don’t talk about your ex. Also, do not stalk your ex’s Facebook profile to see if he has a new valentine. Remember that this is just oneday of the year, and when you do find a better guy, you’re not going to miss this Valentine’s Day one bit.
You’re dating, and love is uncertain
If you have to wonder whether you’re a couple, it’s probably because you aren’t yet. And Valentine’s Day is notthe time to define the relationship. Play it cool and let him make the first move. If he’s being awkward and avoiding you like the plague, it could either be because he’s not serious or because he’s shy. Use your best judgment. If you think he’s just nervous, send him a text to say hi and ask him if he wants to hang out this weekend.Either he’ll take the bait and you’ll have a date for Valentine’s Day, or he won’t and you’ll have a date for the weekend.
You’re in a relationship, and love is wonderful
You’ve been together long enough to know that you’re committed, so Valentine’s Day seems like it was made just for the two of you! As much as you love your guy, don’t expect him to be Prince Charming. Chances are he doesn’t really know what he should do about the holiday. To avoid something along the lines of the 3-rose-short conundrum that I mentioned earlier, focus on your relationshipand not on the gifts he may or may not get you. One way to lower the pressure is to agree not to exchange big gifts, and instead, put all your efforts into writing a nice card. Chocolates are yummy, flowers are pretty, and jewelry is… well… jewelry, but at least for me, a thoughtful note on a card reallymakes me feel loved.
I wish you all a happy Valentine’s Day that’s as stress-free as possible. And even if your day does turn out wrong, you know what comes right after Valentine’s Day? February 15th.