It’s that time of the year again! Everything is red and pink themed, and store shelves are stocked with love-themed stuffed animals and oversized boxes of chocolate. Love is definitely in the air during the month of February, and we anxiously await the day of the fourteenth to either celebrate in the name love or curse the name of love. The truth is, it doesn’t matter if you are single or in a relationship—you can still have a great Valentines Day if you do it right. It’s easy to come up with ways to make Valentines Day a holiday to remember, but have you ever wondered about the things people do to make Valentines Day not-so-sweet? I have listed below a handful of actions to avoid doing this Valentine’s Day, for both the single and taken, so that it can be a great day.
Stop obsessing over the fact that you don’t have a valentine/boyfriend/significant other. You are really just adding salt to the wound by doing this. Society puts so much pressure on the Valentine’s Day holiday being about having a Valentine, when in reality, it is one day. Twenty-four hours. If you have gone every other day being single, you can get through this one. You don’t need a lover to celebrate Valentines Day, in fact, be your own Valentine and treat yourself to some pretty flowers, a mani/pedi, or a big bag of Godiva. Who better to love than yourself?
Do not downplay Valentine’s Day to your guy when it’s actually something that you would like to participate in. I’ve heard of girls telling their boyfriends that, “They don’t really care about celebrating Valentine’s Day” (just to sound down-to-earth) when in reality, you want the whole sha-bang. Let me let you in on a little secret, if he thinks you don’t want to celebrate then he actually will take you up on that. Not because they are careless, but because they are simple-minded and don’t see through your antics.
Keep your bank account afloat during this holiday, there is no need to go broke for your valentine. Valentine’s Day is mainly a commercial holiday, meaning that there is an ongoing notion to buy buy buy! To avoid this, you can opt for baking or cooking for your valentine, or some thoughtful crafting to avoid pricey store-bought gifts.
Avoid any acts or gifts that may cause any kind of embarrassment for your valentine. I know what you’re thinking…”duh!” –however, you would be surprised how often guys find themselves in an awkward valentines situation. Refrain from being mushy, needy, and verbal with him in front of his friends. Just because it’s Valentines Day doesn’t mean you have to magnify your affection. In addition to not being excessively affectionate, I would suggest not covering his bedroom with festive stuffed animals while he is in class, or making him wear an “I love my girlfriend” t-shirt.
Driving yourself crazy over your ex on Valentine’s Day is off-limits, ladies! This includes stalking and/or being the crazy ghost of girlfriends past. He might’ve broken your heart recently, but don’t let him break your spirit on a day that is meant for loving. Coming off as bitter or desperate is never a good thing—just ask Taylor Swift. And don’t even think about texting him. Seriously.
If you don’t have any V-day plans, refrain from staying at home alone and sulking all night! Grab some of your fellow plans-less ladies and hit the town for some dinner and a couple drinks! I have reason to believe that there are some pretty decent drink specials around town on Valentine’s Day. You can still celebrate in the name of love; friends make the best company and chances are, it’ll be hard to top a night out with your besties.