This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Riverside chapter.
This pandemic has been hard on a lot of people for a lot of different reasons. Not only have the health effects been devastating, but the social isolation has taken a toll on pretty much everybody. People have grown distant from their friends, family members, and partners. So this year, Valentine’s Day is going to feel a little weird. While there are some people who will be having zoom dates or other kinds of socially distant dates, a lot of people will be spending the holiday alone, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
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Valentine’s Day is usually hyper focused on romantic relationships, love, buying gaudy gifts for your significant other, and planning the perfect, extravagant date. It is perfectly understandable to feel especially lonely on a day that is meant to be spent with someone you’re in love with, or with your gal pals for a galentine’s day instead. It is also understandable to feel that you were cheated out of the common experiences you’re supposed to have as a 20-something year old, like casual dating, meeting someone at the college town bar, and dancing with strangers who end up being super cool. But with most of those things being impossible, Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to focus on your relationship with yourself.
Baked by Melissa
I have been in a long term relationship for almost 3 years, and I can’t remember ever celebrating my love for myself on Valentine’s Day. Every year, I’m always preoccupied with making cute DIY gifts, baking or buying heart shaped goodies, or making dinner reservations. This year will definitely be far less extravagant, but that also means I’ll have some time to practice self love. Take the day to reflect on what makes you happy outside of your partner or your friends. Invest in your happiness by buying something that’s been sitting in your online cart for a long time. Buy yourself flowers and make as many chocolate covered strawberries as you can eat. Valentine’s Day is not exclusively for couples, it’s simply a day to celebrate love, and there is no love more important than the one you have for yourself.
