Valentine’s Day is almost here, which basically means seeing every couple’s sappy relationship posts while simultaneously stuffing your face with heart-shaped candy. Being single on Valentine’s Day can be challenging, especially when you just are getting out of a relationship and don’t feel like celebrating a day devoted to love. Here are some tips to help any person out there dealing with their first Valentine’s Day post-breakup:
- Create new traditions with your friends and/or family
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Breaking up with someone after being together with that person for so long can leave you feeling like you don’t know what to do with yourself anymore. It’s hard when you get so used to doing one routine with one person by your side for so long and then all of a sudden everything changes. Instead of dwelling on all the past memories and traditions that you and your ex did together on Valentine’s Day, use the day to make new traditions with friends or family. Maybe have a wine night on Zoom with some friends or make a special dinner with family. Do something that doesn’t remind you of your ex and will allow you to break out of your old routine.
- Use the day to pamper yourself!
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Treat yourself to a day of full relaxation. Some ideas may be watching your favorite movie, buying that gorgeous dress you’ve been eyeing online or even just eating your favorite food. Self-care is important on any occasion, but especially on Valentine’s Day when all you want to do is cry and shut out the world. Don’t sacrifice your self-care just because you are upset about your ex. You are powerful and strong and you deserve a day where you just celebrate yourself and all that you have been through.
- Limit your social media usage
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It can be really tempting to scroll through your feed and look through all the couples posting about their relationship on Valentine’s Day. Suddenly you find yourself with the urge to stalk your ex and it just makes you upset all over again. It’s good to take one day and avoid the doom scrolling. There’s nothing wrong with being in a relationship, but there’s also nothing wrong with being single. It’s okay to miss being in a relationship, but you shouldn’t waste your day looking through your ex’s photos and feeling bad about not being with someone.
- Get rid of all the old memories
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Whether that be the letters that you keep rereading or the photo you can’t seem to stop staring at, just get rid of it. Sometimes as a way of healing, you just need to remove all the things that remind you of your ex. Think of it as a fresh start and a way to fully feel like you’re moving on. If you have any of their old clothes or items, maybe put it in a box and send it back so you never have to see it again. It will make you feel better just knowing that it’s gone, trust me. Let go of the things you don’t need in your life anymore.
- Feel what you need to feel
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If you feel like crying, cry. If you want to binge-watch 30 episodes of One Tree Hill in a day, watch it. You are allowed to feel sad and angry, that’s totally justified and normal. It hurts to lose someone close to you no matter what the circumstance was. When you let yourself feel the grief and the pain, all that’s doing is making you stronger and pushing you to move forward.
It may not seem like it at the moment, but the hurt and pain from your breakup will go away eventually. Just think of Valentine’s Day as a day to celebrate your newfound relationship with yourself. You can still make the day great and memorable by doing the things you love to do and surrounding yourself with people you love.