February 14, not long from now and for those that struggle with coming up with gift ideas, this article is just for you, It’s a good idea to get a gift for your partner, family member or friend based on their love language. Not only does this guarantee that they’ll enjoy your gift but it saves you from the inconvenience of scrambling all over the place only to pick the wrong gift. If you didn’t know what the 5 love languages are, here is a quick breakdown: physical touch, receiving gifts, acts of service, quality time and words of affirmation. Given that it is a pandemic and there are social distancing protocols set in place, it will require more creativity to execute the perfect Valentines day for your person of interest this year.
- Physical Touch
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Undeniably, physical touch will be the love language that will prove to be the most difficult to cater towards this year. Fortunately, every person has 2-3 dominant love languages so you can combine ideas together. Touch bracelets, or distance bracelets are a definite way to stay in touch and a way to feel that your partner is close to you, especially for those in long distance relationships. Explore Etsy and find something that you think both parties would enjoy.
- Words of Affirmation
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Words of affirmation surrounds reassurance, compliments and written expressions of love. The main goal is to create something that your partner can look back to and read. Some things that you can buy that are guaranteed to make anyone happy and are interactive as well, include a compliment calendar in which you can leave little, genuine compliments, moments or pictures. Remembering to post your significant other is a subtle way to make them feel special, perhaps include a song in the background or an inside joke. ‘Open When’ letters in a gift box with some chocolate or mementos will be sure to brighten up their day long past the occasion. ‘Things I Love About You’ on popsicle sticks and put into a personalized jar, your voice in a plush toy or you can create a presentation and present it to one another through Zoom or in real life.
- Receiving Gifts
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Receiving gifts is a universally loved love language, specifically on special occasions. If your partner is unsure of what they would like or hesitant to let you gift them anything (this is especially useful if you’re shopping for a man), ask them to create a wishlist on Amazon and look through it for ideas. You can get a personalized album cover from a local Instagram small business or Etsy with a picture of you and your partner, a personalized phone case with a picture, and if you are still stuck as to what to buy for boys, tracksuits, socks, cologne and cookies you baked yourself are always a classic and a great hit.
- Acts of Service
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Acts of service in very simplistic terms, is just making your person’s life a little bit easier – almost as if helping them with errands. You can opt to organize their closet, clean out their car, organize a spa day, order food and create a personalized playlist for them for studying or working out. Renovating their room and redecorating together is also a fun way to bond.
- Quality Time
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Quality time is all about spending time together and creating moments and experiences with one another. That being said, in an ideal COVID-ridden world, you and your partner would try to remain off your phones but some activities this year, may need to be done through FaceTime. You can participate in your partners favourite activities or interests for example: play video games together, do a paint-by-numbers kit together, cook a meal or bake together, buy a box set of questions to ask couples and go through them together along with a movie night. Having a nice dinner together and playing some of your favourite music together is also the perfect way to wrap up the night.
Whether you choose to get these gifts or do these activities with a friend or significant other, remember to maintain social distancing rules, personalize it and most of all, have fun with it! Make it your own and make it memorable for the both of you!