1. Have a movie night with friends
Just because you may not have that special someone in your life, doesn’t mean you have to spend Valentine’s Day alone! Gather a group of six or less friends for some good company and watch a movie together –– make sure you’re abiding by safety guidelines, though. On a day like Valentine’s Day, you definitely want a feel-good film. Here are some of my personal favorites — “When Harry Met Sally,” “Valentine’s Day,” “She’s The Man,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Pretty Woman.”
2. Plan for a lunch or dinner with friends or family
You don’t have to be going on a date night with a significant other to feel special — our friends and family provide us the same comfort. They bring us happiness, make us feel loved and support us throughout our lives. If you want to be with someone who makes you feel loved and valued on Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to a meal with a good friend or family member. We all have a favorite lunch spot or dinner restaurant, so grab a friend, brother, sister, mom, dad or anyone significant person in your life who makes you feel special and enjoy each other’s company with a relaxing take-out or safe dine-in experience.
3. Write a letter to your future self to open next year on Valentine’s Day
Maybe you are feeling down, lonely or sad this year on Valentine’s Day and that’s okay — you are certainly not alone. If you are feeling these emotions, put yourself first this year on Valentine’s Day and take the time to reflect on your individual self-love, independence and confidence. Learning to love yourself, be independent and reach a level of healthy confidence can lead you to new discoveries and experiences in your life that will help you to grow and develop as a person. As you reflect on these things, write a letter to your future self to open next year on Valentine’s Day outlining your goals for personal transformation and growth throughout the upcoming year. For instance, imagine it’s Feb. 14, 2022 — what, specifically, do you hope to be feeling? What goals do you wish to have accomplished for yourself? Amy Blaschka, a writer for Forbes magazine, offered a few tips when writing a future letter to ourselves. She urges us to make the letter aspirational, specific and positive.
4. Take a virtual class
Maybe you have a niche for cooking, you're inspired by music or have a creative side. If you’re spending Valentine’s Day alone this year, then hop online and take a virtual class. For $15 a month with a 30-day back guarantee, you can take a Masterclass course on particular disciplines including design and style, arts and entertainment, writing, cooking, business and many more with featured experts including Gordon Ramsey, Alicia Keys and Annie Leibovitz. And if that commitment is a little too daunting, Masterclass Live courses are available for free to stream any time on their website. Cool, right? In addition to Masterclass, there are many other online platforms such as CreativeLive, Udemy or Sur La Table that offer a variety of different types of online classes. This year on Valentine’s Day, take the time to learn about something new or practice something you already love.
5. Get chocolate or treats for a special someone
When it comes to Valentine’s Day sweets, there are a lot of options on the market. We all have a special someone and that special someone can be your best friend, a family member or even a pet. Venture out to any supermarket and grab some of your favorite Valentine’s treats for whomever your special someone may be. My personal favorites include Godiva chocolate strawberries, Dove chocolates, Nestle Crunch hearts, Hershey’s Kisses, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Starbucks Puppuccinos.
6. Do something outdoors
Do you love being outdoors? Does being in nature make you happy? Spending Valentine’s Day single does not have to be sad or lonely — make it uplifting! Wherever you are, set aside time in your day to venture outside, breathe in some fresh air and do something in the outdoors. Whether it is going on a hike, going to a park, riding a bike around your neighborhood or taking a stroll in a city, being outdoors is one of the best ways to improve and benefit your health and happiness. Make a plan to do one of these activities on Valentine’s Day — I promise, it will make you feel better.
7. Cook a meal for yourself
If you’re a foodie like I am, the idea of cooking one of your favorite meals in the company of good friends on Valentine’s Day might sound particularly appealing to you, too. Set the table, fill your kitchen with the aroma of fresh, delicious food, light some candles and eat a great meal in the comfort of your own home. If you need some inspiration and love literally any type of meal that includes the word pasta, like myself, try Gigi Hadid’s spicy vodka pasta recipe — no matter how cliche it may be. Trust me, you’ll be so busy thinking about how good it is, you’ll forget all about the fact that a significant other isn't sitting across the table from you.
8. Have a spa night and treat yourself to a bath
Now, you can’t deny the fact that a steamy — but not too hot — bath with bubbles and a little face mask action sounds relaxing and just simply delightful. Winding down the night of Valentine’s Day with classic spa routines and remedies will relax your body and mind. Imagine getting out of the bath, wrapping yourself up in warm, fluffy blankets, coating your face with a hydration mask and cuddling up in bed. What could be better than that?
9. Read one of your favorite books
Most of us have that one book that we simply love, brings us joy and keeps us wanting to turn the page. This year on Valentine’s Day, pick up your favorite book from your bookshelf, download it on a Kindle or go to the closest bookstore and purchase it and designate Valentine’s Day to read it. There’s something about reading a novel, especially one that we love, that brings us company and makes us feel as though we are living through the eyes of the main character or people in the story. If you find yourself feeling lonely on Valentine’s Day, reading your favorite book will hopefully change that — I know it does for me.
10. Have a game night
Who doesn’t love games? This Valentine’s Day, grab your roommates, bring together your family members or plan a fun online Zoom meeting with friends for a communal game night. Vote on your favorite games and spend a few hours having a game marathon, switching from game to game to change up the pace throughout the night. I actually did this the other night with a small group of my roommates and we had an absolute blast with the night ending in laughter, smiles and genuine fun. I don’t know about you, but this sounds like a perfect cure to the sadness or loneliness you may be feeling on Valentine’s Day.
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