By Kendal Furman, Assistant EIC
As the Christmas tree comes down and the New Year’s enthusiasm begins to settle, the ceremonial arrangement of Valentine’s Day decorum makes its inevitable return. The shame of being single seems as inescapable as the plush teddy bears and crappy chocolates which take over convenience store shelves. You begin to conjure up ideas of how to spend the dreaded 14th of February alone, all of which ultimately seem lame and uninspiring. Eventually, you decide to do nothing, opting instead to drown your sorrows in a tub of ice cream or an especially difficult assignment (pick your poison). Don’t worry, I’ve been there too.
Even for those thanking their lucky stars that they aren’t tied up in a relationship (or worse, a messy situationship) this February, Valentine’s Day can still be a painful reminder of what could have been. But, it doesn’t have to be.
Instead, I’m proposing a Valentine’s Day rebrand.
Gone are the days of feeling worthless just because you don’t have some crusty guy to buy you flowers and write you a half-assed card (for those of you with kind, attentive boyfriends: this message is NOT for you). Rather, Valentine’s Day should be a celebration of all types of love–most importantly, self-love. I propose that we single ladies start taking this opportunity to celebrate the loving relationships we do have in our lives and to treat ourselves! After all, why should we have to wait for a man to make us feel spoiled?
So, in honor of the newly reinvented February 14th, I have compiled a list of ideas for how to spend Valentine’s Day alone. Whether you’re the type of girl who loves to dress up or who lives for movie nights in bed, this list will hopefully help inspire you to indulge yourself this Cupid’s Day. The sky’s the limit!
- Buy yourself the goddamn flowers
A beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers always brightens up my space and puts a smile on my face! Pro tip: Whole Foods has some great deals on flowers and they’ll happily make you a custom bouquet for free with any flower purchase.
- Why not add in some champagne and sweet treats too?
It’s not Valentine’s Day without some chocolates and bubbly…right? Even if champagne isn’t your drink of choice, now is the time to indulge all of your guilty pleasures! So, pick up an extra pint of ice cream on your way home from class. I promise you won’t regret it.
- Knock off something from your wishlist
If you’re anything like me, you ruminate and wait on things before you buy them. If you have a purchase you’ve been dying to make but have been putting off for quite some time, now might be the perfect occasion for you to finally take the next step!
- Paint your nails (or get them done at the salon)
It’s no secret that a fresh set of nails makes you feel like a new person. So, why not pamper yourself a little extra and go get a cute new set for Cupid’s Day? Bonus points if they’re pink, red, or have hearts!
- Order yourself dinner from your favorite restaurant
If you have a comfort meal that makes you feel giddy just thinking about it, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to go all out. Order yourself that appetizer you’ve always wanted to try or stick with the classics–either way, you can’t go wrong.
- Or, get dressed up and go out to dinner alone
I love putting on a beautiful dress, doing my hair and makeup, and going out! It makes me feel confident and it allows me to see more of this beautiful city. If that sounds exciting to you, try going out to dinner alone this Valentine’s Day! Eating alone helps you to improve your self-esteem and get to know yourself better. Pro tip: bring a book with you if you’re worried about where to direct your attention. Plus, it will make you look mysterious to passersby!
- Try out a new recipe
If you love to cook or bake, why not take this opportunity to test out a new recipe in the kitchen? Bake heart-shaped cookies or make some delicious vodka rigatoni and devour it on the couch once you’ve finished. What could possibly be better than that?
- Take a bath and relax with a face mask
If you’ve got a bath bomb or face mask that you’ve been holding out on using, it’s time to break those bad boys open and put ‘em to good use. A bath is one of the most luxurious and relaxing ways to spend your evening, especially if you light a few candles and put on some music–a perfect activity for this V-Day.
- Take yourself out to a movie
Dying to see Sydney Sweeney’s newest RomCom Anyone But You? Valentine’s Day might be the perfect time for you to treat yourself to a movie night at Georgetown’s AMC Theatre–buttery popcorn and all.
- Or, snuggle up for a movie night in bed
If going out on the town seems like too much work for you, try snuggling up in bed to binge your favorite guilty-pleasure movie. The Twilight series? The Hunger Games? The world is your oyster. I know I’ll be spending the evening watching one too many ’90s rom-coms.
- Host a singles-only or ‘galentines’ party
If you’re not the only single lady (or person) in your friend group this Cupid’s Day, consider getting everyone together for a night of fun! You could do a cake decorating workshop, watch your favorite Chick Flick, or paint with your besties while you spill tea. The options are limitless!
- Go to a bar and meet other singles
Take the ‘galentines’ party one step further and head out to a bar (alone or with your friends) for a drink or two on Valentine’s evening. You may even run into a new beau if you’re lucky…
- Plan a date night with your bestie!
If you’re looking for a partner to head out to dinner or a bar with you this V-Day, look no further than your bestie! As I mentioned earlier, I strongly believe that Valentine’s Day should serve as a celebration of all forms of love, and best friends are of course included! Take this time to invest in your friendships and tell your loved ones how much they mean to you–I promise they’ll appreciate it.
- Read your favorite book
Maybe you’re just looking to spend a quiet night in–nothing wrong with that! Take this opportunity to pick up where you left off on your latest read. There’s nothing more exciting than a good book paired with some peace and quiet!
- Catch up on some beauty sleep
Lastly, if none of the aforementioned activities sound fun to you, maybe Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for you to catch up on some much-needed sleep. Who couldn’t use a solid 10 hours every now and again, right?
