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Surviving Valentine’s Day When You’re Single

By Kirsten Silven
Published on: 15:35 PST, Jan 24, 2016

Valentine’s Day might be the only day of the year that’s set aside to honor the idea of love and romance, but that inevitably leaves everyone else feeling a bit left out, which can be pretty depressing, to say the least. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for those who are currently unattached to do more than just get through V-Day and maybe even – gasp – actually enjoy it. A little bit, anyway.

According to Look.co.uk, one way to thrive and not just survive this Valentine’s Day is to schedule some way to pamper yourself. Whether that’s a day at the spa or a teensy shopping binge to indulge in some of the season’s hottest new products, a bit of luxury can go a long way in staving off a looming case of the blues.

Of course, a relaxing night at home that involves a bubble bath, face mask and comfy PJs is never a bad idea either, especially at a time when virtually any outing will include sightings of happy couples doing whatever it is they do. Throw in the comfort of Netflix, along with some mouth-watering takeout, some decadent dessert, and voila! Welcome to the perfect night in.

Hint: If you’ve recently been through a breakup or are just feeling particularly angry, consider watching a classic slasher film – a bit of (fake) senseless violence could be exactly what your jaded heart needs!

Another option involves the exact opposite approach: Adopt a “take the bull by the horns” mentality and head out to be single and mingle. Chances are, you won’t be the only one looking for a suitable distraction to forget about the overload of love and romance Valentine’s Day inevitably brings to the marketing table. Up the ante even more by inviting all of your single friends and make it a night to really remember.

Bustle also has some ultra-fab advice for anyone who finds themselves single on Valentine’s Day, designed to put an end to the dread that inevitably creeps up as the big day approaches.

“You’re surrounded by advertisements selling you products featuring obnoxiously happy couples basically from Jan. 1 to the day itself, so there’s no way to escape the PDA.”

For one thing, those flying solo on V-Day can use the time to celebrate all love instead of just romantic love, Bustle suggests. This might seem cheesy, but just think about it for a minute: What kind of love has lasted the longest in your life? Whether it’s your parent(s), a sibling, a best friend or relative, chances are you’ve experienced more than one long-term “love” that’s not of the amorous kind.

“Instead of hating on V-Day and not-so-secretly seething about all of those couples around you, why not take matters into your own hands and turn Valentine’s Day into a day to show the people in your life that you love them, even if they’re not your significant other?”

On the other end of the spectrum, you can embrace any negative feelings that Valentine’s Day brings up by spending some quality time deleting social media posts from view that include sick-inducing couples selfies or memes about romance that make you want to hurl.

Fact: Some people who are currently in a happy relationship can also find enjoyment in this simple act of protest on Valentine’s Day.

If all of that sounds a bit too negative, or health and wellness was on your New Year’s agenda for 2016, consider planning a fun, fitness-related activity, such as a relaxing yoga class or ultra-tough workout class you wouldn’t normally try to do. There’s nothing quite like an endorphin rush, coupled with a feeling of increased strength after a day of strenuous activity, to dispel stress.

[Photo by: Shutterstock]

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