George
This Valentine's Day will be my second year in a row single, and it is by choice for the first time in my life. The past year I have been travelling, working on my business and moving house. All this has left very little time for dating. Still, I want to celebrate Valentines' Day and show myself some love, so I thought I would share a couple of ideas with you. Whether you are single by choice like myself this year, or you have just been unlucky in finding that special someone in time for Valentines' Day (trust me, I know there are limited options out there) then I have a few ways you can experience the love of Valentines Day in a solo fashion.
Self-Care Night
My first suggestion is a self-care evening, but the sky is the limit, so feel free to make it a whole day if you want to. Self-care is a personal practice based on how you accept and receive love, so what I view as self-care may be different to you. Therefore, it is important to take my suggestions and tailor them to yourself and your own needs. Firstly, start the evening by journaling on all of your thoughts and feelings so that your head is clear. If you need journal prompts, you can find these online in seconds. Next, do some form of exercise to truly switch off and begin to relax. My exercise of choice is running or the gym, but this could be a cycle or dance class for you. After this, arrive home and make a fruit tea, or a different relaxing drink. After you have had a couple of sips of tea, begin to run a bath. Make sure you put bath bombs or salts in the bath. I also recommend lighting a candle, as we want to romanticise the bath experience. Whilst the bath is running, prepare your dinner for the night. I would normally have a nice hearty meal, like a lasagna. During the bath, I recommend a hair mask and face mask; plus a foot mask if you are a runner like me or work on your feet a lot. Alternatively, you could listen to music, read a book or collect your thoughts whilst you bathe. After you finish bathing, I recommend changing into something that makes you feel cute; I normally pick a pair of pyjamas. You can then get cosy in the living room with your dinner and a comfort show. I appreciate that this is a very simple evening, with nothing lavish happening, but I do firmly believe in keeping it simple and intimate with yourself to show yourself the love that you need.
Solo Evening Out
I appreciate not everyone lives alone or likes spending time in their house, so I have a going-out version of the above too. To start the night, go to a big supermarket near you. Have a leisurely walk around and take a few deep breaths. Then go to your favorite sections and treat yourself to something. For me, this would be a candle or item of clothing. Take time in considering your treat, to show yourself the love and attention that you deserve. After this, go to the cinema and pick a movie that you fancy watching. Make sure to treat yourself to a nice beverage and cinema food for your movie too. I find cinema nachos a massive treat, so would normally order them at this point. Post cinema, drive to a coffee drive-through and order a hot chocolate (of course with cream, marshmallows and the full works) to take home with you. You can then get home and enjoy your hot chocolate with a nice book to finish off your evening of self-love.
My point is, you can show yourself the love that you would show a partner. You can still have an outlet for that love and still be made to feel special even when you are single. Yeah, it sucks seeing cute couples everywhere when that is all you want to be a part of, but it is best to stay single until someone can show you the love that you can show yourself. I hope you can use the above to show yourself some love this Valentine's Day, as you deserve it.
