For some, the mere thought of Valentine's Day can put them into panic mode. Although now it's often considered just a commercial holiday, so to speak, in which greeting card companies, florists, and chocolatiers charge far more than usual, it still doesn't stop some people from re-examining their relationship status. It's not always easy to be single on a day that celebrates romantic love.
"Valentine’s Day is approaching and whether we are in a relationship or not, this holiday is designed to remind us about love," Clarissa Silva, Behavioral Scientist and Relationship Coach, tells Bustle. "Love is not just an emotion, it’s an ability. Celebrate you and that you have the ability to love. After all finding the right one is the hardest decision you make in your life. What other decision takes decades to get right?"
But while romantic love is great, as Silva points out, it's not the only love out there. Love for friends and family, as well as love for yourself, is just as paramount, if not more so, as romantic love.
So if you're single, why not celebrate you and that amazing ability you have to love. Love, in all its forms, is worth celebrating. Here are seven ways to celebrate yourself this Valentine's Day.
1Celebrate Galentine's Day
If you're single and you have a bunch of single friends, then Galentine's Day is always a great option. You're not just celebrating yourself and your friends, but the love you have for each other.
"Plan an evening with your single friends and spend the holiday doing something you all enjoy," says Silva.
2Focus On All The Great Things In Your Life
Look around at all you have in your life. Look at your friends, your family, your career, your support network. You have lots to be really grateful for and lots of things to focus on that are positive and leading you in the right direction. If it helps, start a gratitude journal to help keep perspective.
3Indulge In Something You Love
Not that you really need any reason to spoil yourself, but in case you do, Silva suggests making it all about you and totally indulging in things you love. You don't have to be in a relationship to go out or to buy sexy lingerie. You also don't need to wait for someone to buy you flowers or someone to give you expensive chocolate and tell you how awesome you are — you can do all that on your own very easily.
4Buy A New Sex Toy
"If you're not in a relationship, you can practice by sharing a special gift with yourself, as loving yourself is super important," Rob Alex, who created Sexy Challenges and Mission Date Night with his wife, tells Bustle.
You sure as hell don't need to be in a relationship on Valentine's Day to not just have a reason to buy a new sex toy, but enjoy a plethora of toe-curling orgasms. Yes, you'll find that many sex toy shops will be offering discounts on couples toys — Babeland is already offering 15 percent off couples toys for Valentine's Day — but most of these be used solo (so you can get the discount, too), so any sex toy is an investment.
5Flirt
Valentine's Day all about you and loving yourself, and if you feel like flirting, then by all means go for it. It's worth pointing out that Valentine's Day is a big day for online dating. Although January 7, according to Plenty of Fish, was the biggest day of the year for online dating, other research has shown that "peak season" extends through January right up to V-Day. So, if flirting on Valentine's Day is what you want to do, then it's a perfect time to do so.
6Make Yourself A Fancy Dinner
With the ridiculous prices at restaurants on Valentine's Day, taking yourself out to a fancy dinner may not be worth it. Instead, try making a recipe you've always wanted to try — or order your favorite takeout meal — and breakout the champagne.
7Just Ignore It
This year Valentine's Day falls on a Wednesday — not exactly a day of the week where people go all out, even those in relationships. So if you're not feeling the love this Valentine's Day, why not just ignore it? You can come home from work, put on your favorite jammies, order a whole pizza that you don't have to share, and have yourself fun time rolling solo.
Valentine's Day can be romantic, but romance doesn't always have to be about love. Romance, in the literary sense of the word, is just as wonderful an experience. So if you're single this Valentine's Day, don't sweat it! You have options — you always have jammies and pizza — so no matter what you choose, you'll have a fine time for yourself.
