By: Nicole Sanchez, Contributing Writer
Being single is not a waste of your time, especially as a college student and young adult finding yourself in the real world. Now is the time to get to know yourself before you decide to settle down. Even though it is much easier said than done to be happy on St. Valentine’s Day when you are single, here are a few ways you can spend the holiday without wallowing in the idea that you are going to be alone forever.
Spend Time with Family and Friends
St. Valentine’s Day is normally spent with a significant other, but it also makes sense to take the day and spend it with other loved ones.
Alexandra Joseph, a junior at Saint Leo University majoring in Criminal Justice, suggests that people who are single this upcoming holiday should focus on other important relationships in their lives.
Whether you get your best friend some chocolates and watch a sappy love movie, or buy your mom a bouquet of flowers, it is important to still celebrate the love that you have—even if it is not romantic love. St. Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to spend the day with the people you cherish the most—you cannot consider yourself lonely if you purposefully surround yourself with love.
Self-Care
If you do not do a face mask or paint your nails as often as you would like to, St. Valentine’s Day is a perfect excuse to practice self-care—as well as a great way to avoid feeling lonely.
It can be easy to constantly distract yourself with things to keep your mind busy, but it is also important to take the time to take care of yourself—especially when you are not in the best spirits.
If you cannot spend time with others because they already have plans, do not feel bad: use that extra time to take care of yourself and enjoy the personal time that you really need.
Treat Yourself
This tip might sound simple or unimportant, but if you take the time to treat yourself with a home-cooked meal or a bowl of your favorite ice cream, there is a good chance you might forget about spending the holiday alone.
Buy all the ingredients for that delicious recipe that you saved on Pinterest forever ago and make it. Share it with your roommates or eat it alone. Either way, taking the time to treat yourself is the best way to spend St. Valentine’s Day. It is easy to forget in the midst of the chaos that you deserve to be spoiled sometimes—why not do it yourself?
Even though these tips and tricks may be helpful, it is also true that others may find these silly when they look at the bigger picture. Do not forget that your sad feelings are valid and it is okay to be upset that you are alone.
It is important to pay attention to how you are feeling this upcoming holiday and do your best to stay uplifted. Reach out to people, communicate, and try to make this Feb. 14th a good day.
