This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at WPUNJ chapter.
Once again the holiday of love is upon us, and no matter which way you look at it (being single or in a relationship), it’s a holiday that causes stress and probably makes you a little depressed. But what’s better, being in a relationship or being single on Valentine’s Day? Being single will probably result in constant complaining about being alone, or seeing couples all lovey-dovey, but being in a relationship doesn’t mean its all sunshine and daisies either. In fact, being in a relationship on Valentine’s Day could but just as depressing, and the results could be devastating.
What Were You Expecting?
Fancy dinner, limo ride through the town, dancing under the stars? Every girl expects this extravagant date with your significant other, and ultimately if it doesn’t live up to what you dreamed, the whole evening is ruined. Let’s face it: not every guy is from a Nicholas Sparks book.
The Season of Giving
Valentine’s Day always seems to be the only holiday where gift giving is either a no-go or a definite must. You generally expect the typical chocolates, roses, maybe even those nice diamond earrings you glanced at. But what is it that you get him? Chocolates, roses and jewelry are probably not what he had in mind, so that’s out of the question. You just end up adding another thing to stress about.
Let’s Eat
Food is a common date night activity, but what exactly do you do? Do you order take out from your favorite Chinese restaurant, or do you go and find that perfect romantic restaurant with the four-course meal? The latter could be a bad idea if you didn’t make reservations in the first place.
Chances are, you’re probably not rolling around in the dough and you’re still recovering from holiday shopping, so this just becomes another unneeded expense. Dinner, movies, gifts… where does it end?
Valentine’s Day has proven to put a massive strain on relationships and ultimately causes unneeded stress because everything becomes just one big let down after the other. The expectations are too high and leave you sweating under the pressure for everything to be perfect.
The end result is that being in a relationship doesn’t necessarily mean that Valentine’s Day is going to be amazing. It could be just as bad as sitting in your bed alone stuffing your face with chips. Having experience with being single and being in a relationship on Valentine’s Day, try and remember it’s just one day out of the year. Surround yourself with people you care about if you are single and do something fun or enjoy a night in watching Netflix. If you have a significant other, don’t let the pressures of V-Day get to you. Try and remember it’s not about the gifts or extravagant dinner; it’s the thought that counts. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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