There are two different types of people in this world: those who love Valentine’s Day, and those who absolutely dread it. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, you might be stressing out over finding the perfect Valentine’s date, or simply wishing it could be over as soon as possible. However, if you don’t have a date this Valentine’s Day, that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate it and have a great night. I put together a list of fun ‘Galentine’s Day’ ideas that you could celebrate (no significant other required)!
- Send Yourself (or a friend) Flowers/Candy
Who needs an S.O. (significant other) to send you presents when you have yourself? Or, if you have a group of friends willing to participate, coordinate a type of secret Santa group to send each other flowers! No matter what you decide on, receiving flowers and candy on Valentine’s Day should be something everyone gets to appreciate, not just those in relationships! You may need to look into this before Valentine’s Day, as flowers become high in demand, but you can look into any local florist that fits your needs.
- Go Out to Brunch
Brunch is pretty much the best way to start any day of the week. So, why not make Valentine’s Day perfect by going out to brunch with your friends? You could even spice it up by making it a bottomless brunch if you’re of legal age of course! Toast – Montclair is one of my favorite brunch spots in Montclair. They have a French Toast Latte, what more is there to say? If you’re looking for a bottomless brunch option, try The Ainsworth in Hoboken, NJ! It’s $45 to enjoy bottomless mimosas and a brunch entree with a table time limit of 90 minutes.
- Have a Spa Day
Who can turn down a day of pampering yourself? Literally no one ever. Whether you decide to go to the spa alone or with a group of friends, you deserve to treat yourself this Valentine’s Day. Woodhouse Spa in Montclair has options from facials to massages to treat yourself or bring a group of up to three friends. Spend the day getting pampered with your friends while forgetting about any Valentine’s Day scaries!
- Go to a Workout Class
Workout classes by yourself might seem a little intimidating, so why not go with a group of your friends? At Montclair State University in particular, there are a variety of different group exercise classes from cycling to yoga that all University students can get in for FREE with their student ID. If this doesn’t interest you, you can also look into places off-campus like Orange Theory or local gyms that also offer workout classes. You can also always go on a hot girl walk with friends to destress!
- Go Shopping
I believe any day is perfect if it includes shopping. So, why not include it in any Valentine’s Day activities you may have planned? Montclair has a bunch of different options for you to go shopping. Downtown Montclair has a strip of shops that can offer a variety of items from clothing to food. If you want to treat yourself, check out Let’s Yo – Montclair, which is the only Fro-Yo place left in Montclair, and one of my favorite places ever!
- Go to the Movies
Going to the movies might be becoming a little outdated, but it’s a fun (and somewhat inexpensive) activity that will take up a good chunk of time. Valentine’s Day lands on a Tuesday this year, which makes it perfect to go to the movies for cheap! AMC theaters provide Stub Members ‘Discount Tuesdays” where you can get tickets to any movie for only $5. Not only this, but you can get a small icee and popcorn for just an additional $5, which makes for a perfect movie night!
- Have a Charcuterie Board Night
I had one of these with my friends over winter break, and it was honestly such a fun night. If you’re not sure what this means, @harshitachowdhry on TikTok posted a Charcuterie Board night she had with friends and they showed a bunch of different options. You can choose to make a board for whatever food you like the most too and then try out all of your friends’ favorite foods too.
- Bake & Make Mocktails (or Cocktails)
I absolutely LOVE Valentine’s Day baking. Pillsbury sells the cut-and-bake Valentine’s Hearts cookies that are so aesthetically pleasing on V-Day and absolutely delicious. If you’re more of a homemade baker, here’s a list of different dessert recipes you can bake. While you’re waiting for the treats to bake, why not make yourselves some mocktails (or cocktails) to sip on!
- Go Out on the Town
If you’re feeling up to it by the end of the night, grab your friends and hit the town for the night!
Valentine’s Day is on a Tuesday this year, but my motto is that you can make anything fun if you’re with the right people. If there are any concerts going on near you, go check one out! If not, you could always hit up different restaurants or bars for a fun night out with your girlfriends.
- Take Care of Yourself
No matter what self-care means for you, make sure you practice it this Valentine’s Day. Even if you don’t feel up to spending the day with friends, Valentine’s Day is about love and you should spend it loving yourself. If you decide to spend the day with yourself, do a face mask, order takeout and get some rest!
No matter how you choose to spend your Valentine’s Day, spend the day spreading love to those around you! We’d love to hear how you will be celebrating Valentine’s Day this year! Follow us on Instagram @hcmontclair or TikTok @hercampusmontclair to let us know!