No Bae For V-Day? Be Your Own Valentine Instead!

So Valentine’s Day is coming up, and that can mean one of two things. Either a romantic dinner with a side of cute, corny, gifts from bae; or a carton of Ben & Jerry’s, with a side of reminders that you’re single. Yes, Valentine’s Day or “Single People-Awareness Day,” can be depressing af if you’re rolling solo, but there is a way to turn February 14th into a positive. If you don’t have a Valentine this year, don’t sweat it! Use this Valentines Day to show yourself some love!

Let’s be real, life gets away from us sometimes, and we might not be able to give every inch of our living space the deep cleaning and attention it may need. Take some time to clean your space. I don’t mean the, “he’s coming over in 15 minutes,” clean, I mean really clean..Get rid of those miscellaneous papers on your desk, disinfect the bathroom,  vacuum up the crumbs on the floor, wash your makeup brushes and change your sheets. We all have that one chair our clothes can live on for days, find them a permanent home in your closet or dresser. This is the perfect time to try something new.  If you’ve thought of redecorating or moving some things around, now’s the time to make the leap! (Pro Tip: Sites like Pinterest have cool DIY and room decoration inspo).

In the words of our girl Elle Woods, “Exercise releases endorphins, endorphins make you happy!” She’s not lying! According to WebMD, “regular exercise can reduce stress, anxiety, improve sleep, and boost self-confidence.” The endorphins that are released in the brain, mimic the feelings of morphine and give you what’s known as, “runner’s high.” If you’re feeling down, try hitting the treadmill and doing some crunches. Maybe this will even encourage you to set some new exercise goals!  Plus, who doesn’t love a delicious, protein-packed, post-workout smoothie!

It might be Valentine’s Day, but to the single folk, why not make it another opportunity to turn up! If you and your bestie(s) find yourselves alone for Valentine’s Day, why not enjoy each other’s company and have a good ol’ fashioned GNO! Dress up in your best insta-worthy fits, go out to dinner, and hit the club! A night of shots and shaking what your mama gave ya, can be the perfect antidote to any V-Day blues. Plus, maybe you’ll make a new friend (you aren’t the only single one out there after all *wink*).

From school stress, to dealing with  f*ckboys, some much needed rest and relaxation is needed. A nice, warm, bubble bath, followed by your favorite face mask, can be a very helpful de-stress method. Bubble baths also give you a lot of time for yourself, whether you decide to read, watch a movie, or just chill in silence, bubble baths will always do the trick. Just remember to moisturize!  If you’re looking to spice up your bubble bath sesh, try Lush’s new “Peachy” bath bomb and snag a nice smelling candle or two from Yankee Candle.

We all have times where we need to vent and get things off our chests. While the groupchat, or FaceTime with our squad can be helpful for roasting boys, sometimes we have stuff going on that we don’t want people to know about, and that is perfectly fine. That’s why a journal comes in handy! Whether you use it to track your exercise progress, or need a safe place to spill some more “personal” tea. A journal is your go-to! (Pro Tip: If you don’t want to spend money on an actual diary or prefer typing rather than handwriting, the online diary, Penzu is a fantastic alternative, take it from me).

If you’ve peeped an amazing plant-based recipe on Pinterest or just want to perfect a quick raspberry vinaigrette you saw on “Chopped,” now’s the time to give it a shot! Give all those saved recipes a try in the kitchen, and get cooking, girl! This is the perfect time for trial-and-error and maybe you’ll even discover a “signature dish” you’re comfortable whipping up at the drop of a hat. The ability to show off your cooking skills to friends or family is a pretty awesome bonus too.   

Who said you can only “Netflix & Chill”  with the male species? Yes, I know, we do this pretty regularly alone, but there are ways to jazz up your Netflix Night. Invite over your friends, order a pizza, drink a bottle of wine or three, and have a low-key, fun night watching your favorite TV shows and movies. There’s thousands of movies out there for the perfect Girls Night In. (Personal suggestions: YOU and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch)

You can also show love to yourself, by spending some time “down there,” no judgment!  There is a huge stigma when it comes to women talking about masturbation to the point where there is shame around doing it, but getting in touch with yourself sexually is perfectly normal and healthy! Don’t just take it from me, studies have shown that it can make you happier, help you sleep, relieve period cramps, and help you become more confident during intimate moments with your partners! Yay!

Valentines Day is a time where old feelings and emotions rear their ugly heads, especially thanks to social media, *cough* Instagram. It can definitely be tough and get you down, but don’t be! Things will not always be this way. Remember the first step to loving someone else, is making sure you love yourself. Happy Valentine’s Day! Always remember you’re a queen!  <3

• empowerment
• Female
• friendship
• fun
• self-love
• Valentine's Day