Love is in the air, more so around this time of year, it would seem. Maybe you’re a college gal finding yourself in the same situation as last year: single with no one to mingle with. Now here comes the familiar feeling of longing for a partner to share with this day of love, cuddling, and too much chocolate. Personally, as a girl who is very used to not being in a relationship, it annoys me to hear or see my fellow fabulous ladies become distraught over the single life and plant themselves in a day of endless self-deprecation, ice cream, and envy toward happy couples.
Put away the half-gallon of ice cream you’ve been saving up for this day, I’m about to tell you how to be single on Valentine’s Day and be damn amazing at it! You don’t need a significant other to help you have fun!
Get assignments out of the way in advanced.
You don’t want that eight-page history paper hanging over your head, impeding all the fun you’re about to have! Finish up your studies and assignments for the week, especially the urgent ones so you’ll have enough time to happily spend this day as deserved.
Enjoy a little bit of alone time.
A small amount of alone time is beneficial for pretty much everyone – whether you’re in a relationship or not. Take this time to reflect on all the awesome things in your life worth loving, as well as everything you love about yourself, including why you’re so freaking awesome!
Do makeup with your girl friends.
Invite your gal pals over and try out pretty makeup tutorials from YouTube. Everyone can bring all the makeup they’ve ever hoarded (don’t be shy about your collection!). You can even try the blind makeup challenge where your “makeup artist” attempts to make your face look quite memorable while blindfolded! This will be a giggle-inducing experience.
Make adorable Valentine’s Day nail designs.
If you’re a nail art fanatic (like I am), then it’s probably a given that you’re going to paint your nails for Valentine’s Day. If you aren’t, try it out! Have fun using pinks and reds – traditional colors for V-day – in different designs. It’s time to let out your inner artist!
Plan a group hangout.
Do something with your group of friends (yes, dudes can totally be invited!) Maybe you guys want to go to the movies or a fancy restaurant and be each others’ ‘dates’ – everything is better with the company of friends! The only rule is that everyone has to have fun!
Explore the city.
This can be an idea for your group hang out. The LIRR is right here on campus, so you can get to the city fairly easily. Explore the adorable cafes, bakeries, and museums the city has to offer. Use this as an opportunity to go somewhere you’ve never been before, and feel free to use the entire day – you don’t have that eight-page paper to worry about!
Forget romance movies – be adventurous!
Some find solace in drowning their sorrows in countless movies of unrequited love and romantic angst. You know there are other movie genres, right? It doesn’t have to be Halloween for you to watch a horror movie. Maybe you’ll delight in watching a comedy or an action film. Aim to take the cinematic road less traveled.
Become a master chef.
Show off your insane cooking skills (or acquire some) by making delicious dishes that the hands of Anne Burrell could make – with her eyes closed. This is also a cool group activity you could do with your friends. You don’t have to punish yourself by settling for the food from the dining hall that everyone complains about. You control the menu tonight!
Become a pro baker.
Let out your inner Candace Nelson or Florian Bellanger! Again, if you aren’t already good with baked goods, this is a great chance for you to learn. Plus, there are so many adorable Valentine’s Day themed goodies you can bake! From pink sugar cookies to chocolate cupcakes with red icing – there’s always something online to inspire you. If you do falter, well, at least you still have the can of frosting, right?
Document your fun on Instagram and Snapchat.
While your feeds may be full of pics taken by couples making out or having a grand old time together, show everyone how much fun you had without a significant other! Don’t be shy about posting your master chef-level chicken parmesan, or your…interesting…makeup look that was supposed to be exactly like Michelle Phan’s!
Whether you’ve got someone to cuddle with or not, I hope you all enjoy these ideas and have an awesome Valentine’s Day!