Valentine’s Day has been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I was that kid who went around my elementary school classroom handing out High School Musical themed Valentine’s Day cards (that I individually signed) and candy to all of my classmates. Years later, I still love Valentine’s Day, and while I am no longer running around handing out quirky cards I still try to make the day as fun and full of love as possible.
This year, as we are still in the midst of a global pandemic, Valentine’s Day will surely look a lot different. I for one will be returning to campus right before Valentine’s, meaning I will be in the beginning of my in-room quarantine period (aka…alone on Valentine’s). While it is sad to think that I cannot be with my loved ones physically on that day, I have started thinking up some ideas for what a quarantine valentine can look like.
With friends….
In past years, my friends and I have celebrated Galentines Day, which is essentially celebrating Valentine’s Day not with a significant other (SO), but with your girlfriends instead. Galentine’s is one of my favorite events of the year because it’s an excuse for my friends and I to spend time together featuring lots of junk food and great conversations. This year, I am unsure if any Galentine’s Day plans will happen for me, but I really encourage you to grab some friends and spend the day loving on and supporting each other. Some possible plans can be throwing a virtual movie night, having virtual dinner, or going on a socially distanced (w masks!!) park date (…if the weather permits).
With a SO….
If you do have a SO and you don’t think you will be able to spend time in person on Valentine’s, do NOT worry! Whether this is your first, second, or third Valentine’s together, think about this as a memorable experience and take the opportunity to celebrate the day in a way you never thought to before. A virtual dinner date, movie night, and a real-time gift exchange are all great ways to spend time together on this special day. While it may be really difficult to not be able to see each other, remember that this pandemic is not forever and you will find another time to celebrate!
With yourself….
If you will also be quarantined on Valentine’s like me, you may be upset at the thought of spending the day alone in your room. I know I was. When I first realized I would be alone on Valentine’s I felt really sad for many reasons. I would not be able to see my loved ones, I could not go out to dinner or even to get cute Valentine-themed goodies, and I would have nowhere to wear a pink and red outfit to (sounds dramatic but you are lying if you say you don’t wear red on Valentine’s). However, now that I have had some time to think about what to do, I am feeling way better about the day. Regardless of the fact that I will be inside all day, I do still plan on committing to the pink and red aesthetic that day, and I think you should too! Facetime will also probably be a big part of my day, and I encourage you to take advantage of the app as well. Other things that I thought about are potentially doing a hair mask, face mask, practicing my gel manicure skills, journaling while listening to a good podcast, and watching all the romantic comedies Netflix has to offer (I’m looking at you TATB 1, 2 and 3).
However you spend this day, remember that you are loved and that quarantine does not mean you have to have a bad Valentine’s Day. While you may be feeling lonely, you are never really alone and Valentine’s is a great day to acknowledge and appreciate the love you should hold for yourself and the love that others have towards you.