Celebrating Yourself This Valentine's Season

Valentine’s day: a day filled with love, flowers and everything heart-shaped. A desirable day to some, and a dreaded one to others. If you're part of the latter group, then you'll probably be sick of seeing all this Valentine's day propaganda everywhere. But who says you have to be in a relationship to partake in this day? Valentine's day is all about love, and we're all deserving of it whether or not we have someone to share it with. So to all my single friends out there, here's how to celebrate yourself this V-day.

Plan your perfect day

Today is a day all about you, so think of the things that make you happiest. Whether that’s going for a stroll in the park, or taking yourself on a little shopping spree, pick something that you know you’ll enjoy and do it! Or maybe there's something you’ve been meaning to do for a while but just never had the chance to. A pottery painting session? Puppy yoga? Getting a massage? Whatever tickles your fancy. It's your day, so make the most of it!

Treat yourself

Now that your day has begun, it's time to treat yourself to a little something. I know it might seem unusual to buy yourself a present, but you deserve it. So go ahead and treat yourself to something special. Maybe it's that book you've been eyeing in Waterstones even though you’ve told yourself that you don't need anymore books. Or maybe it's going for a fun caramel frappe rather than your everyday flat white. Allowing yourself to indulge once in a while by changing up your daily routine with a treat is the perfect way to celebrate yourself without splurging. If you're up for it, you could even head over to your favourite store and go crazy. There's no rules when it comes to happiness.

Indulge

Following that, remember to indulge. You’ve had a busy day and now it's time for a good meal. If cooking is your passion, then why not try out a new recipe? If you're feeling more extravagant, head on out to a restaurant you've been meaning to try. There's a ton of places around campus with affordable prices and incredible food. My preferred option after a long day of treating myself would be to opt for a takeaway. The meal you’ve been craving for a while but have been avoiding ordering because you vowed to stop spending your money on food you could make at home? Order it today!

Relax

It's been a busy day, and now I think it's time for some relaxing. This comes differently to all of us. To some, it may be cozying up in bed with that new book you bought for yourself, or having a little spa session; so get out the face masks and body scrubs, and pamper yourself to your heart's desire. But don’t forget the importance of good ambience. Light a few candles and put on some mood lighting, maybe even fix yourself a drink! As long as you're feeling relaxed, you’re doing it right.

Watch a feel-good movie

The day is nearing to a close, and the perfect way to end the day is with a feel-good movie. Being single on Valentine’s day, it might not seem like the best idea to watch a romance movie. However, sometimes rom-coms can be about more than just about romantic love. These are some of my personal favourites that I would recommend: Legally Blonde, How to be Single, Mamma Mia, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Blended and Wild Child. All of these movies are fun and light-hearted, and are sure to make you grin and laugh till you ache. With themes from romantic love to family love and even platonic love, I suggest these movies to reiterate the idea that Valentine's day is a day for everyone because love is not just limited to those of the romantic variety, but is something that surrounds us at all times.