What should I do if I’m alone on Valentine’s Day?

Claire:

It can suck to be single on a day dedicated to romance. While the day itself isn’t that special, media and advertising ramp up to remind everyone of the season. It’s impossible to enter any store or walk down Washington Street without being faced with pink hearts and marketing targeted at couples. I think it’s important for our single readers to remember that those in a relationship also typically don’t care about Valentine’s Day, it’s just a silly holiday where you’re expected to exchange gifts and spend time with your partner, which is always great but would happen with or without the reminder. If you’re single and this time of year is bumming you out, that’s okay, but lingering on it will only make you feel worse. Go out and have fun with your other single friends, maybe listen to your favorite non-romantic music, and practice some self-care. 

At the end of the day, there’s no reason to feel bad if you’re not in a relationship. Whether you just recently got out of one or if you’re on a streak of romance-less Valentine’s Days, literally everyone experiences this at least once in their lives. It’s more important and more difficult to learn how to be content on your own than to find a partner. 

Ethan:

Now that it’s February, the question on everyone’s mind is what will you be doing for Valentine’s Day. To start, it is not too late to try to not be lonely; you have about a week before the big day to figure it out. I recommend to stop moping and to try to be productive and find someone to love. Since Valentine’s Day is on a weekday, most of the romantic fun will linger on until the weekend, so you can spend an entire week being jealous of others’ situations. I have plans for the weekend after Valentine’s Day, so I don’t have any good ideas on how I would spend it if I was alone. However, I will do my best to come up with some last-minute ideas in case you fail to find someone willing to spend time with you. My best recommendation would be to stay inside, watch movies, order food, and accept the way life is. If you would rather spend your time around others that would make you more miserable, the internet suggests you could go to the movies, host a party for your other lonely friends, or maybe even take a trip out of town. I would think that it would be in your best interest to avoid as many couples as you could during this time so I would err on the side of caution when making plans. Hopefully one day you find love and won’t need me to make your plans. Good luck!