Celebrating V-Day Solo? Here are 5 Ways to Love Yourself
When we think of February, we see “be mine” candies, chocolates, cupid and romance vibes in our mind’s eye. And if you’re South Asian, chances are your blueprint of Valentine’s Day includes violins, dancing in Sabyasachi sarees and matching sweaters, as well as picturesque, timeless landscapes. But, Valentine’s Day can also include a lot of pressure to be booed up and loved on by another person. While for some, it’s just a commercial holiday that’s somewhat irritating to deal with, it can be so much more than any of these things with a little change in perspective. You don’t have to be in a relationship to feel love and adoration this Valentine’s Day – spending time loving you isn’t corny or cheesy and Valentine’s Day isn’t something to reject, avoid, or feel dejected by. Rather, it’s a beautiful opportunity to invest in yourself on all fronts.
So ditch the sulking, let go of the pressure, and pick up some roses for yourself. Here are 5 ways you can love on yourself this Valentine’s Day.
1) Perfect your cocktail (or mocktail) game
You don’t need to drink alcohol for this one. There are countless cocktail and mocktail recipes out there that are either Valentine’s Day inspired or not waiting for you to try them! Spend the evening becoming a bartender (and save a few bucks at the bar) and make yourself a hypnotic elixir that is as classy as you.
2) Buy yourself something nice
It doesn’t have to be a whole diamond ring. Whether you identify as male or female, you can buy yourself a cute sweater, an upgrade to your car that you’ve been wanting to install, or a skincare product you’ve been waiting to buy for a long time. Sometimes a $10 bottle of wine, and $15 box of chocolates is just enough to gift yourself and receive your own love, time and attention.
3) Cook yourself a delicious, romantic meal
How does one exactly do this? Think of self care TikTok where single men and women create the ultimate romantic vibes and aesthetics for themselves as they enjoy their evening. Get into your most luxurious silk pajamas, light a candle, and just vibe. Better yet, ditch AllRecipes on Google and buy yourself a cookbook (if you can). This way, you can continue the vibes, and learn something new the next time you’d like to cook yourself a delicious meal.
4) Take a bath and consciously enjoy time in your skin
You can really see the theme of luxury in this one. Imagine the scene: you, grabbing your speaker, lighting some incense or a scented candle, pouring some bath salts or a bath bomb into steamy water. Bonus points if you choose to add in some flower petals to your bath (pink or red to celebrate love!) You grab a book that you’ve been wanting to read, or you turn on an audio book that you’ve been meaning to read. The relaxation is enough to make anyone feel like an Emperor or Empress. Immaculate vibes, for real.
5) Do something nice for someone else
Sometimes, the best way to love yourself is to pour that love out into the world as a reflection. So, if you have any friends who need a babysitter (who doesn’t love how excited kids get on Valentine’s Day?!), a neighbour who could use some homemade banana bread, or a friend who deserves their flowers (and a sweet sweet greeting card to match), get on out there and spread the love and joy that you are to those around you – and watch the love grow in beautifully amazing ways.
If even after all this, you do succumb to the pressure or feel the urge to find someone for yourself during this season or simply actually genuinely feel ready to go out and meet someone, well you know what to do! 😉