Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, which is pretty perfect if you’re paired up and wanting to go out for a special dinner. But that also means that all of us without partners suddenly have a very free Saturday night with way less friends to hang out with. Now, you could just not celebrate Valentine’s Day. But what if you did? I’m not talking about Galentine’s Day either. I’m talking about making yourself your own Valentine. Just because you don’t have a partner to go out with doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be pampered. And who else knows how to pamper you better than yourself? So make this Valentine’s Day about yourself. Be a little selfish. Embrace self-indulgence. The goal here is to go out of your way for your own benefit. You’re worth it.
Take yourself out to dinner.
I know what you’re thinking. Go out to eat? By myself? On Valentine’s Day? Yes. The mentality of shame surrounding eating by yourself has got to go. Being date-less shouldn’t be a barrier to enjoying a good meal that you don’t have to through the effort of cooking. If you’re nervous, try bringing something to keep busy — something to read or write in are my go-tos. I also like to people-watch, but that might not be for everyone. Whatever you decide, just make sure to soak in the experience. Don’t rush. Savor your sips and bites.
Now, I wouldn’t recommend just popping in and trying to grab a table on February 14. Make a reservation ahead of time for sure, either at a place that you already love or a place you want to try out. Once you’re there, do something you wouldn’t normally do when going out. If you normally only get water, get a drink. Try an appetizer that looks appealing, or order dessert. Remember, being your own date is about self-indulgence.
If dinner is too intense or romantic for your liking, try going out for breakfast or lunch or even an early dinner, as restaurants might be less saturated with couples dining out for the holiday at those times. At the bare minimum, coffee and a pastry from a local coffee shop will do. It’s really just about leaving your home to treat yourself to an irregular experience.
“I’m spending Valentine’s Day with myself and my friends,” said Lilly Tebbe, a senior at James Madison University. “I’m giving myself the day to relax and take the time to do the things I enjoy doing but don’t have the time for, like reading and baking. My friends and I are also planning on going to all-you-can-eat sushi and ice cream to celebrate the day.”
Cook a special single-serve date night meal.
The temptation to pop a frozen pizza in the oven or microwave so ramen might be high. But why not spend a little time on yourself? In the hecticness that is life, it’s easy to settle for quick and easy dinners. But for Valentine’s Day, why not make something special? Try making a dish that you love but is more complicated than you usually have time for, or cook a recipe you’ve been dying to make but haven’t yet.
Whip up something you’d consider special or fancy — for me that’s going to be a pan-seared steak slathered in butter but for you it could be something completely different. Or try making multiple courses to really give your meal the feeling of being something more than the dinner you have every other night.
Cocktails are made for one.
It’s always annoying when cocktail or mocktail recipes are a single serving that have to be made multiple times to serve friends. But wait. If it’s just you on Valentine’s Day, isn’t a single serving perfect? To make a Valentine’s night-in special, try out one — or a few — cocktail or mocktail recipes. There are plenty of Valentine’s Day-themed drinks out there, but this is your night so make whatever drinks speak to you. Have fun with it, add garnishes or pair with an appetizer or a little dessert.
Treat yourself with treats.
Baking is a labor of love, and since we’re making Valentine’s about loving yourself here, you really owe it to yourself to make a special dessert. Sure, you can’t go wrong with chocolate strawberries, but I think your taste buds would thank you for something a little more elaborate. Try heart-shaped sugar cookies, individual chocolate lava cakes, or even tiramisu (it sounds harder than it is and come on. You deserve it).
“We all decided that even though nobody in our group had a partner, we could still celebrate the holiday together as friends,” said Rachel Eshaghian, a freshman at University of Maryland. “After deliberating, we all agreed to go to Trader Joe’s for flowers and make bouquets for ourselves.”
Making Valentine’s day about yourself means doing whatever you want. That can look different from person to person. If that means going out with friends and enjoying a Galentine’s day, awesome. Taking some much-needed time to yourself and recharging your battery while doing something solo is just also a valuable option that you might forget about. You could even do both — brunch by yourself, drinks with friends — because at the end of the day, this is about you. Happy Valentine’s Day.