Alone on Valentine’s Day? Me too. Here’s a self-love guide to get you through this dreadful day.
Courtesy of Sofía García Vargas | The Crow’s Nest
By Sofía García Vargas
While Valentine’s Day is filled with love and happiness for many people, if you’re like me and got your heart broken recently, or you simply don’t have any plans, this day might not be as cheerful as others make it seem.
Feeling down makes finding motivation to get out of bed hard but take the opportunity to turn the day around into much-needed self-care time. Here is a list of recommended activities you can do to show yourself some love on this sappy day with a few sprinkles of humor I believe some will relate to.
Food
Personally, I am very lazy when it comes to cooking, but when I finally get the drive to do it, I really enjoy it. There is a rewarding feeling about creating something from scratch and being able to see and enjoy the final product. It’s also a great way to distract your mind from any haunting thoughts and focus on the craft. As a TikTok I recently saw said, cooking is a way to “just romanticize the day a little bit and feel something.”
However, if you don’t want to go through the trouble of cooking, ordering takeout is always a good idea (for your mind and heart, not so much for your wallet). Order some of your favorite junk food and binge watch your favorite movies and TV shows. My comfort food for when I’m happy, sad or stressed out is McDonalds, but I also really enjoy tacos (especially from Chile Verde), Greek food (from Little Greek), burritos or bowls (from Chipotle or Poppo’s) and Chinese food (from China Kitchen).
Drinks
This is a tricky one because there are many drinks that can warm you up from the inside out. If you’re planning a more chilled day, I would recommend making yourself some hot cocoa. Give yourself a boost of dopamine to bring some happiness to your brain and belly.
If you crave something with more of a kick (and booze) and are over 21, pull out your shaker and make some DIY drinks at home. I pull my inspiration from Pinterest because there are quick and easy recipes anyone can follow. My two favorite drinks are margaritas and mojitos. If you don’t fancy the chance of a failed attempt, The Big Catch at Salt Creek has some of the best regular and spicy margaritas in town and they are only $5.
Snacks
Having something to snack on if you’re hibernating at home is a must, whether you’re watching TV, listening to music or just crying in your room. Chocolate is one of my weaknesses (along with thinking that he would actually change), so I always lean toward some Snickers, Cadbury with roasted almonds, Sam’s Club’s Smores Snack Mix and Hershey’s Kisses.
If you want to go the classic route and eat a whole pint of ice cream by yourself, which I totally will be doing, my favorite flavors are Talenti’s Salted Caramel Truffle and Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cinnamon Buns, Half Baked and Milk & Cookies.
However, if I need to feel something other than my feelings, I mix Miss Vickie’s Jalapeño Chips with a Coca Cola. You know that electric feeling you get when you drink a Sprite or Coke from McDonalds? This mix will do the same.
Movies
Okay, now for the sappy part. You can have two moods this Valentine’s Day, either a “screw it, I’m going to forget them” mood or a “I’m so lonely and cry about them all day” (my personal favorite) mood. If you’re feeling the first one, try something that can make you see the bright side of life or bring a comedic relief. For this, I enjoy movies like “Clueless,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Girls Trip,” “How to Be Single,” “The Hangover” and “Project X.” For the second mood there are so many good classics, but my all-time favorites are “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Love, Rosie.”
TV Shows
A good girl-empowering show with lots of “I can relate” moments is “Sex and the City.” If you want an easier to watch, binge-worthy show, “Friends” is a good choice. If you want something that proves you could’ve been a little more psycho and things could’ve been a bit more messed up, I recommend “Pretty Little Liars,” “Gossip Girl” and “Euphoria.” If you want something with little or no love at all, try “Criminal Minds” or “American Horror Story.” Besides, who doesn’t enjoy watching someone lash out at another person that wronged them? No one?
Self-care
Everyone’s definition of self-care varies depending on what they like and what they do. Between my two jobs, school and trying to have some sort of social life, I find it hard to make time for myself. I also hate being alone, so I always try to be around people. However, when I’m overwhelmed and finally get some me time, I like taking a bath with colorful bath bombs, getting my nails done and doing a face mask, especially the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. If I want to be more productive, I go to the gym, clean my house and go grocery shopping. If I want something that will make me happy for longer, I buy myself some pink roses. Journaling is also a great way to get your feelings out by writing them down and leaving them behind (kind of).
Host a singles-only dinner party
Even though this guide has been about things to do by yourself, you don’t necessarily have to do it all alone. Remember that there are tons of people out there going through the same things as you, some might even be your own friends. So, get together with your best single friends and throw a lonely-hearts club party. Dress up, cook or order some food, bake some goodies and maybe even go out. One of the best ways to get over your feelings is dancing them away.
