Whether you’re single or in a relationship, Valentine’s Day can bring up a range of emotions from feeling lonely, anxious, stressed, disappointed, or depressed. Here are 5 tips on how to cope:
Step Back and Zoom Out – There is so much societal pressure to be happy and in love on this one day every year. It’s easy to compare our situation and feel sorry for ourselves when our Instagram feeds are overflowing with “perfect” couples having champagne and chocolates. If you find yourself having negative thoughts come up of “why didn’t my partner do XYZ for me today?” or “Am I going to be single and alone forever” take a step back and ask yourself: will it matter tomorrow, in a week, or in a month whether or not you had a picture-perfect, romantic evening with a partner on this one night? What does how you spend this holiday actually say about you or your relationship?
Set Intentions, Not Expectations – Because there is so much societal pressure around Valentines Day, we all come in with a lot of unrealistic expectations. The problem with having expectations on yourself or your partner is that if those expectations are not met, it can be quite disappointing. Instead, let’s all set some intentions of how we want to show up for ourselves and/or our partners. Some intentions might be: “I really want to be present for my partner so I will put my phone away at dinner.” Or “I want to treat myself to my favorite coffee drink to make myself feel special.”
Set Boundaries – Once you have a clear idea on your intention, what are some boundaries you need to set for yourself so you can follow through on those intentions? Do you need to mute Instagram for the day? Are there certain people in your life that you need to communicate your boundaries to so you can enjoy your day?
Practice Gratitude – Often people look at the love they don’t have in their life on this day. Can you look around and acknowledge the love you already have? The love you have for your family, your friends, and yourself. Take a moment to send thanks to all the love, not just romantic love, in your life.
Send Love – What is one actionable thing you can do to make someone else feel loved on this day? Whether that be calling your mom, sending a friend flowers, writing a love note to your partner, or taking yourself out for a nice meal, everyone, including you, could use a little extra love on this holiday.