Valentine's Day can be tough for single people, but it doesn't have to be all about romantic love and couples. There are plenty of ways to enjoy this day and make it a special day for yourself.

First, let's address the elephant in the room: it's okay to be single on Valentine's Day! Society often pressures people to be in a relationship, but being single allows you to focus on yourself and what you want out of life. Embrace your independence, and don't let societal expectations bring you down. Instead, focus on the love you would direct to a partner to yourself and take the opportunity to love yourself instead (read our recent blog about how to love yourself).

Here are some ways to make the most of Valentine’s Day and enjoy it as a single person.

1. Spend Time With Friends

Valentine’s day is a day to celebrate love - but who says this is limited to romantic partners? Remember that love comes in many forms. You can have love and companionship with friends and family and also love yourself.

One way to ensure you enjoy Valentine's Day when you're single is to spend it with a friend and celebrate your love for others. Whether it's a night out at a bar or club, or a day spent doing something adventurous like hiking or rock climbing, the important thing is to surround yourself with people you care about and who care about you.

According to one study, belonging to a social group and spending time with friends can increase your self-esteem and self-worth. So if you’re likely to feel lonely and sad about being single on Valentine’s Day, socialising with friends is a great way to offset those emotions and boost your confidence.

2. Treat Yourself

Got no one to treat this Valentine’s Day? Yes, you do! YOURSELF. Take this opportunity to spend a guilt-free day indulging in foods you normally restrict yourself from eating, whether chocolate, pizza, or fizzy drinks. You could also buy yourself something new, pamper yourself at home with face masks and lotions and potions, or even treat yourself to a relaxing spa day and massage. Whatever you choose, do something that makes you feel special and loved. You deserve it!

3. Cosy Up At Home

If you're feeling a bit more introverted, there’s no shame in spending the day at home. The key is to do whatever will bring you joy. Perhaps you have a hobby you have neglected recently, or maybe you’d like to spend some time reading, writing, painting, playing endless hours of video games, or binging a Netflix series.

If you choose to stay home, why not go all out and really set the scene and make it super cosy? Light some candles or a fire if you have one. Don your favourite and most extravagant loungewear, load up the fridge with snacks and play your favourite tunes. End the day with a relaxing bath, or a dance around the living (whichever way your day goes!) and treat yourself to some tasty takeaway food - or cook if that makes you happy. Remember this day is for you and a chance to celebrate your wonderful self.

4. Host A Singles-Only Party

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to organise a get-together with all your single pals. Throw a party at your house (or encourage a single friend to) and spend the evening celebrating your independence and friendships - don’t forget to stock up on the bubbly. Parties can be a great way to reconnect with friends you haven’t caught up with in a while, which can help reinforce how loved you are.

5. Go On Holiday

Sick of all the romance and feeling gloomy at the thought of a single Valentine’s Day? Then whisk yourself away somewhere nice for a long weekend and enjoy some time on holiday with yourself or friends. Getting away is important for our mental health and is a great way to rest and recharge. Scientists have even found that holidays can help improve stress levels and our sense of well-being, so if you’re feeling particularly stressed about being single, grant yourself some much-needed time away.

6. Go To The Cinema

One of the best things about being single is you don’t have to compromise or consult with a partner on what movies to watch. If there’s a film out at the cinema that you’ve been dying to watch, then get yourself a ticket. Think of it like a date with yourself, and make sure not to hold back on the popcorn and refreshments.

7. Organise A Date

If you really don’t want to be alone on Valentine’s Day and are feeling like you’ll never find the one, now’s your chance to get searching. Update your tinder profile or your preferred dating app, and reach out to some of your matches to organise a date. Imagine what a romantic story it would be to say you met on a date on Valentine’s Day!

Equally, if you’re not searching for a partner but would like some love and intimacy on this day, there’s nothing wrong with setting up a date to spend a passionate night with someone you fancy. But remember, make sure to get checked for STIs first. We make this process easy and stress-free with our at-home STI testing kits. So order one in advance of your sexy Valentine’s Day date to make sure you’re all clear.

8. Learn Something New!

Rather than observing all the couples celebrate their love, why not get out and do something yourself by learning a skill or hobby you have always wanted to learn, whether dance, language or workout classes. Taking a fun class is a great way to love yourself and develop new skills to boost your confidence. If you’re looking for some extra sex-related knowledge, we have a whole host of informative blog articles, including this new one on the History of Female Sex Toys.

9. Retail Therapy

One of the best things about being single on Valentine’s Day is the opportunity to buy a gift for yourself - one that you actually love and aren’t just pretending you like. If you’ve not got a significant other to receive gifts from, it’s time for some good old-fashioned retail therapy. If there’s something you’ve wanted to buy for a while but haven’t, now is your chance to get it.

10. Get Sexy With Yourself

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love; it’s about feeling sexy too. And if you’ve not got a partner to appreciate your sexiness, why not admire it yourself? Sometimes, spending a sultry evening to ourselves is the best way to feel good about our bodies. You might choose to buy yourself some sexy new underwear or lingerie and do a raunchy photoshoot. The photos don’t even have to go anywhere; sometimes we just need reminding of how hot we are!

You could even take your sexy evening one step further and purchase a new sex toy and spend your time exploring and getting to know your body more. Masturbation is an amazing way of showing yourself some love and ensuring you aren’t deprived of the sexual pleasure others in couples might be getting on Valentine’s Day. In collaboration with ILOH, an independent company based in London that provides sexual health and wellbeing products that have been designed by women, for women, we discuss the history of female sex toys, and give you the inside scoop on some of the HOTTEST modern sex toys on the market today.

Conclusion

Valentine's Day is often difficult for single people, but it doesn't have to be all about romantic love. Embrace your independence, plan fun activities with friends, treat yourself, go on a date, go on holiday, cosy up at home, masturbate, celebrate the love in your life and remember that love comes in many forms. These are just a few ways to celebrate being single on Valentine’s Day. 

Most importantly, don’t forget that Valentine's Day is just one day out of the year. Don't let it define your happiness or your worth as a person. Instead, love yourself and enjoy your own company, and the right person will come along when the time is right.