14 Things to Do for Valentine's Day If You Are Single

There are many sweet things that you can do for Valentine's Day even if you are a single and don't have a sweetheart.

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Yep, it's almost Valentine's Day, otherwise known as "Remind You that You Are Single Day." If you are single, such a reminder can be good if you don't like paying double what you normally would pay for essentially the same food at a restaurant. But it can be challenging even if you are happy being single for most of the year. You may be wondering what you can do to occupy yourself during Valentine's Day when you are not part of a couple. Here's more than a couple of things that you can do—14, in fact:

1. Give Yourself a Gift

You can listen to what that Miley Cyrus song says and buy yourself flowers. Or anything else to commemorate yourself, like sushi. Don't wait for a date to get something great for you when you can DIY—do it yourself.

2. Catch a Show or Other Event

You also don't need a partner to experience something that you've long wanted to experience, whether it's watching The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, a comedy show, a sporting event, or whatever.

3. Travel

If you don't have a partner to satisfy one kind of lust, you can always address another type of lust—namely, wanderlust. Consider booking a trip to some cool destination (or maybe warm when it's one degree outside), either with friends, family, or yourself. If your budget or time is limited, you could always visit a local place, like a new neighborhood.

4. Cook

Similarly, just because you don't have a sweetheart right now, doesn't mean that you can't put together something sweet yourself. Maybe choose a new fruitcake, hot dog casserole, or whatever recipe, and give yourself the goal of a finished product by Valentine's Day dinner time. You could get cooking with a friend—cooking in a platonic way, at least. If you are ambitious, you could even host a whole dinner party.

5. Pamper yourself

You don't need a man to get a mani-pedi. Or a woman to say, "Whoa, man, does that massage feel good." Valentine's Day could be a spa or wellness day for you, with or without someone else.

6. Exercise

Getting your heart rate up can help deal with heartache. It shouldn't be too much of a stretch to find an exercise class like yoga, Barre, or Pilates. Or why not be a sport and find sports like tennis, pickleball, basketball, volleyball, or soccer to play.

7. Arts and Crafts

The art of getting through Valentine's Day may just be the arts. Paint a picture. Draw a drawing. Write a story. Sculpt a sculpture. You can DIY or DIWO, do it with others.

8. Learn Something New

What's that you say? You can't do a sport, an art, or some other activity because you haven't learned it yet? Well, it may be Valen-time to learn something new and maybe get some class, as in some kind of class that can teach you stuff. This will add to your portfolio of skills, expertise, and experience and make you even more attractive to others.

9. Try an App and Social Media Detox

This may not be the best day to be on social media when so many people are trying to convince everyone, including themselves, that they are in good relationships by telling the world how good their relationships are. Maybe it's a good day to stay off your smartphone and other electronic devices. What people post and brag about may not be real. Think about how many celebrity couples have gone Splitsville soon after they publicly declare their love for each other.

10. Connect with Friends and Family

Just because you don't have a one-and-only-Schmoopy right now doesn't mean that you don't have people close to you. Don't be afraid to reach out to friends and family. If they judge you for being single or feeling lonely, you may want to reconsider spending time with them in general.

11. Attend a Singles Event

It's natural to feel alone as a single on Valentine's Day until you realize that you are not alone in feeling alone and being single. Therefore, being among other singles can be fun and therapeutic. See what your other singles friends are doing. Look up singles events in the area.

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12. Host a Singles Get Together

If you can't find the right singles gathering, you could always organize one yourself, like dinner in or out, an outing to a show, or a game night.

13. Help Others

Love can come in many forms for many different people. It can be very fulfilling to use this day to help others. This can be helping people you know or helping strangers. There are plenty of charitable causes that could use volunteers.

14. Count Your Blessings

Finally, make a list of things that you are thankful for having right now. This can include not being stuck in a meh, bad, or even toxic relationship. Although being in a mutually supportive relationship where both of you feel stronger may be ideal, as indicated before in "A Funny Bone to Pick," many relationships just aren't that way. A not-so-great relationship can make you feel weaker and keep you from doing what you really want. This Valentine's Day, cherish every single thing that you are grateful for, which could include your being single.