Johnston: 6 tips for being alone without feeling lonely this Valentine’s Day
Feb 14, 2025, 8:27 AM | Updated: 8:28 am
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SALT LAKE CITY — Happy Valentine’s Day! Or, better yet, happy self love day! Here are some ways you can embrace this day of love alone… without feeling lonely.
1. Get off social media
There is no need to be reminded about everyone else’s relationships. (If you don’t know it’s Valentine’s Day, it won’t hurt you.) Remember, social media does not always portray reality.
2. Make a plan for yourself
Is there a movie you’ve been longing to watch or a meal you’ve been dying to try? Now is the perfect time to do it! Just because you don’t have a partner, doesn’t mean you can’t make a date for yourself. Whether that is a cozy night in or taking yourself out to lunch, embrace the time you have being single. Give yourself a plan so that you have something to look forward to.
3. Be open
If you do choose to go out (Valentine’s Day may not be the best day to do so with busy restaurants), make sure your energy is open when you do. Don’t pick the seat in the back corner where nobody can see you. Keep your head up, your headphones off, and be open to connections that may be around you. I don’t think we realize how closed off our energy can be when we go out in public. Don’t miss a possible connection in front of you because your head is buried in your phone.
4. Practice self love
Sounds cheesy, but it’s important. Valentine’s Day is about love and it can be towards yourself, so it’s important to acknowledge that. Get out a piece of paper and write out three things you love and are grateful for about yourself and the life you live. Sit with how you feel after doing so.
5. Give to others and pay it forward
Something that always makes me feel joy is when I’m able to put a smile on other people’s faces, so do something small like sending a quick $5 Venmo to a friend or family member to grab a treat for themselves. Smile at a stranger. It may make their day.
6. Bonus tip: Embrace spending the day solo
If you are newly single, it’s likely this first Valentine’s Day, or any holiday, is difficult. I’ve been single all of my 30 years so I’m pretty used to it by now, but I don’t want to discredit those who are feeling the silence today very loudly. I encourage you to sit with those emotions, write about how you feel to process them, and move through what you are feeling. It may feel dark and gloomy temporarily, but there is light on the other side. The only way to get out of the darkness is to get through it, and it’s okay to eat some chocolate if it makes you feel better.
Just remember, you are not the only one having a solo Valentine’s Day, but you may be one of the few who can embrace it and give yourself the love you truly deserve. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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