Well, it's that time of year again, the end of cuffing season has officially arrived and it is marked by that dreaded 14th day in February. Its not bad enough that you are constantly reminded of your single status as you face the holiday season explaining to distant and ancient relatives why you don't have a boyfriend yet, but now there’s an actual holiday celebrating these already perfectly happy people and leaving us singles to stay in, eat a tub of ice cream and watch The Notebook alone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that there is a holiday that celebrates love and togetherness and expensive chocolate, but sometimes it's hard to see that when your longest “relationship" to date has been with your school advisor and he’s even seeing everyone in your major! Yes, it can be hard to be alone on the most romantic day of the year, but you're in lucky! I’m here to give you a list of 14 things to do instead of binge eat and cry about Noah and Allie’s eternal love for each other.
1. Take a road trip
It doesn't have to be cross country, but pack a lunch and pick a place you've always wanted to visit. Grab some other single friends and make it an all day adventure, as long as it doesn't turn into an Anti-Valentines days rampage.
2. Work out
Working out gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy and happy people don't care that they are single on Valentines’s Day. Get up and go for a run or take a class at the gym, burn off some calories so you don't feel bad about buying the “after Valentine’s Day” sale chocolate.
3. Learn something new
Perfect the art of painting your right hand’s nails with your left hand, finally figure out how the government works, change the oil in your car yourself, make something other than pasta for dinner, the possibilities are endless.
4. Volunteer
Nothing will keep your mind off of your singleness like spending the day helping others. Play with dogs at the pound, cuddle babies in the NICU or find a local soup kitchen that needs help, you can't go wrong here.
5. Go shopping
Um, can you say treat yo self? You should have plenty of money saved up from not having to buy a significant other a Christmas, birthday or Valentine’s Day presents so go to the mall and get yourself something on you, you deserve it.
6. Make a Finsta account
For those of you who have never heard this terminology, a Finsta is a fake Instagram account where you post ugly and/or embarrassing pictures and videos of yourself and your friends. Make your account private and only let your close friends follow it, then encourage them to make one too.
7. Set a world record
Let’s face it, you were bound to get famous at some point in your life, why not make it today? Set the world record for most consecutive cartwheels, longest burp, or most bagel bites consumed in one sitting.
8. Prank your roommates
Catch them when they least expect it and, hopefully, it turns into an all out pranking war. Saran wrap the toilet, post their number on Craigslist with the caption “Puppies for sale”, hide their birth control, take a loan out for $50,000 in their name, slap them with a fish, ship some of their stuff to China, shave their heads while they sleep or even just replace the sugar with salt. All of these pranks are sure to help you guys build a better relationship with one another and forget all about begin single on Valentine’s Day.
9. Test out every Snapchat filter
Create a character and back story to go along with each of the filters and post it to your Snapchat story. Periodically create episodes in which your characters interact with each other, the more dramatic the better.
10. Start writing your memoirs
Since you are now famous for setting a new world record you might as well start writing your memoirs while the events are fresh.
11. Organize your leggings by color
Grey, charcoal, kinda black, light black, medium black, black, super black, blackest black, midnight black, soooooooo damn black.
12. Channel your inner Leslie Knope
Let’s be honest, that woman is the greatest female tv character of all time. Strive to be like her and organize your life, run for city council, color code something, eat some waffles, hug your best friend, and most importantly be strong and independent while making a difference.
13. Do your own at home addition of Chopped with the leftover food that never gets eaten in your fridge
Hello, chefs, today I have prepared for you a mini puff pastry filled with cheese, pepperoni, and marinara sauce, with a Goldfish crumble, laid on a bed of peanut puree and spicy mustard sauce, with a side of pickled pickles.
14. Drink
If all else fails, drink. You can even make a game out of it to make your drinking more challenging. Take a sip every time you see someone post their Valentine’s day presents, whenever a commercial for a jewelry store’s Valentine’s Day sale comes on chug for the duration of the commercial, take a shot every time someone single complains about Valentine’s Day, finish your drink if someone gets engaged.
Let’s get rid of the negative stereo types about single women on Valentine’s Day by getting out there and doing something productive, creative, crazy or just plain weird and if that doesn't work, well then, cheers.