The best way to do Valentine’s Day - single, married or newly in love

Regardless of the relationship status you find yourself in, Valentine’s Day isn’t something to shy away from.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, but is it still something we celebrate?

Regardless of the relationship status you find yourself in, Valentine’s Day isn’t something to shy away from.

For the newly engaged, it’s a given that the annual day of love will be celebrated with all the accompanying bells and whistles. For married couples, it may just be the push they were looking for to finally organise that date that has been set aside for months. And for the singletons out there, it could be the perfect excuse to enjoy some well-earned alone time.

While the novelty of the day tends to gradually wear off the older (and cynical) we get, there’s no ignoring the fast approaching tradition. But all of this begs an overarching question: Who is Valentine’s Day really for?

There’s no doubt for those in the throes of a new-found romance, Valentine’s Day couldn’t come soon enough. The desire to delight a new lover on the most amorous day of the year far outweighs the potential cringe associated with it. Luckily, Australia is home to some of the most breathtaking destinations and delectable restaurants in the world, so if Valentine’s Day presents the opportune time to visit them with some passion thrown on the side, why not enjoy the day for what it is? It could even become the perfect time for a proposal.

Who is Valentine’s Day really for?

So where does that leave the married ones who find conjuring up some romance more of a chore than a sign of wedded-bliss. Being stuck in a routine isn’t something to be ashamed of but change is also something to embrace, especially in an instance like this. Should you be feeling the slightest bit romantically inclined, booking a night or two in a luxurious hotel where you are expected to do precisely nothing other than be waited on hand and foot doesn’t seem like that bad of an idea. It will inject some excitement – and hopefully spark – back into the equation. But if that fails, you can count on finding some joy in not having to cook or clean for a night.

And now, for those dreading the imminent return of February 14 because of their unavoidable singleness, there is one very important matter to keep in mind. This is the one day of the year that you will not be asked if you’re seeing someone, back on the dating scene or why you are still single. Why, you may ask? Because everyone will be too in love to notice, or they’ll be ignoring the fact that it’s Valentine’s Day themselves.

Revel in the fact that you can enjoy your own company without having to answer the dreaded questions targeting your dating life. Make the most of watching whatever series you want without making sure the other person hasn’t already seen it. Go and eat that delicious dinner curated by one of your favourite chefs that you can count on being delivered to your door. 

But if you find yourself on the cusp of a Valentine’s Day breakup-breakdown, there’s one thing you can fall back on – your friends. Barack Obama may have been President the last time the term Galentine’s Day was used, but the general gist of it is still as relevant as before. Love isn’t reserved just for your partner, so don’t count your friends out this Valentine’s Day.

And for the love of, well, love, can we ensure Singles Day gets a little bit more hype this year, please?