Valentine’s Day is such a charged holiday for many people, especially if you’re recently heartbroken. It can feel like everyone around you is celebrating romantic love except you. The good news is, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be so isolating. You can actually enjoy the holiday, even if you’re single.
We want you to feel that same positive energy on February 14, so we’re sharing our top 10 tips for surviving (and maybe even enjoying) Valentine’s Day.
1. Plan healthy distractions.
Social support is so crucial to feeling better if you’re struggling through heartbreak on Valentine’s Day, especially during times of uncertainty. Making virtual plans with friends or family will be a healthy distraction. Plus, you’ll be (virtually) surrounded by people who love you.
2. Touch base with your loved ones.
Life gets busy, and sometimes we forget to remind our loved ones how much they mean to us. Use Valentine’s Day to reach out to the people who’ve always been supportive and let them know how grateful you are to have them in your life.
3. Take a social media break.
Social media can be toxic for the broken-hearted on Valentine’s Day. Taking a break from Instagram will not only prevent you from being bombarded with everyone else’s V-Day plans, but it’ll also free up some of your time to actually do something special for yourself.
4. Celebrate other types of love.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about romantic love. We are surrounded by so much other love in our lives. You can shift the meaning of Valentine’s Day for you and honor all the other love in your life, like your family, best friends, coworkers, neighbors, and other people in your community.
5. Spend time building towards your Mend monument.
What better day than February 14 to dedicate some time to your Mend monument? We encourage all Menders to pick a goal, something they can build towards as they mend from their heartbreak. If your Mend monument is to run a marathon, then lace up your sneakers and go for a run.
6. Get outside.
We’ve written a lot about the healing benefits of nature. If you’re feeling overwhelmed on V-Day, go for a walk or a hike. The fresh air and greenery will help you feel more at ease. Maybe even gift yourself a really pretty plant for your house.
7. Prioritize your self care.
Carve out some time on February 14 to do the things that make you feel your best and soothe your nervous system.
8. Don’t beat yourself up if uncomfortable feelings come up.
Your ex may pop up in your thoughts or seeing other couples may cause you to ruminate on your last relationship. Don’t shame yourself for feeling the way you do. Take a few minutes to honor your feelings and even let out some tears if you need to. Try to set an amount of time to feel all the feelings, and when that time is up, go back to focusing on your self care and plans with friends!
9. Journal about how you feel.
Journaling is so helpful, which is why it’s part of the daily Mend practice. It can help you gain a better understanding of why you feel the way you do and process your emotions as they come up. If you’re not sure where to start, here are 8 questions to get you thinking.
10. Treat yourself like you would a best friend.
Something that often gets lost on us is how kindly we treat our friends and how tough we are on ourselves. Consider how you would treat a best friend if they were heartbroken on Valentine’s Day, and treat yourself with that same kindness.
