Sentosa Girl Recommends

Couples have this habit of saying that when you’re really in love, Valentine’s Day should be celebrated every day, not just once a year.

Now before you start gagging, consider how much more enjoyable life would be for us singles if we were to embrace that same philosophy. Granted, we’d probably gain a little weight and lose a lot of money from spoiling ourselves so much, but the point is: when you’re single, Valentine’s Day should be spent on pampering instead of wallowing in self-pity. Plus since you never know if this Valentine’s Day is the last one you’ll spend alone, you might as well treat yourself to one of the following:

1. A day at the spa
Your first priority on Valentine’s Day should be relaxation. By championing singleness, we’ve inadvertently pressured people to make the day as epic as possible, as if to prove that being alone on this day isn’t super pathetic. Chances are, you’ll need a break from the advertisements, the planning, and most of all, your own self-doubts and defensiveness about being single. Book an appointment for one at your favourite spa and remember that no matter how you spend the rest of the day, you’ll come out of it feeling more refreshed.

2. A TV/movie marathon.
One of the best things about being single is that you can watch whatever you want, for as long as you want. Lots of single women use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to marathon all six seasons of Sex and the City, but if you’d like to switch it up a little, try watching a series you’ve never seen. We hear Downton Abbey’s garnered some Golden Globes, so you might want to check that out to stay current. Or you could catch up Glee, which we can assure you, is even more of a soap opera than your own love life. After all, you never know when you’ll connect with a guy over your shared enjoyment of a series.

3. A customised playlist and a fancy type of exercise
Mix tapes are a staple of romantic gestures, but let’s face it: more often than not, our significant other’s taste in music doesn’t exactly align with ours. And even when it does, don’t you hate habitually associating those songs with that person, even long after a breakup? This year, create a playlist to commemorate a fun day spent alone, download it onto your iPod, and jam to it while exercising. And by exercising, we don’t mean spending an hour at the gym as usual. We mean signing up for a Zumba class, a dance session, or even heading out to Singapore’s own East Coast Park to cycle along the beach. Just pick an athletic activity that has always seemed too expensive or inconvenient for daily life, as this is no regular day.

4. Treat yourself to a makeover
Nothing says “treat” like one of M.A.C.’s legendary makeovers. Make an appointment at a nearby outlet, wash your face, and decide what type of look you want to achieve. The makeup artists will not only help you pick the right foundation and makeup colours for your needs, but she’ll provide you with a face chart labelled with the products used on your face so that you’ll know how to recreate the look at home. Do remember to ask ahead of time about minimal purchases, though, as you’re obligated to buy something from M.A.C. in exchange for the consultation.

5. Throw a party
Bum around during the daytime, party at night. Devote the morning to pampering yourself, but save the night for your friends. Be creative — while you can always go to the clubs, you could also use the occasion to show off your skills as a loving host. If you’re a good chef, stage a cook-off, bake several trays of Valentine’s-themed desserts, or at the very least, mix a jar of homemade red wine Sangria.

6. Conduct a digital detox
This Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to the freedom to fall in love with somebody else. If you haven’t already, now is the time to delete your exes on Facebook, Twitter, and in your phonebook. Even if the relationship ended civilly, is it necessary to know the everyday details of his life, like what he’s eating for breakfast or where he went over the weekend? If you must keep in contact, draw the line at Christmas and birthday greetings to help yourself move on emotionally.

7. Buy yourself a gift
Treat yourself to something you’ve always coveted, but had no reason to buy, be it a new camera, a designer bag, or a fancy electric mixer. While we’d caution against extravagant spending as an antidote to sadness, a (reasonable) new purchase will serve as a reminder that it’s possible to make yourself happy. Knowing that you can achieve even superficial happiness on your own will boost your confidence in forging happiness with things that run deep: relationships, career, and a sense of purpose.

8. Treat somebody else
Just because you don’t have a partner to spoil doesn’t mean you can’t channel that love into the relationships you have with other people. Make a date with your cute nephews and nieces and treat them to ice cream so that their parents can enjoy Valentine’s Day alone. Buy a stack of cute Valentine’s cards, attach a Hershey’s kiss to each one, and hand them out to your friends. Or call up your granny and offer to take her out to the park or for a haircut. As the saying goes, the more you make others happy, the happier you’ll feel with yourself.

9. Travel
Feeling suffocated by festivities you can’t partake in? Book a flight, rent a car, and drive to somewhere rural devoid of all Valentine’s Day paraphernalia. Your trip doesn’t have to be a hard-core Eat, Pray, Love type of pilgrimage for fulfilment. A couple of days at a nearby Thai island, or even a shopping trip at Johor Bahru would do the trick.

10. Play with animals, feel the love
No one expresses unconditional love like a dog, so go play with one! If you have your own dog, take it out to the dog park or a dog-friendly café. If you don’t have a pet, offer to watch your friend’s so that she can enjoy a stress-free Valentine’s Day. And if all else fails, do a little research on adoption centres and apply as a volunteer around the 14th. Some places even let you foster an animal for a month. Who knows, you might end up falling in love on Valentine’s Day after all, albeit not in the way that you expected.

Text: Denise Ngo
Photos: AP

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