Best Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in a Pandemic

Valentine’s Day may look totally different during COVID-19, however, there are ways to celebrate it and still have much fun. From sharing chocolates to decorating your space with flowers, or even having dinner, the pandemic is not enough to make this day dull. Let`s look at ways to celebrate love, despite the many challenges that the world had had to face.

9 Ways to Enjoy your Valentine`s Day this Season

Drop the Pressure

If planning your Valentine’s Day causes you so much stress, then that may be an issue. Rest assured that you don`t have to go through so much stress in planning a day for you and your lover. Instead of being stressed every day because you`re planning for one day, invest instead in the relationship on a daily basis. Every day is a lovers` day if you make it so. Daily investments will go a long way than a one-off celebration on a day in February. Focus on the little things that matter to your spouse such as asking about their day, making coffee or tea for them when they get up in the morning, among other things.

Change your Routine

Do well to break from your routine with your partner this Valentine’s Day. It doesn`t have to be the same old, and you don`t have to hop on the bandwagon. Here are a few things you can do this Valentine`s Day:

• Play a game
• Have a bath with your partner
• Decorate your home
• Have a dance party
• Write a romantic note
• Order some flowers and chocolates

Rearrange your Surroundings

You and your partner have probably got used to how your surroundings are for the past years. Do something different this season. You can rearrange the furniture, use a new colored light bulb, spread new sheets, or just do something else to make your space lit up and fascinating.

Walk and Talk

Valentine`s Day doesn`t have to be dramatic. It may just mean shutting down and reconnecting with your partner. Take a walk together and have a conversation. At a time like this, it would be great to reflect on the past. Talk about your first date, what attracted you to your lover, what excites you most about them, what made you nervous on your first date, what your first kiss was like, and other memories you would like to relive.

Celebrate with Others

It`s common to find people focus so much on romantic love on Valentine’s Day. Rest assured that you can celebrate other types of love. You could celebrate with your parents, a friend, a neighbor, a colleague, or even another couple.

Hold Virtual Celebrations

Whether you’re single, dating, or married to a partner in another part of town, you can engage in a virtual Valentine’s Day celebration. You could send fun memes, photos, videos, or even get on a video call with your partner, friends, siblings, and whoever else you want to celebrate with.

Treat yourself

Don`t succumb to societal pressure; there`s no better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than practicing self-care. As much as you need to show love to others, loving yourself is crucial, as you can`t even love others so much if you don`t show yourself some quality love. Here are some simple ways to go solo this Valentine`s Day without being at risk of contracting the coronavirus disease:

• try journaling
• paint or draw
• take a bubble bath
• shop for something you’ve been saving for
• eat your favorite meal
• dance to your favorite music
• spend time in nature
• watch your favorite movie or TV show
• read a good book

Remember, it’s Just Another Day

Some people are more particular about celebrations than others are. Those who aren`t so much into celebrating a day like February 14 need not succumb to pressure. Remember that February 14 is just another day that will come and go. So it`s okay if you don`t want to participate in the festivities. You can maintain your regular routine as if it’s any other day, and that`s totally fine.

Get Support

If you’re feeling down on Valentine’s Day, just like any other day of the year, you`re advised to get support. You can reach out to a friend, counselor, relative, or anyone else you trust. If you can`t handle the pressure and likely intimidation on social media, it`s fine to stay away for the safety of your mental health.

Here`s What to Know About your Favorite Valentine`s Day Gifts

You probably thought that chocolates and flowers were mere gifts; little did you know that these common Valentine’s Day gifts have some health benefits. Surprised? Let`s talk about it.

Health Benefits of Chocolate

Did you know that the average American eats about 12 pounds of chocolate every year? Sadly, there`s been a single story out there about chocolate for some years now. Consuming chocolates has been linked to heart disease and obesity, but not many people talk about its health benefits. In ancient times, men believed chocolate would make them more fertile. Amazingly, in the 1800s, doctors prescribed chocolates to treat people who suffered heartbreaks.

Let`s talk about today`s findings on chocolates! Chocolates contain a type of healthy saturated fat called stearic acid, the one found in beef. That`s not all, as chocolates make the arteries more elastic and dilate your blood vessels. You probably didn`t know that dark chocolate contains more health benefits than milk or sweetened chocolate. Now you know! Dark chocolate contains flavonols that lower blood pressure and particularly improve blood flow to the brain.

Health Benefits of Flowers

Flowers give warm and fuzzy feelings, as well as have the potential to lower blood pressure. Studies prove that looking at fresh roses for some time gives some physiological and psychological relaxation. Some natural flower scents also lower stress levels. Lavender, jasmine, and chamomile particularly have calming effects on the brain. This is exactly why some people give flowers to sick patients. You`re loving flowers more, aren`t you? Flowers also boost memory retention and concentration. You probably appreciate your Valentine’s gifts better now.

Valentine’s Day Fun Facts

• After Christmas, Valentine’s Day is the second most popular day of the year for sending cards. People exchange about a billion Valentine’s Day cards every year.
• There are over 50 million roses sent out as gifts for Valentine’s Day each year.
• Approximately 27 percent of people who buy flowers on Valentine’s Day are women, while 73% are men.
• Every year, there are about 220,000 wedding proposals on Valentine’s Day.
• The name, Valentine, is derived from a Latin word meaning “valor.”
• All over the world, people buy more than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate on Valentine’s Day.
• Studies show that on average, men spend double the amount of money on Valentine`s Day gifts than women do.
• 60% of America’s red roses are grown in the state of California
• At least 9 million people buy their pets a gift on Valentine`s Day.
• Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are the biggest holidays in which people distribute flowers.
• The oldest known Valentine’s Day card is on display at the British Museum in London, dating back to the 1400s.
• Candy hearts were originally medical lozenges.
• Statistics show that men and women prefer to receive chocolates over flowers.
• Valentine’s Day is the biggest holiday for florists.
• Amazingly, teachers are the number one recipient of Valentine’s.