Alternative's To a Traditional Valentines Day

Whether you find yourself in a relationship or not this Valentine’s Day, there’s never a bad time to show yourself or the other people in your life some extra love, especially after a year where we’ve all spent less time with the people we care about most. The team at Rowanvale Books have put together a list of ways you can spend your Valentine’s Day this year that breaks with the traditional ‘dinner and movie’ date ideas.  

TAKE YOURSELF ON A DATE  

If this year has taught us anything, it’s that the only person we’re going to be with all the time for the rest of our lives is ourselves. Seems obvious, we know, but loving yourself and indulging in self-care has never felt more important than when you’re in a pandemic and spending less energy on other people. And this isn’t just valid when you’re single–you can take yourself on a date any day of the year! Valentine’s Day is just a good excuse to be a little extra with it.   If you don’t feel like there are many options where you are right now, head to your favourite local coffee shop, grab a takeaway drink and have a stroll through the park listening to your favourite music. If you’re in Cardiff, then Brodie’s Coffee is a great option, right by the museum, and over the road from Bute Park! Treat yourself when you get home to a fancy takeaway from that restaurant you’ve been missing over lockdown. Not only is this a great way to do something for yourself, but it’s also one of few things we can do at the moment to support local businesses and make sure they can open again as soon they’re able!   An at-home spa day is another popular way to give yourself some TLC on Valentine’s Day. Most supermarkets sell everything you’d need so there’s no need to worry about shops being closed! Next time you go out for groceries, pick up a new bubble bath or shower gel, a face mask or two and some of your favourite snacks on top of your usual eggs, milk and bread and have yourself a little pamper session. If you’re lucky enough to have the option, you could even book yourself in for a haircut or manicure for that extra little luxury!  

GALENTINE’S DAY/PALENTINE’S DAY  

Parks and Recreations’ Leslie Knope coined the term Galentine’s Day in the show’s second season back in 2010. Celebrated on February 13th, she decided she wanted a day to celebrate all of the wonderful women in her life! This included friends, family, colleagues and anyone else she felt she wanted to throw an extra celebration for!  Since it’s the day before Valentine’s Day, you can still go ahead with any of the ideas you had planned for the 14th and have a day dedicated to all your pals the day before. Why not try hosting a Zoom quiz with all your besties about some of your best memories with each other from over the years? If you’re living with your friends or want to celebrate with your family you could all cook a fancy meal together, each person taking charge of a different part. If, like the team at Rowanvale Books, you and your loved ones are huge bookworms, there are whole host of bookish date ideas which we put together for Valentine’s Day in another blog, and there’s no reason these couldn’t also be done with friends or family!  

However you’re spending Valentine’s Day this year, we hope these ideas from Rowanvale Books will help you find the best way to celebrate the love you have for yourself and for those around you.