You simply cannot escape Valentine’s Day, and it was a depressing reminder for me that I utterly sucked at relationships. Even deeper though
02/07/2018 .A Single Guy’s Guide to Surviving Valentine’s Day
For a single guy, the second most dreaded holiday (after Thanksgiving) is absolutely Valentine’s Day. I only say Thanksgiving is worse because you have ALL your relatives asking you (during a single day), “when are you going to finally settle down?”
Why is Valentine’s Day so bad you ask? Well, it’s the one day of the year where romance and love (in all their sappy glory) are celebrated EVERYWHERE. You simply cannot escape Valentine’s Day, and it was a depressing reminder for me that I utterly sucked at relationships. Even deeper though, I think it gives the false impression that you have to be in a relationship to be happy.
Full transparency here, I’ve got a Valentine this year; my wonderful girlfriend and I are celebrating 8 months of dating in fact. But I also have spent many years single during this time too, and wanted to pass along a few tips to help all my single brothers take the sting out of Valentine’s Day.
So without further ado – here are my top 5 tips for making it through Valentine’s Day:
- Refresh your mind. Valentine’s Day can be seriously depressing if you let negative thoughts dwell inside your head. To refresh my mind, I like to get outside. Go hiking, snowboarding, fishing, surfing, it doesn’t matter what you do, just get outside. Trust me, with some fresh air, and a little sunshine on your cheeks, you’ll feel like a million bucks.
- Buy yourself something cool. Let’s face it, if you had a girl, you’d be spending a LOT more money on her. You think your future Mrs. would easily sign off on a motorcycle after you’re married? I don’t think so. Making a cool purchase, big or small, within your budget can be rewarding and fun (and is easier to do when you're not sharing your budget yet.)
- Reconnect with an old friend. It’s been a busy time with the holidays and such. Now it’s finally over, you know you owe your old buddy a return call. Better yet, carve out some time to bring him with you on that road trip or fishing day you’ve been thinking about. Reconnecting with friends is good for your soul.
- Volunteer. By doing something for someone else, you’ll get your mind off those negative thoughts. Plus, by volunteering for those less fortunate, it will remind you how good you really have it. Lastly – I maintain, there is NO better place to meet quality gals than by volunteering. That’s how I met my wonderful girlfriend.
- Chill. When I say “chill”, I mean don’t fret and stress. Stay home, order some take out, throw on an old Judd Apatow movie, and play with your dog. God knows your heart’s desires, and he’s got an amazing plan for you. Don’t rush or worry – just rest in knowing he’s got your back.
Fellas - I hope these few tips help you get over the Valentine’s Day hump this year. And if you haven’t already, make sure you sign up for the Saddleback Singles text messages and join us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date on all the cool ways our church is bringing the singles community together!
Get connected at: Saddleback.com/Singles