Let’s face it: Valentine’s Day can be stressful. There’s pressure to give the perfect gifts, go to the perfect restaurant, and plan the perfect day.
Here are some ways to hack Valentine’s Day and remove some of that pressure by keeping things simple and putting your effort where it actually matters. (After all, my engineer mind is always looking for ways to simplify!)
1. Have an honest conversation.
You can’t read your partner’s mind, and they can’t read yours. (As handy as that would be.) Discuss what would make observing Valentine’s truly meaningful, and that can help you remove items that simply add extra time or cost without adding extra meaning.
That may look like setting a budget for gifts, or deciding not to exchange gifts at all. Or it may mean you decide together to forgo “celebrating” at all and just have a quiet night in. Do what works for you!
If you’re single, this still applies. Be honest with yourself about what would be a meaningful way for you to spend your day.
2. Save Change the date.
Getting reservations on Valentine’s, or even finding a bouquet, can be super annoying! It can help to plan ahead, but you may find it’s easiest to celebrate on a different day altogether. You’re likely to have dinner in a less crowded restaurant, a less expensive bouquet, and more options for your celebrations.
You can even move it to an entirely different time of year! Do what works for you. There’s no Valentine’s Police who will knock on your door and tell you you’re celebrating wrong. (Probably. I mean I can’t predict the future, but it seems unlikely.)
3. Do something silly.
Go to McDonald’s in black tie attire. Play a children’s board game, but with added stipulations to make it harder. Make a simple scavenger hunt list together and then run around like crazy to see who can find qualifying items the fastest. (Loser plans the next date night?)
By keeping your Valentine’s just a little bit silly, not only are you creating great memories without a huge amount of effort, but you are helping reduce pressure. That means you’ll be able to focus on enjoying each other’s company instead of worrying about making everything perfect.
4. Get sentimental.
Has it been a while since you slow danced to “your” song or watched your partner’s favorite movie? You can even get extra sappy and hold hands while taking a walk—on the beach ideally but that’s optional. 😉 Find the little things that speak volumes, and enjoy the fact that you get to spend time together.
5. Nothing wrong with classic.
Flowers, chocolate, and a nice dinner are so synonymous with Valentine’s it may feel like relying on a cliche. But hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. (And other cliches about needlessly making things harder than they need to be.) You don’t have to rack your brains to come up with something different if you’re perfectly happy with the classics.
You don’t need The Greatest Most Unique or Mindblowing Idea to make Valentine’s special. Keep it classic and stop reinventing that wheel.
To Summarize: Make Valentine’s Day Fit for You
You don’t need to make Valentine’s Day a huge event with you and your loved ones. Keep things simple, meeting your own needs, and the holiday can still be extremely memorable.
If you’re looking for an easy keto gift to give to your loved ones on Valentine’s Day, check out the Keto Chow Valentine’s Day collection.
