Here are five things you should and shouldn’t do on Valentine’s Day to make it past the “worst” holiday ever for singles.
1. Don’t drink too much. But do drink a little.
Don’t drown your sorrows by indulging in too many drinks with your single friends. Alcohol has been linked to depression in countless studies, so steer clear of binge drinking, even if you think it will better your mood.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t get a little naughty: a recent study showed that women who drink alcohol moderately (about one glass a day) had lower risk of depression than those who were non-drinkers. So go on and slip a little Baileys into your coffee.
2. Do hook up with another single hottie. But don’t feel guilty about it afterwards.
If one is the loneliest number, why not spend Valentine’s Day hooking up with someone equally as single? Research suggests that casual sex’s short-term positive effects can cause you to feel just as mentally fulfilled outside of a serious relationship as you would if you were in one. However, women in the study were more likely than men to feel guilty post–hook up, so make sure you use protection to avoid health concerns and be realistic about the purpose of your one-night romance.
3. Don’t go the bar to meet new people. Do try online dating.
If you think hitting up the nearest watering hole will increase your chances of finding a new partner think again: online dating could soon overtake meeting in bars as the number of online daters continue to increase.
If you’ve never given it a try before, you’ve got nothing to lose now. Use some of your downtime to make a profile and message some cuties that are also in a similar mindset around February 14th.
4. Don’t be alone. Do open up to old to pals about how you’re feeling.
Sometimes, a great chat with a friend can really turn your mood around. While you’re wallowing about why your single, a friend could give you the pep talk you’ve needed to feel re-energized about dating again. So don’t skip a reunion with people you haven’t seen in awhile, whether they’re single or not. A recent study found that mood-transforming epiphanies are actually very possible when you hit emotional rock bottom. Let the spirit of those cheesy cards inspire you!
5. Do eat chocolate. Don’t forget to exercise.
Avoiding all chocolate and candy is probably only going to worsen your mood, so indulge a little and plan to work out a bit harder during your next sweat session. Plus, you can comfort yourself with the fact that several studies have linked eating small amounts of dark chocolate regularly with health benefits like a decrease in cardiovascular problems, weight loss and easing emotional stress (although we could have told you that last one was true). Remember to give yourself some love on February 14th!
MORE VALENTINE’S DAY ADVICE (FOR SINGLES AND COUPLES!):
