Lifestyle5 ways to embrace Valentine’s Day the single way - from self-love to gratitude

Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeShiny red love balloons and overpriced meal deals hitting the shops can mean only one thing – it’s Valentine’s Day. It’s a time many single people dread, as they endure loved-up couples gushing on social media. Beyond the clichés, being single on Valentine’s Day can stir up real feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially for those longing to be in a relationship or feeling pressure to be partnered. It doesn’t help that studies show being single can negatively affect your health. This is because the simple act of physical touch has proven health benefits. Kissing, hugging and having sex boost the ‘cuddle chemical’ oxytocin, which lowers the stress hormone cortisol while upping the happy hormone dopamine. It also reduces inflammation in the heart and, according to one study, lowers cholesterol.

Valentine’s Day can be difficult if you’re not in a relationship
(Image: GETTY)

Read More
Related Articles

Experts pick the 6 ways to rejig your morning routine and reach your goals faster

Conversely, those deprived of affection can be more susceptible to secondary immune disorders, depression and other mood disorders, says Kory Floyd, professor of communication at the University of Arizona in Tucson. It’s now even thought you can die of a broken heart. ‘Takotsubo cardiomyopathy’ or broken heart syndrome occurs when a shock, such as the death of a loved one, causes a surge of adrenaline to shut down the left heart ventricle. Affecting around 2,500 mainly women in the UK each year, one in 20 cases are fatal. Such extremes are rare, but the negative impact on mental health of unwanted singledom is all too common, says psychotherapist and anxiety expert Kamalyn Kaur. “Social media, TV and adverts place a large focus on romantic love, which can make single people feel excluded,” she says. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are benefits to staying footloose and fancy-free. Research from the University of Basel in Switzerland found married couples tend to take part in less sport and exercise than single people and they weigh significantly more. Plus, solitude without loneliness can lead to increased productivity. As Kamalyn says, “Embracing singlehood can be empowering. You’re not obligated to conform to societal expectations or pressures related to Valentine’s Day. Plus you don’t have to pay triple for a meal that you would normally eat at a fraction of the cost.” And it’s worth remembering love doesn’t just come in romantic form. There are plenty of ways singletons can create connections – and enjoy the health benefits – on 14 February without the cringey dinner date.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about romantic love
(Image: GETTY)

Have a laugh You don’t need to be coupled up to benefit from some bonding. Psychotherapist and anxiety expert Kamalyn Kaur suggests, “Make a plan to do something with a family member or a friend that will help you feel connected. Invite them over for dinner or take yourselves out for the day. This will shift your focus away from feeling lonely and isolated.” Why not make it Galentine’s Day and see a comedy show or watch your favourite sitcom with a friend? Laughter releases endorphins, which feel good and strengthen social bonds. Practise gratitude Regularly practising gratitude can result in lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system and better sleep. “Valentine’s Day can be about celebrating any relationship that brings you happiness,” says Kamalyn. “Focus on the people you’re grateful for and celebrate them. This will help you be mindful of what you have rather than feeling sad about what you don’t have.” Treat yourself The benefits of spoiling yourself from time to time go beyond instant gratification. Even a small treat has the power to shift your mindset, helping promote healthy habits and boosting your confidence. “Buy yourself something nice or treat yourself to an experience that you would enjoy,” Kamalyn says. “This is a great way of reminding yourself that you deserve to be treated well and, more importantly, you don’t need someone else to make you feel special or loved.”

Looking after yourself this Valentine’s Day can boost wellbeing
(Image: GETTY)

Get pampered This is the ideal time to connect with yourself, which is just as important as connecting with others. Self-care brings benefits, too – lowering stress and anxiety, lifting your mood and boosting self-esteem. Kamalyn advises, “Spend the day doing the things you love, whether that’s taking a bath, enjoying a favourite meal or booking a massage. It’ll make you feel valued, which is great for overall wellbeing.” Celebrate you As RuPaul says, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?” Kamalyn adds, “Use Valentine’s Day to reflect on what you love about yourself – your qualities, your positive traits and your achievements. While it’s nice to have someone make you feel loved, it’s also very important to be able to make yourself feel loved. “Reflecting on who you are as a person and your personal growth is a great way of boosting self-worth and self-love.” ‘I’m happy being single – I can’t wait for Galentine’s Day’ Katie McNamara is a dating expert and podcaster. Check out her podcast at instagram.com/ singlesounds/

Katie McNamara is happy to be spending Valentine’s Day alone
(Image: Katie McNamara)

Katie McNamara, 27, from London, is single after splitting up with her boyfriend of three years. Here, she reveals why she is happy to be spending Valentine’s Day solo. “I’ve invited 15 single girlfriends round for a cheese, wine and chocolate night and I’ve never been more excited. I’m going to get them chocolate hearts and all the Valentine’s commercial items. The day is four months after my split from my boyfriend but I’ve started to adjust to being single again. Even though the initial period after we parted ways was tough, I feel lucky that I’m not with someone who doesn’t want to be with me. Plus, when I’m single, I often have a better Valentine’s Day because I can control how the day goes. I’ve had some terrible experiences – one partner forgot the day and invited me round because he happened to be free that evening. he made me a healthy dinner which was fine but not the meal I had envisaged. I find there are benefits to being single – it’s nice being able to do whatever you like every day and not having to compromise or tell anyone your schedule. It’s really freeing. I am getting out there again but I haven’t unpaused the apps yet; if you have the apps you don’t look around in person and you’re insular. Meeting people in person is so much easier because you don’t have to worry about the first date awfulness.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnHealth

Categorized in: