Valentine’s Day is here again! Whether you love or hate our national day of love it’s hard to escape the endless stream of heart-shaped balloons, boxes of chocolates, and romantic TikTok and IG Reels flooding your feed. Spending Valentine’s Day alone this year doesn’t have to be a day of mourning. In fact, being single on Valentine’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to focus on you. 

Don’t roll your eyes at us just yet — keep reading and we’ll share how to navigate being single on Valentine’s Day with grace and gratitude. If you’re searching for solo-date ideas or things to do with friends for a Galentine’s Day celebration, we’ve got you!

Step #1: Prioritize Quality Time with You

Between your job, family obligations, catching up with friends, meal prep, and workouts – when was the last time you had quality you time? Being single on Valentine’s Day gives you the opportunity to relax, recharge, and reflect on what’s important to you. Reserve time to reflect on your accomplishments, the progress you’ve made on your New Year’s resolutions, and the wins you're still working toward. Acknowledging and honoring your hard work is always worthy of celebration.

Take it a step further and reflect on what you’re looking for in a relationship. You may be in a season of self-discovery, healing, or great growth — what better time to identify the must-have criteria for your next relationship? Figuring out green and red flags and deal-breakers works to your advantage in the long run.

Step #2: Spend Time With Friends

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for the coupled-up lovebirds — it’s a day for celebrating both romantic and platonic loves you have in your life. They say friendship is the foundation of any successful relationship, so don’t forget to nurture your tribe by spending time with your favorite friends.

Believe it or not, even your “strong” and “independent” friends are stressed out by Cupid, wondering why he hasn’t struck them with his arrow. Reset the mood in your circle of single friends by initiating plans. Try bowling, wine tasting, taking a dance class, losing your voice at karaoke, or having a game night. You can make an amazing day out of being single on Valentine’s Day with your people by your side.

If you and your gang prefer to stay in and out of the way of overloaded Valentine’s Day-themed decorations and menus at your favorite restaurants, try hosting a Valentine’s Day single’s party. Spoil your guests to that home-cooked meal you’ve been dying to try but haven’t because you’re avoiding cooking for one mouth.

Step #3: Indulge in Self-Care

Isn’t this the same thing as spending quality time with yourself? Well, not really. Quality time is all about self-reflection and nurturing your heart and mind while self-care is all about joy and treating yourself. It’s the external things to splurge on that make you happy. We’re talking clothes (treat yo’ self), massages (treat yo’ self), mimosas (treat yo’ self), buying yourself flowers on Valentine’s Day (absolutely treat yo’ self), and whatever else your pockets can afford.

We say go ahead and treat yourself on Valentine’s Day, but do put a limit on how much you treat yourself – inflation is hot right now (even if your love life isn’t 😂).

Step #4: Give Back

If you still have some money left in the bag after you’ve treated yourself, why not give back? Think of your favorite charity or community organization and determine how much you can contribute, be it money, volunteer time, or material donations. 

Giving back can positively affect your mood, energy level, and direct community. Utilizing your time to help others gives you a sense of purpose and helps you feel more connected to your community. Charitable giving can also help build and strengthen relationships with others in your neighborhood. It can also be a great way to express your gratitude and appreciation for all that you have. Plus, you never know – your future bae may be spending Valentine’s Day at the same charity center!

Step #5: Start Something New!

We know, it’s only month two of the year, but did anyone else feel like January lasted for an entire season already? Fortunately, February is a great time to check in and have a real talk with yourself. 

Have you started reading that best-seller book that’s been on your list for months? Attended a yoga class at the studio you already paid 10 classes for? How about decluttering from all those Black Friday deals and holiday gifts? Tis the season of newness, and there’s no time like the present to start checking off that list of things you want to try this year.

Step #6: Join the CarpeDM Community!

If you're a Black professional woman or someone eager to connect with professional Black singles for a future Valentine's Day, CarpeDM is here for you. Seize the opportunity with the premier dating app exclusively designed for Black women and those seeking to date them during this season of love. Our mission is to offer an authentic matchmaking experience that nurtures meaningful connections.

For too long, Black men and women have faced discrimination both inside and outside of the dating world, and the arrival of online dating apps has yet to mitigate this issue. We’re flipping the script — every suitor in the CarpeDM community is eager to start a new chapter in their Black love story!

How does matchmaking work? Create your CarpeDM profile and once your application is approved, you will meet with a personal matchmaker who will learn about you and your dating needs and select matches for you. Our professional cupids carefully vet every single profile and curate matches based on compatibility. The CarpeDM community includes the most eligible singles in some of the most lively cities in the US. If you’ve been searching for matchmaking in Washington DC, or Black matchmaking services in the DMV, look no further — apply today to see what the hype’s about!

Single on Valentine’s Day? You’re Never Alone

Don’t let being single on Valentine’s Day get you down. Embrace the solo time and use it as an opportunity to enjoy yourself or celebrate other people or causes you care about. Who knows, it may be your last solo Valentine’s Day! Ready to find love to start planning your dream Valentine’s Day next year? Join CarpeDM and let us play Cupid for you!