Valentine's day in lockdown

​The pandemic is just hitting its one year mark, and what a crazy year it’s been! A lot of us are still in lockdown and for some, that means spending yet another holiday far from our loved ones. Valentine’s Day has never been my favorite holiday, and I know that under any circumstances, it’s a day that is hard for a lot of people. Last year, I wrote an article about enjoying Valentine’s Day when you’re single (read it here). This year I thought I would share some tips on how to make this day pleasant even during a pandemic, whether you’ll physically be with your significant other (but in lockdown) or separated by a computer screen. Love comes in all formats.

​Make it Count
It’s so easy to overlook Valentine’s Day (or any holiday) when you know you can’t attend any sort of gathering. That’s a perfectly valid option; you can just blow it off entirely. But if that’s not your thing, making sure that the day is special in some way can be a great alternative. The worst decision would be to stick with the status quo; taking part in other people’s celebrations, but not having anything planned for yourself and just sort of hoping that the day will be okay. Go big or go home. It doesn’t have to be an epic plan, but just having a Zoom call scheduled or sending a token of your love to your significant other can give you something to look forward to on February 14. 

​Set Aside Some Time
In the same vein, making sure that you’re setting some time aside to celebrate will guarantee that Valentine’s Day doesn’t go unnoticed. It doesn’t have to be the whole day – especially if you’re both busy doing your own thing (like baking bread and watching Netflix). It can simply be to agree to meet for dinner over Skype, or spend the night watching the same movies and debriefing them over the phone. Life can get so busy, and without proper plans, you might end up alone at midnight, realizing that you never got to get together in any way. Moreover, if you each block off some time, you know that you’ll be able to celebrate together uninterrupted. Your love deserves to be celebrated, especially if you are making it work while being apart.

​Dress the Part
 In lockdown, when we can’t go anywhere and we know without a doubt that nobody is going to show up at our house, it’s terribly easy to stay in sweatpants or – even worst – in pyjamas. To make this special day count, don’t be afraid to dress up a little bit – yes, even if nobody will be able to see your glam makeover. Taking the time to pamper yourself and dressing in clothes that make you feel good can change the entire feel of the day. Wear that glittery eye shadow that you never got to try, put on that bright pink shirt that makes you so happy, indulge in a deep conditioning hair mask; do what you need in order to feel beautiful and, why not, a little festive.

​Do Something Different
After a year in lockdown, we’re starting to know what kind of activities we can do; Zoom calls, Netflix binge extravaganza, virtual cook-offs... We slowly but surely settled into a brand new comfort zone. For Valentine’s Day, get out of that comfort zone a little (yes, again)! Let your significant other order food for you and vice versa, or try cooking something challenging and send each other pictures. If we want this day to be different than all the other days, we have to be willing to do something a little out of the ordinary.

​Bring the Outside World Inside
Not being able to go out is tough. However, we’re living in an era of technology, where literally everything is easily accessible. This year, bring the outside world inside your house. During the pandemic, a lot of companies developed top delivery services – for all kinds of services. You can now order snacks and a movie from the nearest movie theatre, kits to make sushi at home (read my article about it here), all the ingredients for a virtual baking competition... The options are unlimited. On top of that, you can order tickets for various shows and events that will be broadcasted straight to your TV (AND you don’t have to worry about the person sitting in front of you being too tall). Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to take advantage of all that and organize a night to remember. The best part is that you can do all that even if you’re not together; simply order the same package twice and enjoy together on Zoom or Skype.

​Share something
That brings me to my last point: if you can’t be physically together, try and share something. It can be a meal that you both prepare in your own kitchen, or a movie that you start at the same time, or even just a special drink that you taste simultaneously. We make connections based on things that are shared, and it helps feel closer to others when we’re able to contribute to something with them. 

​I think the main thing to remember is that we’re all in this strange situation together, and we’re all navigating it at the same time. No matter what we’re going through, we’re not alone. It’s important to preserve our connections to others in some way, and celebrate our successes along the way. Valentine’s Day may stir a lot of controversy, but this year it’s giving us a reason to create something special and celebrate the love that we have in our lives. That’s something the pandemic can’t take away. 

Much love,