The day after Valentine’s Day brings a day for the unpartnered masses of the UK to celebrate the joy of being alone. By that, we don’t mean sad-eating ice-cream and watching Bridget Jones (although we also love that), we mean celebrate!
TV and social media try to tell us, each year, that being single is something terrible, something that needs to be fixed. Well, we’re here to tell you that not only is that false but Singles Day is a day to empower our single selves and rejoice in all the great things about not being tied down.
This National Single Ladies Day, treat yourself! Here is our list of things singles can do this year for themselves.
- Take the day off
Tim Kreider wrote in The New York Times, “Idleness is not just a vacation, an indulgence or a vice; it is as indispensable to the brain as vitamin D is to the body, and deprived of it we suffer a mental affliction as disfiguring as rickets.”
This will be difficult for those of us who work, study or care full-time but, where possible, cut yourself some slack and make time for some self-care today. You deserve it.
- Have a drink
Whether you drink alcohol or not, today is the best day to pour yourself your favourite drink and kickback. Treat yourself to a milkshake from Kaspas or an iced coffee or a cocktail or a glass of wine.
Just saying – if you’re in good shape, *moderate* alcohol drinking can make you 25-40% less likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or kidney stones, according to WebMD.
- Buy yourself some flowers
Flowers are great and we don’t get them often enough. It can feel weird buying yourself flowers but think about how they’ll brighten up the living room! Find a vase (or empty vodka bottle, we won’t judge) and spruce up the house with some fresh-cut roses from Aldi.
Studies have found that flowers can actually brighten your mood and improve mental health. In Japan, office workers were exposed to flowers for just a few minutes and, in that time, their stress had already dropped.
- Have a games night for your single pals
Invite your housemates, invite your bubble, invite your Zoom buddies and have yourselves a celebratory games night.
There are plenty of games ideas online but here are our favourites: online Pictionary (scribbl.io), guess the baby (everyone sends in a baby picture of themselves and the players guess who is who), a scavenger hunt around the house, finish the lyric, 2 truths 1 lie, and finally a good old general knowledge quiz (Lancaster-themed, of course).
- Try a new makeup look/outfit
The official holiday colour for Singles Day is green and black (don’t ask me why, I think it’s to be as far from red and pink as possible) so try experimenting with some exciting new looks! Do you have a dress you’ve been keeping at the back of the wardrobe because you’re a bit nervous to wear it? Is there a makeup tutorial you’ve had saved for ages but haven’t got around to trying? Now is the best time!
(And if you can theme it with green and black, then you’ll just *complete* the aesthetic.)
- Treat yourself to something off the wish list
Oddly enough, there’s a financial advantage to being single. According to debt.org, 21% of single people have credit card debt compared to ~31% of married couples.
So, take this day to order something special from your wish list or take a trip across Etsy (support small businesses) and get yourself a present for this year’s Singles Day!
- Rule of three
This is one of the most important things we recommend this year. Take a moment, grab a notebook and pen, and try the rule of three. Write down three things you love about yourself. Write down three things you’ve done that you’re proud of (no matter how small). Write down three goals or dreams that you want to do this year.
Single people are more likely to value meaningful work, more able to take trips and travel alone, more open to opportunities, and value self-sufficiency.
However, the constant negativity towards the single life on social media can impact our mental health massively. So take the rule of three to remind yourself exactly why you’re so awesome and what awesome things you’re planning to do this year.
- Take a day off from social media and dating apps
Tinder is addictive. If you’ve tried it, you know. The same can be said for Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Today, just put that away. Today is about you and being fantastically single. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb and take a breather.
- Start that book/hobby/film you’ve been meaning to get to
It’s easy to get wrapped up in work and studies so we often forget the little things that we enjoy. Singles Day is about appreciating how fantastic you are without anyone else and nurturing yourself.
Pick up that book that’s been gathering dust on the shelf and take a bubble bath. Reading puts the brain into a meditative state and can bring out a deeper relaxation. Or if that’s not your thing, put on that film that’s been on your watch list for months now and get out the popcorn.
Likewise, if you’ve been saying for ages that you’ll finally try that hobby, now is the time. Learn to juggle, try an online stretch class, go for a walk to a place you’ve wanted to visit in your local area, join a university society you keep eyeing (and remember that Pole Society, Swing Dance Society, and Disney Society are all real things).
- Try a new recipe (or order takeout)
Finally, take a trip to Aldi and pick up the ingredients for a new recipe to try. Or else load up Just Eat and order yourself a Sultans.
Whatever you do this National Single Ladies Day, make sure to give yourself plenty of self-love and self-care. This day is all about you. Feel fantastic!
