8 ways to make Valentines Day special this year?
Posted by Ben Lumley on Feb 11, 2010 in Thinking Differently | 41 comments
So it’s not long before the most romantic day of the year and we all want to do something nice for our loved one. Some people plan for this day months in advance but if you’re reading this right now looking for advice, you’ve probably not planned much yet.
Here are 8 things you can do this Valentine’s Day to make it special. Some of these are very standard things that you may have done before while others are maybe simple acts that you haven’t thought of or have just forgotten.
1) Get a small gift
Rather than lavishing your loved one with chocolates, flowers and gifts why not buy them a small gift, but one that means a lot. If you think about it; you might be able to find something that means more than something twice its size. My wife for example, loves single long-stemed red roses so if I want to show her how much I love her I buy her one of those rather than popping to the florist and getting a £25 boquet.
2) Get that thing they’ve always wanted
Alternatively, you could go all out and if you have the money, get them that gift that they have been wanting for a long time. This obviously will need to be manageable finance-wise. If your partner wants a Ferrari and you only have £100 to play with then you’ll bankrupt yourself, which your loved one will not appreciate. But if you can splash out on that ultimate gift then Valentine’s Day can be a great opportunity to do so.
3) Take them away somewhere romantic
Nothing beats a romantic getaway. Try taking your loved one somewhere special to celebrate Valentine’s day and simply have sometime together as a couple (especially important if you have kids and you can find a babysitter). You don’t have to go to Paris or Rome though to achieve a romantic mood. My wife and I spent a lovely 3 days in Edinburgh a few years ago and it was perfect. It’s about being with the one you love that matters, not where you go.
4) Have a meal out
Been stuck at work a lot since the new year? Tightened your belts during January? Then why not have a night off and a night out together on Valentine’s Day? Getting out of the house for an evening might just be all the romance you need to make the night special. Plus there’s no washing up! (Unless you don’t pay the bill of course).
5) Have a meal in
An alternative to going out is staying in. Staying in removes the need for a babysitter and having to book a table at a restaurant. You can either cook a romantic meal for yourself or order take away but whatever you do make sure you get the candles out and make the atmosphere romantic.
6) Go for a romantic walk
You could try taking your loved one out for a walk. Somewhere in the country is always best, but anywhere will do really. Just walk, talk, hold hands and take the time to be together.
7) Tell them you love them
It’s often hard in our busy working lives to remember to do the simple things like tell the one you love that you actually do love them and appreciate them being in your life. If you have been together for a long time you might find that in the daily routine of life that you’ve forgotten to say “I love you” for a while. Well what better day to do it than on Valentine’s Day?
8 ) Have a conversation
We often forget to have a proper conversation with our loved ones in the day to day rollercoaster of life, so take the time on Valentine’s Day to just sit and talk. Curl up on the couch and catch up on all that news that you haven’t had the time to share or tell them how much you love them (see above).
Valentine’s Day should be about spending time with the one you love. So this year, rather than just doing flowers and chocolate, try something a bit different to show them how much you care.
What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?
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Ben Lumley writes about Success and Personal Achievement at 6aliens.com. He is a Personal Achievement Coach and Motivational Speaker.
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I am still not sure what I am going to do for my wife. But least I still have a couple of days. I'd much rather something meaningful than expensive.
Nice article Ben. I think you covered ways to spend Valentine's Day without too much money. I the last three that you put – go for a romantic walk, tell them that you love them, and have a conversation with them. I only can do 2 out of the 3 though because my girlfriend is across the Pacific Ocean.
But I have indirectly arranged a small gift of flowers, chocolates, and a teddy bear to be sent for her. I will say, “I love you” and I will also have an enlightening conversation with her. I hope it will be a good Valentine's Day for both of us. Thanks for this post.
Some lovely tips here Ben and I love the focus on showing how much we care.
hi ben,
how are you?
this was simple and straight to the point.
apart from ordering our favourite golden chicken and special fried rice from the chinese restuarant near the house, we would be treating ourselves to a game of boxing on the WII. Last time i checked, I was still the reigning heavy weight champion.
enjoy the rest of the day.
For the last 13 years we've boycotted the spending aspect of the day (why do roses have to cost 3 times the price in the lead up to one day?!) so if my hubby were to give me flowers on the big day it would be a wonderful surprise
Instead, he's cooking us a lovely meal in which will be yummy.
Some great suggestions here.
We like to do new and different things to make things interesting each holiday so it's more enjoyable and leaves a lasting impression. I feel going out to dinner is a nice way to show that you care because you can mix that in with buying a small gift, great meaningful conversation, a walk afterwards, and so much more.
Consider that.
Hey Tom
Yeah it's all about being meaningful – I suppose there's a lesson for life in there
Sound's like a great plan for Valentines Day Hulbert. I think the biggest thing to make the day really special is to be really meaning, sounds like you're going to be doing that.
Enjoy.
Thanks Jen – really glad you liked it.
Hey Ayo. I'm ok thanks – how are you?
Chinese take out and wii boxing sounds like a great way to spend the evening. Have fun.
A lovely, romantic meal sounds like a great thing to do. You taking a night off writing?
Eric, mixing it up every year sounds like a great idea. I'll definitely bear it in mind.
Hey Ben, great post. I have great difficulty commenting on your site from my iPhone, no idea why.
So have had to do it on a 'proper' computer….anyway, great post. Isn't Grace 3 years old ?
Anyway, this year we aren't doing anything special other than going out for a Thai meal on Saturday night which will be v nice, but we are going away at the end of February for 4 nights before the baby is born, so we have a lot to look forward to.
Ben, a nice little aide memoire for people who've either not realised how close the day is or just plain old forgotten. Thank you for sharing this.
THE SUNSHINE AWARD FOR YOU ON MY BLOG….CONGRATS!
Hey Matthew
I've heard other people have problems with commenting on the site via a mobile device. Try turning off the mobile theme at the bottom of the screen then you should be ok.
I think a Thai meal out and 4 nights away later in the month sounds really nice. Spread out the holiday over the whole month – great idea.
Thanks Paul – glad you liked it.
Thank you
Haha!! I love it bro!!
Though I'm not taken, I'll remember these for the future!
P.S. It also reminded me that I had forgotten to get my wife a card, although I do have a small gift for her!
Hey man! That's all good. Good to have tricks in the bag so to speak
Still days left
I folded into a traditional valentines this year, flowers/balloon/teddy. Got my son a stuffed frog (I always try to get him stuff on gift giving holidays, don't like him to feel left out even though he is still young). I wanted to do more but was limited this year since I am away from home. Great post man!
I think you doing those things while being so far away Ryan will be pretty special in it's self. Good job
Thanks bud, I hope your Valentine's goes great!
Without a doubt. Or more accurately, I'll get the writing done the day before
Haha!! For sure bro, for sure.
Valentines day is great and it is fun to do special things for it but don't forget the rest of the year. A tuesday in March is a fantastic time to give her that single rose, for nothing at all. A special walk in September is great as well. I am all for the fun of Valentines day, just make sure she knows you love her the rest of the year too.
Justin
What I'm loving about having read this post and the comments is the community love in that's going on here and, clearly, in our lives. Isn't it fantastic?
That aside, my valentine spotted the postman delivering his valentine's present today (some Bowmore whisky from the Royal Mile Whisky company – not an affiliate link!!) and just HAD to open it. He's terrible at waiting for surprises!! So I'm a bit back to square one on that front!!
Great point Justin! Love should be celebrated all year round.
Yeah it's pretty ace Christine to be honest. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
Which weirdly is a very similar feeling to the one I had the last time I visited the Royal Mile Whiskey Company! (I don't remember much of the walk back to the B&B)
LOL!! Know what you mean, Ben!
In fact I don't remember much of the evening at all
Number 1. Don't forget.
Hope this post is a helpful reminder Ralph. lol Thanks for stopping in
Hey Ben,
I have to spend this year apart from my loved one, so its going to be a little lonely. I did find a few little things to let her know I am thinking about her and I plan on spending the day between my 2 boys here and her online talking and having that conversation. Which btw you are right about. We talk all the time and that is the best way to let people know you care, to spend time with them.
Hi Ben,
I also think the best Valentine's Day gifts are gifts that are more meaningful than expensive. Here's an idea I've read somewhere: buy a blank book with a nice cover and list the 100 things she does that make you smile, or the 25 reasons why you love her, or something along those lines.
Success guaranteed.
Hey Jeff
How's it going man?
Sorry to hear you're away from your lady this year but good to hear you're still making to effort to make some time for each other.
Love this idea Phil!
I did a similar thing once and got a little blank note pad with a nice cover and on every page I wrote a lyric from a song that made me think of my wife.
Thanks for stopping in.
Hi Ben,
Nice list and image too
I prefer to keep it simple. Me and the lady aren't too big on social conventions; treating each other with love and respect everyday is enough of present to each other.
Hey Ryan
Thanks for stopping by.
Being present and treating each other with love sounds like a wonderful way to live in a relationship and a massive lesson for us all. Thanks for sharing