Valentine’s Day Tips From A Couple’s Counselor in Long Beach

Valentine’s Day is a day for those who are in love, but pressures to make the holiday perfect can affect anyone.  Here are some tips on getting through the day, regardless of your relationship status.

1) If you’re single

Valentine’s Day can be difficult for those who find themselves alone on Valentine’s Day. With all the focus on love and romance, it can be easy to fall into a funk if you are single on Valentine’s Day. Remember that a lot of people are also single and sitting at home with a pint of ice cream and a movie marathon isn’t going to help you feel any better. You don’t have to have a significant other to enjoy Valentine’s Day. Take the day to pamper yourself or spend time with friends and family. Also check out my blog called “Surviving Valentine’s as a Single Person”.

2) If you’re newly involved

New relationships are fun, everything is new and exciting. They can also be stressful, because you don’t know what to expect. Maybe you’ve only been on a couple of dates, and maybe you aren’t quite official yet. The key is communication. If you’re expecting something special for Valentine’s Day, you need to speak up. A simple “what are your thoughts about valentine’s day plans” can go a long way.  Same goes if you aren’t comfortable with celebrating, either at all or at this stage in your relationship. If you find your partner is on the same page, great. If not, think of it as an opportunity to find out how well you can compromise with each other.

3) If your relationship is going through a rough patch

If you’re feeling disconnected from your significant other, Valentine’s Day can be a painful reminder of your issues. The bad news is, nothing you can do on Valentine’s Day is going to magically fix your relationship. The good news is, Valentine’s Day can be a good time to take the first steps. Take some time to reconnect and talk with your partner and make a commitment to working on strengthening your relationship through the rest of the year. If your partner isn’t receptive, take the day to pamper yourself.

4) If you’re in a long-term relationship

If you’ve been together for a long time, it’s easy for Valentine’s Day to become just another day. Kids, work, and other responsibilities can push romance to the back burner. Don’t let it happen. Make a point to connect with your partner and do something special. If you can, send the kids to grandmas for a couple of hours or get a sitter and go out to dinner. If that’s not an option, you may need to get creative. Have coffee together before the kids wake up, or occupy them with a movie and popcorn on the living room floor while you have a candle lit dinner at the table.  You can also celebrate the day before or after when babysitters aren’t so busy and restaurants aren’t so booked.  You’ll be glad you did.