Love it or hate it, you just can’t avoid Valentine’s Day.

So single or attached, you’d better make a plan to survive it.

Wanna know the #1 reason couples are left disappointed on Valentine’s Day? Mismatched or unspoken expectations.

How to Survive Valentine’s Day

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the best antidote to avoiding the February 14 blues is good communication.

So have an honest conversation with your partner about the ways you want to be loved by them. It could be a game-changer. 😊

Finding out what your partner wants or needs – which they can be reluctant to voice – is a critical first step to avoiding the classic international love day relationship traps.

Valentine’s Day means different things to different people. For some, it can be a sentimental reminder of the love and affection they feel for one another. For others, it’s annoying and even stressful. Some feel it’s just another over-commercialized holiday that preys on our desperate need to love and be loved. 

If you’re single, try to avoid drowning your sorrows in wine and chocolate by connecting with a bestie, buying yourself something, or getting out and celebrating you! Don’t Put Stress On Having Sex Daily

3 Types of Valentine’s Day Couples

Couples therapist Sinead Smyth has identified 3 types of Valentine’s Day couples. Which couple are you?

1. LOVE/HATE: One of you loves it😍, the other hates it.😩

2. ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPANTS: Both of you love it and go all in! 🙌👊🎉💘

3. “MEH”: You both agree on the artificial nature of it and feel ambivalent about it, or reject it altogether.🙄

Set Reasonable Expectations

Like it or not, this annual celebration of love arrives like clockwork every year, so you might as well be prepared. Have a conversation with your partner about what type of couple you are and be sure to set expectations so no one ends up disappointed. You’ve got this!💕🔥

The Do’s and Don’ts of Valentine’s Day

Here are a couple more DO’S & DON’TS to help survive and maybe even thrive on Valentine's Day this year. 

DO:

APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNER: Whether you think the whole thing is cheesy AF or want to watch rom-coms all day long with your sweetheart, let them know you think they are awesome, and all the reasons why.

STAY IN YOUR LANE: The non-stop reels on social media can make us compare our relationship to seemingly perfect couples, making us feel inadequate or unhappy. Remember: COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF HAPPINESS, so just do your thing, your way.  

DON’T:

FORGET ABOUT IT: Whether you want heart-shaped chocolates 🤎, sexy time 👉👌, a simple card 📝, or to ignore the day all together, the day is happening. So do something, even if it’s a small thing. 

BE SEXIST: This doesn’t have to be about one partner spoiling the other. It’s about love, and love takes two, so don’t opt out and just expect your partner to do all the work. Ahem… ladies.