By the time this goes up, it could very well be that Valentine's Day has come and gone. Pack up your romantic gestures, displays of love and affection and gifts that show the person you're in a relationship with that you do, in fact, love them after-all and put them away until next Valentine's Day.
Wait, there is something so wrong with that picture!
While I admit that I don't have a huge problem with Valentine's Day as a whole and am quite looking forward to the plans I have with my cute man on Saturday, I don't agree that Valentine's Day should be the only day you go out of your way for the one you care about. There are 364 other days of the year, don't they deserve some love too?
Here are my 4 favorite ways to show you care all year round.
1. Send Flowers
I'm sure you're thinking, wow how original....The thing is, most girls are sitting at home on Valentine's Day waiting for their annual dozen rose delivery. 47% of people send flowers on February 14th, so if your guy doesn't get you flowers on V-Day, he's doing it wrong. But that is why it means so much more to receive flowers on any other random day of the year, not just Valentine's Day. Surprising your lady friend with a bouquet of daisies on a boring Thursday afternoon just because you were thinking about her is going to be a lot more meaningful than anything you could ever do on Valentine's Day.
2. Put Your Phone Down
This one isn't an extravagant gift or anything flashy, but it can change your entire relationship for the better. When you spend time with your partner, turn your phone off (or at least put it on silent), and back away slowly from the social media. Ignore your text notifications, emails and don't you dare scroll through Instagram! Many couples fall into a habit of being physically together in the same room or across from each other at the same table, but are not at all engaged with one another, as their both on their phones, half-listening and kind of nodding when the other person says something. It's a depressing sight to see, yet most of us have been there. Showing you care could be as easy as simply staying off of social media while you're together and focusing and staying engaged with your hot date in front of you! My husband and I have a new rule we put into effect on the New Year-we call it "Phones Down!" Basically, whenever one of us says those 2 little words, our phones go back into our pockets and we refocus our attention on each other. So far, it's been working like a charm...try it!
3. Make Their Life Easier
Candy, and flowers and gifts are great, don't get me wrong! However, the most meaningful things you can do for someone to show you care are often not the sexiest. For example, it makes me feel so loved and taken care of when my husband always makes sure I have a full tank of gas in my car, walks the dog when I'm sick or records my favorite trashy reality tv shows even though he despises them. Sexy? No. Does it sweep me off my feet? Yes. A box of candy could never do that. Make it your mission to do one thing every single day, no matter how small, that will make your partner smile or make their life a little bit easier.
4. Plan a Spontaneous Date Night
On Valentine's Day, all of the restaurants spike their prices, create fancy tasting menus and jam pack as many couples in as they can, so you can celebrate the most romantic night of the year with 65 of your newest friends. Now, there is nothing wrong with that if it's your thing, but planning spontaneous date nights year round couldn't hurt either, right? The key to the best kind of date night planning is to #1 keep the element of surprise and #2 remember the details. The element of surprise doesn't mean you have to blind fold your date or anything extreme, it could simply be sending them a text message saying something like "Be ready at 6pm tonight. Wear something casual. See you then." Next up, the details-this is where, with a little though and research, you can really shine! Has your partner mentioned a particular restaurant they've been dying to try, is their favorite band playing a show nearby, or can you score tickets to see a show you know they want to see? It can also be something as simple as staying in, ordering food and watching their favorite movie. The goal is to show that you've been paying attention and have planned a night that is sure to put a smile on their face.
With these four little tricks, you'll feel like it's Valentine's Day everyday! As it should be.