Some peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 least favourite occasion is approaching: ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day. The day where you focus on your relationship with your partner, but only if you actually have one.

For singles, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a day that reminds them of how lonely they are.

Sara Aloimonos, certified life-coach and owner of local life-coaching business Monarch Coaching, introduces a different way of thinking of ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day by celebrating love for yourself.

She describes how society generally views ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day for contrast.

SA国际影视传媒淰alentines Day is seen as the day to express your love with fancy dinners, gifts, flowers and all that jazz,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hese material items symbolize the emotions that come out of the heart.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of pressure. Some love it, some hate it. It shines a light on their relationship and their relationship status. Normally people donSA国际影视传媒檛 care if theySA国际影视传媒檙e single. ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day highlights that yes, they are.SA国际影视传媒�

Aloimonos said that focusing on mutual love between partners on ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day is okay but that love for yourself is another important part of the holiday that is rarely spoken about.

SA国际影视传媒淲hether youSA国际影视传媒檙e in a relationship or single, why canSA国际影视传媒檛 ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day include the love we have for ourselves?SA国际影视传媒�

Aloimonos suggests that the day also be used to show oneself extra kindness and gives ideas of how singles, and those who need to focus on themselves, can do so.

Make a date with yourself.

Get takeout and watch your favourite movie.

Cook your favourite meal while blasting tunes.

Get a spa treatment complete with champagne.

Show love for your body by hitting an exercise class.

Take a bubble bath with your favourite book.

Journal all the ways youSA国际影视传媒檙e an amazingly, lovable human.

Do something kind for someone else.

SA国际影视传媒淭he idea is to do these things and be present with yourself. Be in the moment and soak up those love feels.SA国际影视传媒�

An unofficial holiday that is associated with celebrating singlehood is Singles Awareness Day, which falls on the day after ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day.

Aloimonos believes that the unofficial holiday suffers the same problem that ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day usually does, singling people out.

SA国际影视传媒淪ingles Awareness Day still separates those in relationships and those that are not,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hy do we need to create this separation?SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭he good thing about SAD is that you can celebrate love with family and friends whereas ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day is focused on romantic love between partners, although many celebrate with kids too, myself included.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲hy not focus on loving yourself no matter which day you might SA国际影视传媒榖elongSA国际影视传媒� to?

SA国际影视传媒淚f you get flowers or a date, great. If not, you have your fun-loving self to celebrate with.SA国际影视传媒�