5 Ways We're Celebrating Valentine's Day This Year
Hey friend, I can’t believe it’s already February 2024! Valentine's Day is looming and I’ve been thinking so much about celebrating love in the year of 2024. Traditionally, I feel like Valentine’s day has either been so overplayed or completely underplayed. Coming into 2024 feels like a great time to find a happy, healthy medium! This year, Valentine’s day is no longer about conforming to traditional expectations; instead, it's an opportunity to redefine and personalize the celebration of love. While we all try to practice love and giving every day, it’s not often that we get a chance to reflect and redefine some of the ways we go about it. So, this year we’re letting go of the stereotypical images of chocolates, roses, and candlelit dinners and we’ll be trying something different instead. Whether you're celebrating Valentine's this year with best friends, a lover, your closest family members or flying solo, here are some of our best new (and maybe challenging!) ways to celebrate love and inspire connection!
1. Pay it forward or treat someone you love
If you’ve got the means, paying it forward at a café or treating some of your loved ones is one of the best ways to spread some love. There are no sweeter words than “Coffee’s on me today everyone!”
Image by @sammiec_
2. Call a loved one you haven’t spoken to in a while and have a chat!
I get it. I also communicate with my friends by sending them 15 reels in one go. But, in the world of instant messages and Insta DMs, let’s take a moment to check up on one another and have a little chat. Grab a cuppa and settle in because catching up with a bestie always goes longer than expected.
3. Hand-picked Flowers
There's something undeniably special about the simplicity and thoughtfulness of handpicked flowers for Valentine's Day. Whether it's a single stem or a colorful bouquet, each flower chosen with care speaks volumes about the sentiment behind the gesture. (If you're not a gardener or don't know where to find any, your local market will probably have a great selection you can buy!)
4. Self-care pamper sesh, duh!
Snuggle up in bed, grab a cuppa for the bedside table and crack open that book you’ve been putting off reading. Make it next level by adding a facemask, your cuddle-bug pet and that “10 Hours Of Rain On A Tin Roof” YouTube soundtrack. (Yes, I’m a pro at comfies).
5. Meal prep with a friend.
Valentine’s day falls on a Wednesday this year, so why not make it a functional Galentine’s date! The idea is easy; grab a friend, go shopping, and meal prep for the rest of the week! Inspired by lovely graphics designer Helen on our team who does this with her girlfriends. And as it’s Valentine’s day, so you might have to sneak in a cheeky bottle of wine to share with the girlies while prepping!
Image by: @loveandlemons via Pinterest
So what did you think of our new ideas? I myself will be trying to incorporate some of these on Valentine's day! Plus, the best part of all these ideas is that they’re not actually Valentine’s day specific. Practicing sharing the love and inspiring connection is what we’re all about over here. So why not make it something we can do every day!
Looking for some love-themed goodies or a gift for someone you love? Shop the official Valentine's Day gift guide here.
P.S. Use code LOVELOVE at checkout for a lovely surprise!
With love,
From Ecology