Each year, couples in committed relationships look forward to Valentine’s Day, leaving everyone else wondering how to celebrate this holiday—or if they even should at all. Valentine’s Day can be just as important to friends and families who want to express their love for one another as it is for people in relationships. Even those who don’t have a traditional “Valentine” have people with whom they can celebrate this holiday.

By February 14^th, Prep students have endured a long winter, two separate finals weeks, two seasons of sports, and countless other exciting—but sometimes draining—experiences that make self-care and self-love so important.

If anything, Valentine’s Day should be a reminder to students to take care of themselves and the people around them. Senior Kat Lord-Kraus shared how she practices self-care around Valentine’s Day, “I like writing cards for my friends, eating chocolate, and getting flowers.”

“A fun thing to do on Valentine’s Day is hang out with your friends, maybe watch a movie, and have a little ‘galentine’s’ day,” Sophia Kennedy ’23 said.

Even after the holiday passes, there are still many habits students could develop to better embrace the spirit of Valentine’s Day. These could include writing letters to relatives, giving more hugs, coming up with an at-home self-care routine, saying “thank you” more often, watching more Rom-Coms, saying affirmations, and so much more.

Lord-Kraus added, “To stay in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, you should tell the people you’re close to that you love them, wear pink and purple and red, and eat chocolate!”

Another fun part of Valentine’s Day is the gift-giving that can go along with it. Exchanging gifts is certainly not necessary on this day, but a reliable path to stick to if picking out a gift is something self-care related or something indulgent. Try to think of something the person would use and enjoy, but perhaps not buy for themselves.

Of course, in addition to thinking of their loved ones, it is still important Prep students to prioritize care of themselves. If anyone needs a reason to splurge on themselves this Valentine’s Day, take it from Kennedy: “If you want to buy yourself a gift, treat yourself!”