10 Best Things to Do on Valentine's Day

Our Valentine's Day Activities for Couples at All Relationship Levels

Let's paint a picture that we're sure those of you in a relationship will be familiar with: Valentine's Day arrives on February 14, just like every other year, and you may be feeling a lot of pressure to make the day special for your special someone.

Valentine's Day is the first big day on the calendar for couples new and old, and figuring out how to make it memorable can put a lot of pressure on you in the days and weeks that follow. Part of the problem is that it's not just a matter of what to do, where to eat, what to get your significant other; it's also about making choices that fit your particular relationship.

If you've only started dating in the last few weeks or months, we can allow you to keep it fairly casual: make dinner reservations, send flowers or chocolates, go to the movies. But what if you've been dating for a year, five years, or ten years? What if you've been fighting or drifting apart?

To help ease the stress of Valentine's Day and simplify your life, we've picked out eight common situations you may encounter this year, along with advice, solutions, date ideas, and more.

1.When You're Just Starting To Date

You're not officially in a relationship yet, but you can see it moving in that direction. The beginning stages of a new relationship are filled with excitement and anxiety, and you're trying not to say too much or too little. If you're already close, a great way to warm up and move the relationship forward is to organize a thoughtful, romantic dinner.

Eating a delicious meal together is a great way to go, whether you choose to dine in a restaurant or not. If your cooking skills aren't great yet and you're not confident in preparing food yourself, you can opt to make reservations at a local restaurant or order takeout or delivery from their favorite place.

Afterward, if you both want a few drinks, why not indulge in some Valentine's Day cocktails? This is your chance to build intimacy and passion together, which will help to solidify your relationship.

2. When You're Going Through a Rough Patch

No matter how long you've been together, sometimes things in a relationship just aren't easy. If you and your partner are going through a rough patch, consider expressing your feelings in a long, open love letter.

Here you can detail all the unique, impressive qualities that attracted you to them in the first place, and why you're fully committed to improving your relationship in the years to come.

In these pages, you could suggest a date at one of their favorite restaurants, followed by a nice bar—once they open, of course. A little spontaneity will get you out of the rut that's been plaguing your relationship and may help to open up a conversation and get things back on track.

3. When You've Just Said "I Love You"

If you say these three simple words every chance you get, Valentine's Day is likely to be a holiday you and your partner are excited about. While Cupid's busiest day of the year may have felt overly commercial in the past, Valentine's Day may now have a much more beautiful meaning when you soak up these feel-good vibes.

Let your amorous heart be your guide and go all out with romantic gestures, starting with flowers.

Many people love to send a surprise bouquet (especially if you remember their preferences) so they can brag to their friends about having a wonderful partner who thoughtfully sent it to them.

P.S. According to OrganicBouquet.com, most flower orders are placed on February 11, so hurry up and order some.

4. When You’ve Been Dating for More Than a Year

The honeymoon phase is over, and at this point, you’re learning to adjust to each other.

Use your vacation to book a trip just for the two of you, whether it’s flying across the globe or driving to some romantic countryside.

Plus, getting out of your daily routine usually brings some undeniable sex.

5. When They’re Really Stressed

Even in the happiest of relationships, external stressors — like work, health, family, or an ongoing global pandemic — can throw a wrench in things. If things aren’t going well around Valentine’s Day, your partner might want to do something low-key to avoid adding more burden to them.

Are you up for the challenge? Being creative and considering their preferences is your best bet here. You want them to know that you know how busy they are and that your relationship and their happiness come first.

Remember, it's not about spending the most money on your credit card—cheap Valentine's Day gifts can be great, too! Instead, it's about showing them that you remember them and that you care.

6. When You Want to Spice Up Your Sex Life

The longer a couple spends together, the more comfortable they are with everything from date night to housework and, of course, sex.

By now, you know the right amount of pressure to apply to their most sensitive spots, where they like to be kissed, and what positions bring them to orgasm. While these are all part of knowing your partner inside and out, there's more to do to increase the intensity of your love life.

For your Valentine's Day celebration, you should make dinner at home. Then, focus on making the evening all about them. Whether it's preparing a bubble bath for two, giving her a hot oil massage, or gifting her a new sexy bathrobe, the more comfortable and loved they feel, the more likely they'll be to explore things with you.

When it's time to make love, take your time and give each other oral sex. You'll make sex even hotter by taking the initiative in oral sex and making sure your partner is warmed up and ready. From here, suggest new positions you'd like to try or bring out the toys you bought. They’ll be impressed by your efforts in the bedroom.

7. When Newlyweds are Broke

If you just got married last year, you may still be working to get your savings back to where they were before you got married. This can cause tension in your relationship, as many couples argue about finances and future plans.

During Valentine’s week, take a break from talking about money and focus on the meaning of the holiday. Your mission is to recreate the magic of the day you said “I do.” Start by pulling out those wedding photos, grabbing a cake similar to the one you had at your reception, and grabbing a bottle of good champagne.

They’ll love the sweet attention to detail and may even be inspired to recreate some super hot, must-have-my-husband-right-now honeymoon sex.

If you’re feeling a little uninspired on the bouquet front, there are plenty of cheap Valentine’s Day gifts to choose from.

8. When You’re Recently Single

Most men (78 percent, to be exact) don’t mind that they don’t have a date on Valentine’s Day. It can be refreshing to skip any celebratory gifts or obligations, given that the stakes are immediately lowered and your expenses are significantly reduced. On the other hand, if you’ve just gotten out of a relationship, you may miss being with someone you care about. This is a normal part of the recovery process, and it teaches you how to understand, process, and express your feelings in healthy ways.

To make this love-oriented holiday less painful, gather your single male friends and organize a game night. Maybe that means some collaborative online games or playing board games over a Zoom call. Whatever you choose, the important thing is to reconnect with your closest friends.

9. When They don’t Like Valentine’s Day

If your partner casually mentions that they don’t need to celebrate Valentine’s Day, take them at their word, but suggest doing something fun anyway that doesn’t require rose petals or champagne.

Try something you’ve never done before, whether it’s cooking a gourmet meal or starting a new Netflix series together. Whatever it is, you don’t have to use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to do something exciting. Instead, together you’ll remember that the most exciting gift is the company of a partner in crime who says “yes” to every whim and good idea you have, no matter how crazy.

10. When You’ve Been Together So Long That You Forgot to Plan Anything

Before you get too hung up, remember that there are plenty of last-minute romantic things and last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts for those who forget about this holiday. Unless you admit your tardiness, you don’t even have to make up a white lie to cover up your forgetfulness.

When you’ve been dating someone for so long, an easy solution is to opt for rose petals at the florist, and treasure hunts around the apartment, all with reasons to make them feel wonderful, hot, sexy, and smart. The most important thing to remember about this holiday is to make them feel special. Show off your love!