(02.13.2017) By Kayla Perkins — Happy Valentine’s Day/Singles Appreciation Day!
It’s that time of year again, love is in the air and everyone is cringing at couples making out in public. Or maybe you’re happy for them and support their endeavors, who knows?
What about you, what would you like to do today?
Here are some suggestions, including several from Morningside College alumni.
- Stay Home and Watch Horror Movies
What better way to spend the universal day of love than by watching horror movies? If you’re in a relationship watching horror movies is a great way to figure out each other’s hidden fears. If you’re single, find another single friend and watch them together for a day of horrible commentary and laughs. Or finding each other’s fears, that happens too.
- Buy Discount Chocolate Feb. 15th
“This isn’t really something to do with Valentine’s Day, but you can get cheap chocolate the day after,” says graduate Nick Vanden Berg.
February 15th is renowned for discount chocolates, so pick up some treats to indulge in for a while tomorrow, and put some money back in your pocket at the same time.
Decent discounts can be found at Walmart and Target.
- Play Video Games
This is my ideal date, I won’t lie. Being able to stay home all day, single or taken playing games with friends or alone is my ideal kind of day. If you are a video game fan, as well, I recommend playing some games with friends and/or significant others to enjoy a day in.
- Order Take-Out
“Get food brought to you so you don’t have to go outside,” says 2015 graduate Aly McKinley.
If you’re like me, you know the feeling and hate of going out on holidays. Valentine’s Day is no exception, especially when everyone in town is going out to eat at the same time. My recommendation: order delivery, have the food come to you, and stay inside all day.
Make sure to leave a tip!
- “Treat Yo Self”
I could quote the entire iconic “Parks and Recreation” scene, but I think it speaks for itself. Treat yourself to something nice, single or taken. Make it something that you have wanted for a while but have delayed buying, but make sure it is something you will not regret buying. Valentine’s Day is a day of love, including self-love, so go out there, find something you want and “Treat yo self!”
- Cheese and Wine Tasting
If you’re looking to be fancy and to carry a sense of elegance, one idea is cheese and wine taste testing, both classy and fitting with the holiday.
“You could get some cheese and wine, make yourself feel fancy,” says Vanden Berg.
Cheese and wine tasting can be done with a significant other, a friend, or even alone, and is an enjoyable pastime for several older students and alumni. (Please do not drink while underage, and drink responsibly.)
- Finish Those Errands
While Valentine’s Day is known to be busy, most of the active goings about don’t start until evening or later, so it’s the perfect day to get those loose errands done. Grocery stores and necessity stores are likely to be lower in activity throughout the day, so navigating through stops should be an ease.
“I like to go to the grocery store on days like this, because they’re never busy, so I can take my time and not have to worry about any kind of rush,” says Habinck.
- Take a Nap
I would put this at number one if these suggestions were in numerical order, as it is the one I would support the most. McKinley agrees, “Sleeping is good, I would highly recommend it when you can get it.”
Valentine’s Day is often a holiday where couples are in town all day, so students who have a roommate with a significant other are often alone the entire day. This is the perfect opportunity to catch up on lost zzz’s, and to get some much needed rest without being disturbed.
- Be Productive
If you’re like me, you’re not big on going out when everyone else is out, and like to make use of alone time.
My biggest motivator is to do things while I am alone, so my recommendation is that if you are alone today, make the most of it! Be it getting homework done or cleaning your dorm there is a lot you could get done.
I often like to reorganize my room and to tidy up. If that does not need to be done I try to find other ways I can be productive while alone, and often end up getting a lot of laundry and cleaning done, as everyone being out on the town makes it much easier.
- Volunteer and/or Donate
While unfortunately the humane society requires training in order to volunteer, and couples are likely flocking to all adorable animals there are other options for volunteering available.
“The Gospel Mission always needs volunteers, and it’s not somewhere a lot of couples would go,” says Habinck.
Sioux City’s Gospel Mission is located at 500 Bluff St, Sioux City, IA 51103
If you don’t have the time to volunteer, donate to a nonprofit! I recommend donating to St. Jude Children Research Hospital so you can be a Valentine to a child in need.
You can donate to St. Jude here: https://www.stjude.org/ 
What are your recommendations for things to do on Valentine’s Day? Write them in the comments!
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