Singles Awareness Day is an unofficial holiday that occurs annually on February 15 and is celebrated by people who are not involved romantically in any partnership.

It began as a cynical response to Valentine’s Day and traditional couple-centric ideals by a group of college bachelors. However, like many holidays (both official and unofficial), the day soon became marketable, and companies took advantage of this by promoting sales, discounts, etc. for the unofficial holiday. Alibaba’s CEO Daniel Zhang was noted as the first to use the day as a 24-hour shopping holiday festival in 2009 and since then, other companies have also partaken in the exposure the unofficial holiday provides their businesses. 

With this said, Single Awareness Day (SAD) can also be used as a day to promote self-love. Here are a few ways you can practice self-love on February 15. 

#1 Buy yourself flowers 

Having a fresh bouquet of flowers can brighten anyone’s day and by buying your own flowers, you really feel like you are romanticizing your life! There are many places where you can purchase flowers, but here at the Baron we always recommend trying to find somewhere local! Cedarcrest Garden Centre located near the university on Somerset is a great, local option. So, listen to Miley Cyrus when she sings “I can buy myself flowers” and treat yourself! 

#2 Self care

Loving yourself is easier said than done but investing in yourself through self-care can help you get there! Self-care can look different depending on the person. I love to listen to music and take a little extra time on my skin and hair care regime. Others might use their self-care time to go to the gym, read a book, watch their favourite television show, or perhaps get some extra sleep. As important as it is to ensure you are prioritizing your self-care every day, it is nice to spend a little extra time on yourself on days like this. 

#3 Hang out with friends 

Plan to hang out with your friends on Single Awareness Day or sometime soon! Organizing time to see those you care about can also make you feel good. Going for a walk, playing board games, or meeting up for coffee are just a few things you can do while spending quality time with your friends, that does not include schoolwork!

#4 Order in takeaway

 Have a date night with yourself and order in takeaway! Chinese food, burgers, pizza – the options are endless and there are also so many great local options for dinner in Saint John that you can order right to your place. Some of the local restaurants available for ordering off of SkipTheDishes in Saint John include Bamboo East Restaurant, Lily’s Lakeside Casual Dining, Naan-ya Business Restaurant, The Wild Carrot Café, Uptown Eatery, Taco Boyz, Gahan House Port City, Suwanna, Nonna’s Italian Kitchen, and so many more! 

#5 Do something for you!

This could mean so many different things depending on who you are and what makes you happy. For some people, it might mean going to watch a movie on the big screen, buying a special something that has been on your wish list, cooking your favourite meal, or perhaps planning and attending a special event, like a concert!  

These are just five ways that you can celebrate self-love on Single Awareness Day or any day when you feel like you need to fill your cup with a little extra love. There are plenty of other ways as well – but the main message is to treat yourself with kindness and celebrate yourself!