Out of the Box Ideas for Valentine’s Day

When you’re in a relationship, either you hate this day or you love it. You love that it signifies love and romance. You also love that it gets you to celebrate your relationship with your significant other. And if you hate it? You think it’s a capitalist ploy for businesses to make more money. You think it’s overrated as couples can always have a Valentine’s Day every day.

Why be run-of-the-mill when you can be creative on Valentine’s Day?

Whichever side you are on, Valentine’s Day can’t be avoided. It’s a tradition that is celebrated all over the world, and if you want to do something that doesn’t involve heart-shaped boxes and candies, then this list is for you. Here are 10 out of the box ideas for Valentine’s Day.

#1 Get a new best friend. They say dogs are a man’s best friend. For Valentine’s Day, why don’t you and your partner head down to a pet shelter facility and volunteer? Those pets, whether cats, dogs or parakeets, will love you for it, unconditionally. And you won’t be able to resist the look that you will get from these pets wanting to have your hugs and playtime.

Before you do this, make sure that none of you are allergic to dog or cat fur, and that you have contacted a pet shelter to arrange for a visit. Some cannot accommodate walk-in volunteers, but others can. Just think of it as booking reservations for that hotel by the beach.

#2 Be the anti-romance. What’s the opposite of watching romantic comedies or dramatic love films on Valentine’s Day? Watching horror films, of course! The males will thank you for it as they get to breathe through the entire movie. As opposed to sleeping through the romantic comedies that the female always chooses to watch, this caters to the both of you.

Breaking out of the norm isn’t bad. But think of this as a selfless act of giving up cheesy, mushy films and letting in some Halloween spirit as early as February. Besides, it gives you better reasons to snuggle and hug your partner, especially when the scene gets dark and scary.

#3 Adopt the singles. You know how this goes. You have a significant other, but you also have single friends. Spread the love by cooking for your single friends. Every day is a Valentine’s Day with your loved one, so why don’t you prepare a singles party for all your single friends? Who knows you might even play cupid to some of them? Your friends will love you for it. That’s what Valentine’s is all about.

#4 Healthy competition. You and your significant other are always giving and putting each other’s welfare ahead of yours. For a change, why don’t you guys get into a healthy competition? Try to beat each other in video games or board games, in case you are both the indoor type. Or if you’re adventurous, why don’t you head out to a shooting range and try to see who has a better aim? Or play one-on-one pool. Or try to race?

The ideas are endless! Just find two things that you are both good at and remove this from the options to have a fair start.

#5 Get down and dirty. Everyone is going to get down and dirty when the sun disappears. But you and your partner will stay outside to get down and dirty. Why don’t you guys start off your date with a trek to the mountains and end it with a romantic bonfire as you gaze up at the stars?

All the clean outdoor air will make you both feel better, and the ambiance of being under the stars with a fire warming the both of you is sweet enough to be a Valentine’s date. But, it’s still not your run-of-the-mill candlelit dinner on the rooftop.

#6 Spring clean! While everyone is out watching movies or having dinner, you and your partner can clean the whole house. It’s a great way to bond as you both see each other’s mess, and you get to have an opinion on which stuff stays and which has to go. Nothing will bond you more than getting down on fours, scrubbing floors and then showering together afterward. And you can both reap the benefits of having a clean bedroom, after all that spring cleaning.

#7 Opposites attract. Is your significant other the geeky type? Why don’t you guys challenge yourselves to a 100,000 piece puzzle marathon? Or just a 10,000 piece if you don’t have the whole day. Or how about you try go-karting because your partner wants to be a professional go-kart driver, even though you said no to it a thousand times?

Being selfless and letting your partner do something that they will love is also worth considering this coming Valentine’s Day, especially if you don’t enjoy it. Take turns each Valentine’s day to pick out what activity you’ll be trying out, just to make things fair.

#8 The heart of the matter. Valentine’s Day is about hearts, about giving and loving. Why don’t you and your partner spend your day volunteering at the pediatric ward, especially in the cancer and cardiology areas where mortality is high? Your hearts will melt with all the love these children will give back to you, and you won’t only feel good about yourself but it will also bring you and your partner closer to each other.

#9 Play house. Get to release your inner mommas and poppas while playing with children from an orphanage or in a shelter. You will see how much they need you to be there for them. You will even be surprised at how fast the kids bond with you, even though you’ve only stayed there for a couple of minutes. This activity can help you envision yourselves as parents.

#10 It’s still another day. The truth is Valentine’s Day is just any ordinary day. But having someone to share it with, that’s extraordinary. It’s not every day that you have the joys of having a significant other who cares about you more than anything in the world. So cherish it while you have it.

Don’t think of anything fancy. Just spend the day like you usually do. But thank your partner for being there, and for not leaving even if you become insufferable when you get upset, for staying with you in spite of and despite all your flaws. That’s what love is all about.

While it’s true that Valentine’s Day only comes once a year, it doesn’t always have to be that way. You can celebrate it every day with your significant other or your friends or family. Just don’t forget that this day is about spreading the love!