Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day season, and Kent State students look forward to celebrating a holiday filled with all things self-care.
Many students are changing the narrative of Valentine’s Day and focusing on the importance of spending time with friends and themselves, instead of celebrating the traditional way with a significant other.
Self-care is not only important on Valentine’s Day but also essential to prioritize on a regular day-to-day basis. Self-care looks different for everybody but can be very beneficial, especially for college students who are under constant stress and pressure. UMASS Global stated, “It is clear that self-care in college is one of the primary ways to balance stress and ensure overall wellness as a busy student.”
“Self-care to me is doing little activities for yourself to make you feel better,” sophomore fashion merchandising major Abby Richardson said.
She said it’s important students learn to balance prioritizing not only their schoolwork but also their self-care.
Many students characterize self-care as spending time with friends. One popular Valentine’s Day trend is “Galentine’s Day.” Cosmopolitan Magazine defines Galentine’s Day as, “the friendship version of V-day.”
Sophomore fashion design major Nate Alesnik spends Galentine’s with his gals making crafts, baking, catching up with each other and watching movies, specifically a classic like “The Notebook.”
“I’ve celebrated Galentine’s Day every year with my close friends since I was a freshman in high school. It is honestly pretty important to me,” Alesnik said.
Richardson celebrated Galentine’s last year with her friends; they spent time with each other and made sweets.
“Some of my friends came over and brought a huge tray of strawberries, marshmallows and chocolate to make fondue,” Richardson said. “We then watched ‘The Bachelor,’ and it was a perfect Valentine’s Day.”
Feeling sad or lonely are very common feelings to experience on Valentine’s Day, according to Palo Alto University.
Students who don’t have their support group with them at school may feel lonely on Valentine’s Day, Alesnik said.
Richardson said people who are single often hate the idea of Valentine’s Day, but Valentine’s Day does not have to be just for couples.
“Valentine’s Day is just showing appreciation for someone you love, whether that is a friend or family,” she said.
Spending time with friends or alone can help combat those feelings of loneliness. Richardson suggests taking Valentine’s Day as a day for your friends or to practice self-care techniques and to stay off social media.
“Activities such as taking a bath or watching a movie can be beneficial on Valentine’s Day,” Richardson said. “Also, don’t go on Instagram because it could be depressing if you see other people posting things. That’s my advice.”
Kaitlyn Roth is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
