Is there such a thing as the Grinch but for Valentine’s Day? I think I can speak for lots of singles who are tired of the constant barrage of Valentine’s Day marketing and the general pressure of finding the “right” plans. Even if you’re perfectly content in your single status, Valentine’s Day can trigger complex feelings and be a reminder of societal expectations. Almost 50% of adults in America are single, so you are not alone. If you’re in this boat, this guide is for you! Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be stressful or a day that you have to miss out on. Here are some ways to celebrate this year:

1. Galentine’s celebration

Galentine’s Day is a celebration of friendship that can take place on Valentine’s Day or any time of the year! There are so many fun ideas for hosting a Galentine’s party, such as getting crafty with DIY projects, eating themed snacks like heart-shaped pizzas, or hosting a romcom movie night. Galentine’s Day is all about celebrating platonic love and the people that are important in your life, which is a unique kind of love that fulfills many needs that romantic love cannot.

2. Self-care night

If you’re going solo on Valentine’s Day, you might as well make a night of it! Get your favorite takeout, turn on a movie of your choice and indulge in a sweet treat of your choice. If you’re of age, maybe have a glass of wine — or two. Put on a face mask and enjoy your own company. There’s no shame in having a night in for yourself and prioritizing your self-care. On a more serious note, it’s important to take care of your mental health when practicing self-care. If you are working through difficult emotions, there are campus resources that can help you work through your experiences.

3. Treat yourself 

Going hand-in-hand with the theme of self-care, treat yourself to something that you would want a hypothetical partner to do for you. If you love flowers, go buy yourself flowers! Or you could even take yourself out to a nice dinner at your favorite restaurant. Maybe you want to see the new romcom movie, “Anyone But You,” but haven’t had the time. Valentine’s Day could be the perfect opportunity. It might sound a bit silly, but treating yourself is an act of self-love and doesn’t require another person.

4. Hit the town

On the other hand, if you’d rather spend Valentine’s Day out and not at home, that’s perfectly understandable. Go to a fun dinner, event, or bar with your single friends to make a night of it. Maybe you’ll find your Valentine after all if that’s what you are looking for, or you could play matchmaker for your friends. 

5. Hit the gym or take a fitness class

If you’re like me, sometimes having a good sweat session can be therapeutic. If Valentine’s Day has got you in the dumps, hit the gym and have a good workout to distract yourself. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to try pilates or kickboxing. This could be an opportunity to try a new challenge. Getting in a good workout will raise your endorphins and make your day better knowing you are working on becoming a better version of yourself. 

6. Spend time with family

If your family members or loved ones are welcoming to the idea, you could crash their Valentine’s Day plans. Maybe go out to brunch or lunch with your family to surround yourself with your people to celebrate this day that’s devoted to love. Spending time with family or loved ones can be a good reminder that you have people in your life who love you unconditionally, regardless of what period of life you’re in.

7. Do something kind for someone else

Gratitude and good deeds definitely lift spirits. They can help remove us from negative thought patterns and remind us of the most important things in our lives. Even showing a small act of kindness to a friend or acquaintance who may be going through a hard time can help brighten both of your days. If you’re interested, you could spend Valentine’s Day volunteering and giving back to your community.

Regardless of how you decide to spend Valentine’s Day, have fun with it and do something that will bring you joy. There’s no reason to forgo celebrations if you don’t have a partner.  Own it and celebrate in your own way!

Thanksgiving is one of the most underrated holidays. It is sometimes lost in the mix between Halloween and Christmas. Many people skip straight from Halloween to listening to Christmas music and decorating their trees Nov. 1 and miss the best part of the fall season. 

For me, Thanksgiving is a great time to spend with family and celebrate the things we are thankful for in our lives that can be overlooked during other overly-commercialized holidays. In these difficult times of political and social unrest amidst a pandemic I think it is important to take a breath and remember the things in our lives that we are thankful for.

Some of the typical Thanksgiving traditions may be a little different this year due to COVID-19, but there are still things that everyone can enjoy during this holiday season while staying safe.

In my household, we have a tradition of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the National Dog Show and football throughout the day. Due to the pandemic, it has been announced that the parade will be held in an altered recorded form but will still be aired on television during its normal time. The National Dog Show, as well as college and professional football games, are also still scheduled to air on Thanksgiving Day with slight alterations to account for social distancing guidelines.

While traditions like watching football on Thanksgiving are still possible to experience, some of the most important aspects of the holiday may not be possible for many during the pandemic.

Every year, my family hosts a big Thanksgiving meal at our house. We spend all day cooking, watching football and spending time with our extended family that we don’t get to see very often. This year, due to COVID-19, our big family meal is going to be held on a smaller scale with just my parents and my sister.

We might not have the complete Thanksgiving spread of food this year, but my dad still plans on roasting a turkey, and I will definitely be making a pumpkin pie. Even though I won’t get to see all of my cousins, I am still grateful to be able to spend this time with my parents and sister who I don’t get to see as often now that I am in college.

Black Friday is another one of those over-commercialized holiday events that can sometimes distract from Thanksgiving. It seems like the sales start earlier and earlier every year, so now they begin on Thanksgiving evening or even a few days before.

My family sometimes goes shopping on Black Friday, but we are not the people who get up at 5 a.m. to wait in line for stores to open. Black Friday is when I fully begin to embrace the Christmas spirit, but only after I have fully appreciated fall and Thanksgiving.

Even though the holiday season will not look quite the same this year, I am thankful for so many things in my life. Celebrating these things is what Thanksgiving is really about. I am thankful for my health, my supportive family, my amazing friends, the beautiful fall weather, good coffee and so much more. 

Social media has created a culture of frenzy around new media being released, and some TV shows get a lot of social media hype. Because of that hype, many people end up looking forward to shows before they have even seen them. For shows that have already been or are currently being released, the hype has a possibility to create disappointment if a show does not live up to its online persona. This social media culture fosters the idea of overrated TV shows. Some concerns of overrated-ness are valid while other shows deserve their respective audience of dedicated social media posters. Below is a list of four shows commonly considered to be overrated, but should they be?

“Game of Thrones”

After its premiere in 2011, “Game of Thrones” was the constant talk of the internet. Each new episode drew in millions of viewers, with Twitter following along with trending hashtags.

But besides being in the loop about one of the most-talked about TV shows, is “Game of Thrones” worth watching? I think so. 

The beginning seasons are arguably superior with their twisting storylines, loved and hated characters and brilliant acting. However, by the time you get to the later, lower quality seasons, you are already so enthralled that the declining quality is easy to overlook. It truly is a good show – its storyline is one that will most likely go unrivaled for a long time coming.  Even if you only watch it because of the hype, there will be something in it for you – plus the in-depth analysis conversations with your friends are always fun.

“Friends”

With a run time of 10 years, “Friends” gained fans during and after its airing. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t watched at least one episode of the show or at least knows one of the famous taglines.

While its following continues to grow and its old fans still hold strong, is “Friends” really worth watching, over 15 years after its finale? I would say it depends on what you are looking for. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed all of “Friends” during one of my summer binges, but for those who want their entertainment to be something intricate, this show isn’t the one. 

That being said, it is a perfect show for those who want a little bit of mindless humor that they are able to just sit and absorb, something we all need from time to time. Not to mention that, after watching “Friends,” you will finally understand all of the T-shirt references. 

“Stranger Things”

“Stranger Things,” a smash hit Netflix show after its 2016 debut, is one that garnered a substantial amount of hype for its first and sequential seasons. This show is one that is trying to prove Netflix’s ability to maintain a good TV show, which has proven successful. 

Even when separated from the positive social culture surrounding the show, it is still more than worth watching. With wonderful actors, many of them young and up-and-coming, along with a unique storyline and a blast from the past, “Stranger Things” is charming in its own right. 

For fans of the supernatural, it seems almost a no-brainer that this show is one that would be most enjoyable. For those a little skeptical of science fiction, it’s a good entry point with its quirky humor and simply stunning cinematography. “Stranger Things” is really a show that feels enjoyable to most everyone and with its fourth season in the works, now is a perfect time to catch up before it inevitably takes over the Twitter trends during its release. 

“The Walking Dead”

As TV’s biggest zombie show, “The Walking Dead” has been going strong for 10 years. Although it feels as if the hype surrounding the show has somewhat died down, many are still following the adventures of the ensemble crew. 

Personally, I think this show started out extremely strong but has failed to withstand against time and growing pressure for each season to be better than the last. The first seasons are excellent as the base of the story is one that everyone has considered at least once: a zombie apocalypse. The characters in the beginning of the show are wonderful and their relationships are fun to follow through the seasons.

That being said, I believe what has the ability to hook many viewers, including myself, is the introduction of new characters, especially those villainous in nature. Due to its copious amount of episodes, I would only recommend this show with a warning that some seasons fall flat. Overall it is an enjoyable show, especially if you enjoy dystopian stories.

I come from a large family. As the holidays approach I can’t help but think about how the many traditions we are so used to are going to have to change due to COVID-19. As cases continue to rise millions of Americans are going to have to make some tough decisions with regard to the safety of their loved ones. The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) have outlined many tips for families during the holiday season. 

There are many risks involved when having any sort of social gathering. Family and friends should consider the number of COVID-19 cases in their surrounding communities when deciding whether to plan a holiday event. Information on the number of cases in a particular area can be found on the area’s health department website. 

The location of the event is also an important factor. Outdoor gatherings or indoor gatherings with plenty of ventilation – such as open doors or windows – are recommended. Families should also keep in mind that longer events and large groups of people pose more of a threat than shorter events and small groups. 

The CDC does not have a recommended number of attendees but states, “The size of a holiday gathering should be determined based on the ability to reduce or limit contact between attendees, the risk of spread between attendees, and state, local, territorial or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations.”

When hosting an event it is a good idea to inform guests of COVID-19 procedures set in place to keep everyone safe. This includes staying as socially distant as possible – six feet is recommended – and wearing protective gear like face masks or shields. Encourage guests to wash their hands frequently and deter them from any physical contact with other guests. 

Consider the locations guests are traveling from as well, and research the current COVID-19 levels in those areas. Encourage guests to consider avoiding contact with those outside their households for 14 days before the event if possible to further reduce risks. Avoid inviting those who are known to not follow these regulations or guests with health concerns that give them a higher risk. 

During the event, make sure all commonly used areas are frequently sanitized and consider touchless garbage disposals. If there is food or drink involved make sure all guests wash hands for at least twenty seconds before preparing, serving or consuming food. Instead of having a potluck, consider asking guests to bring food only for themselves and members of their own household. If serving food, consider having one server only to reduce risk and use single-use dressings, condiments, utensils, plates etc. If choosing to use reusable items, wash and disinfect before and after each use. 

After the celebration, consider staying home for 14 days and avoiding contact with those outside the household. It may be wise to then get tested for COVID-19, especially if experiencing any symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, fever or cough.

Take all of that into consideration, it may be best to just stay virtual. Planning a live online event – like a Zoom Halloween costume contest or Thanksgiving recipe share – is ultimately the safest option with no risks involved.