A Minimalist Valentine's Day

Whether you're in a relationship or living life solo, a minimalist Valentine's Day celebration will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Let me walk you through what minimalism has to offer on the day of love...

With a mid-week Valentine's Day and our incredibly busy schedules, my significant other and I will be keeping our night together simple by staying in, cooking a fresh and healthy meal, and enjoying each other's company.

Three things you should keep in mind when celebrating a minimalist Valentine's Day are:

• Keep it simple. The more simple, the less stressful.  Stress should not encroach on a day meant to celebrate love.
• Don't spend.  Save your money for future adventures and travels.  Staying in is a great way to utilize what you have and have a more intimate night.
• Enjoy each other's company, not things.  Focusing on each other rather than Valentine's expectations will allow you to re-center your relationship, and yourself, and focus on what is important rather than maintaining and caring for the "things" you might otherwise purchase.

Dinner

While a dinner in a nice restaurant or drinks downtown may seem like an ideal Valentine's evening, a simple dinner at home (maybe even enjoyed in bed!) will offer a relaxing night in, cherishing each others company and catching up on your favorite shows.  

By using a minimalist mindset, you are both keeping "things" out of the home (no roses or chocolates) and saving money for future adventures together. Valentine's Day should not be a success based on the amount of money spent, but the time spent together.  

If you would like to bring something home to your loved one or even treat yourself to something, I suggest a potted plant or seeds for the spring garden (like the flowers in the first picture!) that you might enjoy for more than a few days, or a lavender, rosemary candle to enjoy for weeks on end.  These purchases are not just "things" for a special day, but items that will bring you joy beyond the closing of the day.

Beyond dinner, here are a couple more things you may include on your Valentine's night in...

Board Games

In the last year, I have found that our cell phone use can become a barrier to communication.  Our outlet for setting our phones down for a few hours and enjoying each other's presence are board games and cards.  

Uno, Scrabble, and Rummikub are our current favorites.  If you want a quick 20 minute game, I suggest Uno.  It will leave you both laughing as you both become competitive over a quick card game.  Scrabble and Rummikub take a little more time but are well worth sitting across from each other for an hour or two.

WARNING: Playing Monopoly probably is not the best idea on Valentine's Day... We all know how that game usually ends...

Self-Care

Self-care is incredibly important whether you are in a relationship or not.  Taking the time to do something for yourself will positively impact multiple aspects of your life.  Here are a few ideas for self care that you can do by yourself or with your partner:

• Walking has also become a way of putting the cell phones away and enjoying the scenery and each other's company.  Whether its a walk around the block, downtown, or a nature trail, taking a stroll increases endorphins and helps with sleeplessness.  Walk by yourself or with your loved one, either way you will feel refreshed once you are done.

• Facials and masks are also an excellent way to rejuvenate both your skin and your self-esteem. While applying, light a lavender or rose candle to stimulate your sense of smell and apply.  You may also want to enjoy a cup of chamomile tea with honey and a lemon slice in order to relax your body as you enjoy you facial.  Do this on your own or with your partner to start or finish the night.

• A nice oatmeal bath for one or both of you will also close the night with a refreshed self and body.  To make your own, blend 1 cup of organic oatmeal into a fine powder, pour into your bath tub and fill with warm water.  You may add essential oils for further relaxation (my favorite combo is 3 drops of lavender and 2 drops of eucalyptus!).

Now that you're all relaxed and cozy in your own home, cuddle up in a blanket and enjoy a little Netflix!

While you're saving money now and keeping things simple, you can start planning your next adventure, like the one above!  Here is my significant other and I at the Heart-Shaped Rock in Maui from the Summer of 2015.  We were able to enjoy this trip because we keep things simple and minimal so that we can spend our time and money making memories, not tending to "things."

How are you celebrating a minimalist Valentine's Day?