This blog is written by Hanna Asheber, a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Western Ontario.
Flowers, a box of chocolate and stuffed animals. These are just some of the generic gifts associated with Valentine’s day which can easily turn into a routine that loses its value over the years. Luckily for you, we’ve come up with the perfect idea to turn this year’s love holiday into a day to remember!
Two words: love language
The term “love language” refers to how a person best receives love from others. Catering to your significant others’ love language is so important because customizing a gift or an idea with your partner in mind is what will make it memorable. So this year, get to know your partner on a more intimate level by finding out what makes their gears turn. Whether that’s quality time, acts of service, physical touch, words of affirmation or receiving gifts, tailoring a gift to someone’s love language will help you make the most of this Valentine’s day!
If you’d like to know you’re own love language, we’ve created a quick quiz to help you get to know yourself better! Find Out Your Love Language
Words of affirmation: This love language is all about expressing how you feel about your partner in words; whether that be verbally or through writing. It can be easy to overlook the importance of reassurance through words, especially if you’ve been together for a long time. But as cheesy as it may sound, it’s always nice to receive compliments, especially when they come straight from the heart. If your partner best receives love through words of affirmation, gift ideas could include writing a poem or a love letter. Get as personal and unconventional as you can, whether that be writing about the little things you love about them or letting them know how much they really mean to you. To spice things up, you could even say it out loud and serenade your partner with your creation!
Acts of service: As this language suggests, acts of service are all about going out of your way to make life easier for your partner. People who receive love through this language need someone who can walk the walk instead of doing all the talking. So some ideas for showing your partner that you care could include making them a nice meal, taking care of a tedious chore (bonus points if you do it before they ask) or even helping them with whatever is on their to-do list so that you can spend the rest of the day together! Either one of these ideas will be sure to show your partner that you really care and will be sure to make this February 14th a memorable one.
Physical touch: No explanation needed here! But just to clarify, this doesn’t have to be purely sexual (although nothing is really off-limits). Catering to someone’s physical needs could include having a spa day, learning to Salsa or Bachata and even doing small things like sneaking little kisses here and there. The main thing here is to emphasize intimacy through physical interaction. Providing any type of warmth and comfort will be sure to keep your partner happy and will leave them wanting more!
Receiving gifts: This language is the one that most people default to. But just because it’s common to cater to doesn’t mean you can’t deviate from the norm and make it memorable! The key here is personalization. Take the time to really think about what your significant other has been talking about non-stop or hinting at. Some ideas to get you thinking could be searching Etsy for personalized presents like jewelry, a book, an article of clothing or shoes that they’ve been obsessing over or my personal favourite, a customized Spotify playlist! Whatever you end up choosing, try your best to center the gift around your partner because after all, this day is all about catering to them!
Quality time: And last but certainly not least we have quality time! As simple as it may sound, some people best receive love by just being around the people they care the most about. So to cater to this language, try not to get too caught up in making the day perfect, but really be present in the moment because that’s all your partner really wants! Ideas for making the most of your quality time together can involve making a charcuterie board together, having an album listening party, having a wine and paint night, or taking the night off and binging the shows or movies you’ve been wanting to watch. Although the last idea may not seem like anything special, you can add a spin to your movie night by trying out a new genre or watching a foreign film and scratching your traditional movie snacks for some Arise n’ Go! We’ve currently got 3 flavours that are guaranteed to excite your taste buds and add to your unforgettable night.
On an additional note, we also want to emphasize the importance of treating yourself! Being single during this time of the year can be annoying, but shouldn’t exclude you from all the fun! Why not take advantage of this time and cater to your own love language? Read that book you’ve been putting off, treat your hair to a hydrating mask or give your body a nice stretch. Whatever you do, remember that you can make this day unapologetically all about you!
No matter your relationship status, we hope you got some insight from this post and above all else take it easy. With everything that’s going on, we hope that this holiday serves as a reminder that you are loved and are worthy of all good things that come your way. Happy Valentine’s Day!