Four Tips To Make Your Valentine's Day Stress-Free

It happens to the best of us, more often than we’d like to admit it. Valentine’s Day or V-Day, sneaks upon you out of the blue, and you end up stressing over or scrambling out making last-minute plans and finding the perfect gifts. The day brings with it a mountain of expectations. While the age-old formula of chocolates and roses may be the top choice for many couples, it might not work out for others, especially newbie couples.

If you’re looking to make this Valentine's Day a mellow one, and want to avoid the last-minute craziness, read on these simple yet effective tips!

Setting the expectations

First things first, you lot aren’t a bunch of psychics or telepaths. Each and every one of us have a different perspective of Valentine’s Day, and whether we come to terms with it or not, these expectations can cause miscommunication and in turn ruin the entire day for both. Smart thing to do? Talk. Say straightforward, not-so awkward stuff like ‘It’s not that important of a day to me, but I’d love to spend the day together or cook for you’.

This can open up a conversation which will lay the foundation for him/her to drop their opinions on the table. The result? Both of you can plan ahead and get what you want, reducing any stress or worries that may have developed down the lane, and leading us to the next tip.

Planning ahead

We cannot stress this enough – have a plan! It’s of grave importance that you at least have a picture in your mind of how the day is supposed to go. Have a plan drawn out in full flurry at least a week prior to the big day to avoid last-minute planning. Bear in mind even the little details and maybe have a few backups in case things go haywire (not saying it would, but we’re prepping you for everything! and to make sure nothing unexpected pops up. You can maybe jot down an itinerary or make a note or checklist on your phone enlisting everything to be done beforehand, including reservation and bookings.

Coming up with a tradition

The focus on giving flowers or going to the movies is so high that Valentine’s Day has evolved into ‘something that you’re supposed to do’, this makes you forget what the day is actually all about – celebrating love. Go against the grain and try starting a new tradition, maybe new ones every year, to honour the mystery of your relationship. This year, maybe you can surprise him/her with a romantic dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour. Imagine looking back a year from now, and reminiscing over how you made the legendary Harbour Bridge and Opera House witness your love, and how you spend the evening on the world’s most beautiful harbour enjoying world-class cuisines and wines.

Or going against tradition

And just because the world is celebrating on the 14th, doesn’t mean you have to. You can schedule it on your own time, prioritising your partner, and less about an arbitrary date. If a Valentine’s Day cruise cannot be incorporated into your itinerary, take him/her out on a regular dinner cruise – it’ll also be minus the cheesy couples, so win-win for you!

It’s okay for your perfect day to look different than others – if the very idea of V-Day puts you both on edge, skip the celebrations. Instead, take a day off to de-stress, get couples massages or go on a romantic walk along the many parks in and around Sydney, after all, variety is the spice of life!

Travel as far as you can, we can take the knowledge from all of the things we see