How to Have the Best Valentine’s Day Ever

There’s no denying Valentine’s Day is commercialized and creates a whole lot more stress than necessary. Being in a relationship is about showing you care every day, not just on certain dates. However, it can be hard to get around celebrating it, and both of you having a great time involves some extra planning and consideration.

“Making sure you have the best Valentine’s Day usually means you get to feel loved, appreciated, desired, and that you’re also reciprocating all of those things with the ones you love.

This is best achieved by putting some thought into creating romantic opportunities,” a relationship/sex expert and psychiatrist. “Important aspects of romance involve showing that you want to connect with those you love, so be playful with your partner and make sure you feel confident about what you have to offer.”

1. Get to the Lovin’ in the Morning

If you’re hoping for a little sexy time this Valentine’s Day, you don’t need to wait until bedtime. Start the day off with a bang, literally. Suggests Jess O’Reilly, Astroglide’s resident sexologist: “Wake your partner up with a gentle massage of their inner thighs. Tease a little and work your way toward their hot spots to provide the ‘full-service’ treatment.”

2. Celebrate a Day Early

Valentine’s Day can be a story of pricey prix fixe dinners, where you are rushed through your meal to make room for the next round of reservations. No doubt that’s a mood killer. If you want to avoid overcrowded restaurants and “special” Valentine’s Day set menus, book a table a day or two before V-Day, says O’Reilly. Your partner will be pleasantly surprised.

3. Pay Attention

Be sure to listen to what your partner has to say to you and listen to how they express the way they value you, says Saltz: “Even the smallest gestures that are romantic, like leaving them a note or making them a meal, both go an extremely long way towards creating the cocoon of love and creating that experience that makes Valentine’s Day feel so great.”

4. Live Out a Fantasy

“Did you ever wonder what your girlfriend, partner, or wife fantasizes about when their head hits the pillow? I can promise you that it’s not you!” says Tali Alexander, romance author of “Love in Rewind and Lies in Rewind.” “Every person has a getaway plan in his or her psyche, and if you’re smart and lucky, you may be allowed to join and even be asked to ride shotgun.” So pay attention to what your partner reads or watches, and this Valentine’s Day, bring a little piece of their fantasy to life.

“You can recreate a scene from their favorite romance novel or movie — I’m not talking acrobats or anything painful, but something out of the ‘normal routine’ —  and forget the mandatory flowers and chocolate,” advises Alexander. “Valentine’s Day is about love, and if you love your partner, you’ll want to be a part of their dreams.”

5. Put a Personal Touch on It

Seeing as how this is such a commercialized holiday, adding a personal touch to Valentine’s Day is guaranteed to make a lasting impression. “Make her favorite dessert from scratch or [get] concert tickets to her favorite band. It doesn’t have to be over the top, but prove that you know her better than she thinks,” says Sarah Patt, matchmaker and dating expert with It’s Just Lunch Houston.

6. Focus on the Little Things

“It’s easy to buy something shiny from an expensive brand, but if you take the time to buy her an array of smaller things that hit on different points of her personality and interests, I think that goes a long way in showing how much you really know her,” says Bobby Rossi, cofounder of Headlines & Heroes.

7. Unplug for a Few Hours

It won’t kill you to detach yourself from your phone, iPad, etc. for one night. Says Patt, “We all love social media, but live tweeting about your Valentine’s Day night is a big don’t. Give yourself the opportunity to focus and connect with you significant other.”

8. Make Sure to Celebrate

She said she doesn’t care about Valentine’s Day. Don’t be stupid. Of course she does. “Yes, Valentine’s Day is completely commercialized and cheesy, but save yourself the breakup and do something nice for the special lady in your life,” says Patt. “Whether it’s a simple card or a romantic dinner, just make sure to show her that you cared enough to put some effort into the day.”