Singles Day and Galentine's Day are good excuses to celebrate friends, freedom and yourself instead of waiting for a partner. You can mark either with a solo treat, a gathering of friends or a mix. Below are twelve ideas, with a plan for each so you can pick one and start today.
What the two days are
Singles Day began as a celebration of single people in China on 11 November (11/11) and is now also a huge shopping day. Galentine's Day is informal and popular in the US and elsewhere, a day to celebrate friendships, often on 13 February, the day before Valentine's Day. Neither is an official holiday in most places. You can use them as you like, or not at all.
1. Plan a "treat yourself" evening
Pick three small things you like: a favourite meal, a film, a bath. No guilt. The aim is to feel looked after. See solo self-care day.
2. Host a friends' dinner
Ask each friend to bring one dish. Keep it relaxed: a playlist, one game, no pressure. Hosting is a good way to strengthen friendships; see how to invite someone to hang out.
3. Do a "yes day" of small pleasures
Say yes to small things you usually skip: dessert, a longer walk, a new cafe. Write down what you chose.
4. Take a solo day trip
A nearby town, a lake or a market. Pack snacks and go with a rough plan. Solo day trip ideas has options.
5. Make a friendship list and message three people
Who made your year better? Tell them. A short message is enough.
6. Book a class with a friend or alone
Cooking, pottery, painting, dance. Classes are social without small talk pressure. If you go alone, how to start going out alone helps.
7. Have a movie night
Choose films about friendship, solo journeys or comedies. Invite a friend or watch alone.
8. Do an "experience, not stuff" outing
On Singles Day, shopping sales are everywhere. If you want to resist, spend on an experience: a gig, a museum or a meal. Going to a concert alone shows how.
9. Write yourself a letter of appreciation
Note three things you are proud of this year. Keep it for the next one. See self-compassion.
10. Take a picnic
Weather permitting, pack a picnic and eat in a park or by the water. Solo picnic ideas lists easy options.
11. Volunteer or do a good deed
Spending time helping others can feel better than another night in. Check local groups.
12. Start a small tradition
Choose one thing to do every year on the day: a dinner, a walk, a letter. Traditions make the day yours.
Solo or social: how to choose
| If you feel | Try |
|---|---|
| Social and cheerful | Friends' dinner, class together |
| Tired | Treat yourself evening, film, bath |
| Restless | Day trip, concert, walk |
| Reflective | Letter, journal, planning |
| A bit low | Message friends, volunteer, go outside |
Tips for avoiding the pressure
- You do not have to celebrate. Ignoring the day is fine.
- Avoid comparison. Social media shows highlights only.
- Keep spending modest. Sales encourage buying things you do not need.
- Include non-single friends. Galentine's works for anyone who likes their friends.
- Be kind about feelings. It is okay to feel mixed. See alone vs lonely.
If you hope to date and the day feels frustrating, you might like how to build dating confidence, but there is no rush. And if you want companion pieces, the Valentine's Day alone page is the winter sibling to this one.
A budget-free version of the day
You can do a full Singles Day or Galentine's Day without spending anything. Here is one example, with each step doable from your front door:
- Morning: write the appreciation letter from idea 9, or list three friends to message.
- Midday: take a 30-minute walk somewhere you have not been, with no headphones for the first ten minutes.
- Afternoon: cook something from what is already in the cupboard and set the table properly, even for one.
- Evening: watch a film you saved and never watched, or call a friend for twenty minutes.
If you prefer to go out, a free museum day, a library visit or a park picnic follows the same shape. See free things to do alone and solo date at home for more.
Planning a friends' evening step by step
Group plans fall through when nobody owns the details. A light structure helps:
- Pick a date a week or two ahead and send one message with the time, place and what to bring. A single clear invitation beats a long group chat.
- Keep it small. Four to six people is enough for one conversation and easy to host in a small flat.
- Decide the food. A potluck splits the cost and the work. Ask about dietary needs once.
- Add one shared thing: a game, a playlist vote or a swap, such as everyone bringing a book they liked.
- Set an end time. Guests, especially introverts, relax when they know when it finishes.
- Follow up the next day with a photo and a thank-you. That small message often leads to the next plan.
A sample Singles Day schedule
| Time | Plan | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 | Slow breakfast, no phone | Low |
| 11:00 | Walk or market browse | Free to low |
| 13:00 | Lunch out alone or with a friend | Moderate |
| 15:00 | Museum, bookshop or home project | Free to low |
| 18:00 | Cook or order a favourite meal | Low to moderate |
| 20:00 | Film, letter or call to a friend | Free |
Use two or three of these blocks, not all of them. A day with space in it feels better than a packed one.
If the day brings up mixed feelings
Some people feel proud and some feel flat. Both are normal. If it gets heavy, lower the plan to one small pleasant thing and one message to a person you trust. A calm outing is also a gentle way to practise being alone: the solo date generator can suggest one, and the glossary entry on solo dating explains the idea of taking yourself out.
Where Solo Era fits
Solo Era is an iPhone app for practising doing things alone, which can make a solo celebration easier to start. It offers a weekly mission, five difficulty levels, before-and-after ratings of how nervous you felt and a photo journal. It is not a dating or friend-finding app. Free to download; a subscription is required to start missions.
Solo Era for iPhone
Try it with Solo Era
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
FAQ
When is Singles Day?
Singles Day is 11 November (11/11). Galentine's Day is usually 13 February.
Is Galentine's Day only for women?
It began as a celebration of female friendship, but you can adapt it to any group of friends.
What is a good solo idea for Singles Day?
Choose a treat you enjoy: dinner, a film or a day trip. Plan one highlight and keep the rest flexible.
How do I avoid feeling left out?
Plan something, limit scrolling and message a friend. Being single is not a problem to solve on a particular date.
How do I plan a Galentine's gathering on a small budget?
Make it a potluck at someone's home, share the cost of a bottle or a dessert and choose a free activity such as a game or a walk beforehand.
What if my friends are busy on the day?
Move the plan to the nearest weekend. The date matters less than the gathering, and a solo treat on the day itself still works.
Is it okay to celebrate Singles Day if I am in a relationship?
Yes. Galentine's Day in particular is about friends, and nobody checks your relationship status.
Do I have to spend money?
No. A walk, a letter, a home film or a friends' potluck costs little.
Solo Era for iPhone
Try it with Solo Era
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
