February 14 - Valentine's Day again...
Roses are red, violets are blue, don't IM me, I'll IM you.
Surviving Valentine's Day is a challenge for Casanovas and singletons alike, but thanks to top tips from online guide to life for 16 to 25-year-olds, TheSite.org, there's no need to hide under the duvet this February 14.
Matt Whyman, askTheSite love and relationships expert and national magazine agony uncle, says: "Valentine's can be daunting for young people who have little experience of relationships or high expectations for the day, so it's vital to remember it's all about having fun - whether you're newly hooked-up, a long-term partner, or fresh on the dating scene.
"A relaxed and positive attitude really is the surest way for people to notice you for all the right reasons - and not just on February 14, but on any day of the year too."
A few pieces of (good!) advice can make all the difference, so TheSite.org has created a list of top 10 tips to make your Valentine's victorious - whatever your romantic situation.
Survival tips for singles
- Throw a garlic party. Only garlic-infused snacks on the menu will inspire tasty pulls - it's an aphrodisiac!
- If you've just been dumped, calculate the money you've saved by not buying cards and presents. Smile, and hit the shops
- Go out to the cinema with a group of mates and laugh at the awkward couples around you pretending to have fun
- Don't decide today is a good day to text the ex - they'll see right through your desperation
- If you do go out, beware the beer goggles. You don't want to wake up to any nasty surprises. .
Relationship advice for the romantics
- If you're too shy to say "I love you", say it in a different language – gorgeous geeks can't get enough of binary: "01001001 00100000 01001100 01101111 01110110 01100101 00100000 01011001 01101111 01110101"
- Breakfast in bed always goes down well – heart-shaped toast and strawberry jam anyone?
- Valentine's isn't just about couples - why not spread the love and do a group activity like bowling or ice skating?
- Chocolates are soo 2000 and late - it's all about cup cakes now, which are easy to bake and bigger!
- The card is all-important, and everyone loves a homemade attempt - cheaper and much more personal.
TheSite.org (www.TheSite.org), run by charity YouthNet, provides straight-talking anonymous advice 24-hours-a-day, on subjects including drink & drugs, work & study, and especially sex & relationships. It has a bespoke question and answer service, askTheSite, which provides young people with a personal answer to any question within three working days.
Ends
Media Enquiries:
For further media information, images, or to arrange interviews, please contact Gabriella Jozwiak or Kate Walker at YouthNet on 020 7250 5716 or out-of-hours on 07766 660 755. Email media@youthnet.org
Notes to editors
1. Matt Whyman is an askTheSite advisor and national magazines agony uncle. A brief biography about Matt is available on TheSite.org: http://www.thesite.org/about_us/partners/askthesitepartners/mattwhyman
2. Run by young people's charity YouthNet, TheSite.org is the online guide to life for 16 to 25-year-olds. With over 2,000 articles written by experts and journalists, a series of blogs, podcasts and videos, a bespoke question and answer service (askTheSite) and a thriving online community, TheSite.org is the central place for young people to turn to for sound, straight talking, anonymous advice 24-hours-a-day
3. Every month, TheSite.org is visited by over 500,000 unique users, and receives around 800 questions on issues ranging from relationships to advice on housing. Content on TheSite.org is also available on mobile, at TheSite.org/mobile
4. YouthNet is the UK's first exclusively online charity and was founded by Martyn Lewis CBE in 1995. It aims to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams, and does this through two award winning websites, TheSite.org and the UK's leading volunteering website, Do-it.