Many of us feel pressure to do something special, romantic, or even grand for our partners on Valentine’s Day. Sometimes, that pressure can get so intense that we start to panic because we can’t come up with any unique ideas to show our affection.

However, you shouldn’t feel forced to do anything over the top if that’s not something you usually do. What matters the most is that you show your partner that you understand, value, respect, and see them. 

Demonstrating that fierce love and passion of yours can take any form. Even something as simple as a super cheesy Valentine’s Day card can be special if your partner enjoys humor.

Meanwhile, a home-cooked dinner can be just as good as a meal out at a fancy and hip new restaurant. And tickets to a beloved band’s concert can have the same impact as diamond earrings. It all depends on what you and your partner enjoy the most. 

It’s the effort and thoughtfulness that count, not the actual gifts, experiences, or decorations, whatever they might be. They’re simply ways of expressing our emotions. Talk to your partner to get a feel for what kind of gifts or experiences they'd appreciate the most. 

Bored Panda recently spoke about gift-giving in relationships, as well as the power of creating together with your partner, with Glenn Geher, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz and a published author. 

"We can think of two basic psychological factors at play when it comes to gift giving. On one hand, giving to others does make the 'giver' feel good—and this fact is largely rooted in our evolved psychology. Humans have evolved to form close bonds with others with strong (if implicit) norms regarding reciprocity,” he told us during an earlier interview. 

“So when you give someone whom you love a gift, it helps you feel good partly because this act unconsciously informs you that an important social connection is being cultivated—and that you might get something good in return!" Dr. Geher told Bored Panda.

"Put simply, gift-giving feels good partly because humans thrive on strong, authentic, and often-loving social connections.”

Dr. Geher explained to us that human beings have evolved to present themselves in a positive way to others, especially their mates or potential mates. "From this perspective, conspicuous gift-giving (like surprising a mate with an Audi sitting in the driveway—adorned with a large red bow) partly evolved for show-related purposes,” he said.

“In fact, behavioral scientists often use the term 'costly signaling' for such acts. Conspicuous giving seems to be much more about telling the world about oneself rather than solidifying a bond or showing a partner or friend that you really care," Dr. Geher told us.

"This is partly why my amazing wife might not find an Audi with a bow on the driveway this Valentine’s Day (but, of course, anything’s possible!)."

According to the psychology professor, love and trust are two of the foundational elements of healthy relationships. “That said, creativity, often accompanied by humor, is a major player when it comes to all stages of intimate relationships—from initial attraction all the way to maintaining a truly loving relationship," Dr. Geher said.

The professor pointed out that creative activities, when done together, can be very powerful. This can be anything that both partners enjoy doing, from writing songs together to collaborating on paintings!

"We tend to like creative and funny people. And creating with one’s partner is a wonderful way to maintain a loving bond," he said.

"Without creativity and humor, I suppose a relationship might not necessarily fail, but, on the flip side, the most loving of relationships often include healthy doses of creativity and humor. My wife Shannon and I make a point to create art—in some form or another—together every single day—and I have to say that I wouldn’t trade that part of our relationship for anything," Dr. Geher told Bored Panda.

How are you celebrating Valentine's Day this year, Pandas? What surprises do you have planned for your loved ones? Tell us all about it in the comments! In the meantime, for some more February 14 deco inspo, check out Bored Panda's earlier post.