Men, It’s Time to Celebrate Guy-entine’s Day!

Galentine’s Day is February 13 and it was invented to celebrate the great female friendships in your life. But what about men and their male friendships? Could the lack of focus on maintaining male friendships be causing a loneliness epidemic that is hurting not only men but also women? That’s why this February, we’re encouraging you to celebrate Guy-entine’s Day and plan a day out with the boys.

The Male Loneliness Problem

It’s no secret that the world is experiencing a major loneliness problem. According to a study done by Harvard 36% of all Americans are experience serious loneliness. And things like the pandemic only deepened those divides. The brunt of the loneliness epidemic has fallen on men. According to the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, senior men are far more isolated than women.

This is often because socialization is not prioritized in men and they often turn to their spouse for all the socialization they need. But not having a friend group means that if your spouse leaves you or dies, you are left with no social network whatsoever. Plus, being someone’s only outlet for friendship can be stressful for the woman in the relationship making it more likely the relationship will fail.

All of this translates to men needing to be encouraged to create and maintain male friendships for the sake of their own and their partner’s health and happiness. Which is why, here at Spafinder, we’re encouraging men to take on their own Guy-entine Day!

Getting a Guy Group

It’s hard to build up new friendships when you are an adult but it is possible with some effort. To help boost your friend group, try turning your everyday hobbies into social events. If you like to watch the game at home, head out and watch it at a bar or start a rotating watch party with some other fans. If you’re a dad, organize a playdate with the other dads at your school or preschool. Trust us when we say your partner will also appreciate the solo time on this one.

It will be awkward at first but eventually you’ll find your core group of people. It’s all about putting yourself out there and seeing who is in your network. Moreover, you’ll come away from these hang outs feeling more energized, happy and heard.

Guy-entine Day Ideas

If you already have a solid group of male friends, then you are ahead of the curve. Now it’s time to throw together a guy-entine day celebration! Embrace the cheesiness and fun of it all and buy silly presents for your boys. Or actually give them a compliment (Research shows men like to be complimented more than women and rarely hear them!) Or you can simply host a BBQ. You can buy chocolates or beers—it doesn’t really matter how you celebrate, just reach down deep and say “hey, I appreciate having you in my life!”

Of course, it wouldn’t be Spafinder if we didn’t recommend heading to a spa. Men now make up 50% of the spa market with more and more wellness treatments being added for men and male grooming habits. So don’t be afraid to head for a man-icure or splurge on a straight razor shave. Or if you have a Spafinder Gift Card, gift it to your guy to try out a new workout class with buddies. Because endorphins plus friendship equal a pretty awesome state of mind.

Hint: Be sure to check out our men’s spa guide for tips and facts.