Valentine’s Day is not just a day for chocolates, romance, wine and flowers. Whether or not you do it every day or hardly ever, February 14th remains a great reminder day to say and show your partner “I love you”.

There are many creative ways to do just that, and on February 14th you want to make sure your demonstration of affection is above all, authentic. Don’t do something just simply to show a grand gesture, or to show off to friends or family how loving you can be for your partner. Keep it meaningful between you and your other half. Here are a few great places to start.

1. Write a list

Make a list of 14 things you are grateful for in your relationship and hide them around the house to find like a treasure hunt, ending in the bedroom.

2. Get wordy

Write 14 complimentary, loving adjectives about your partner and text, tweet, email or whisper them one at a time all throughout the day and evening.

3. Start couponing

Make home made love coupons - it could be for anything from a free massage to a breakfast in bed - and present them to your lovee to “cash in” when they choose.

4. Step back in time

Go out, but recreate the key elements of your first date and tell them about what you thought on your first date together.

5. Embrace aphrodisiacs

Cook a sexy dinner with ingredients that contain aphrodisiacs like oysters, tomatoes, pine nuts, spices, and wine. And if it happens to lead to something else then all the better...

6. Make an old fashioned mix tape

Remember the days when you would make your loved one a mixed tape of all your favourite songs? Do it the digital way and create a romantic and fabulous playlist for them on their iPod or smartphone so when they listen to it they think of you.

7. Plan future date nights

If you have kids, make arrangements for the next 8 Friday or Saturday nights and present two months worth of available date nights to show you prioritise the relationship and spending time alone together. Find a babysitter or agree to exchange kids with other friends to free up nights. If you don’t have children, plan 8 different date night ideas and present it as couple time to share together – prioritising each other is important no matter what stage of the relationship you’re in!

8. Make it a day of surprises

Plan a mystery day (or night or even both!) full of surprises. Surprises are exciting, build anticipation and when paired with romance, increase libido and arousal.

9. Have a sexy picnic

Who says picnics have to be outdoors... or even G-rated? Plan a bedroom picnic with food and toys to delight each other with for dessert.

10. Go on a silly date

Go have fun and be silly together. Being playful reminds you each of the joy you share and why you choose to stay together, every day. Break from routine and go discover something new together to feel invigorated about one another. Try a trip to the zoo, an adventure day, do something touristy, visit a botanical garden, try mini golf or a new sport.

11. Do something your partner loves

Arrange to do something you may not love, but you know that your partner adores, is a big fan of, but maybe doesn’t get to do very often. This says to them that their needs are important to you and you want them to be happy and you will join them in their passions – maybe not every time, but enough to show you care about their needs and desires.

12. Get snap happy

Be daring: take a sexy photo of yourself and frame it for your lover, or take photos of each other in bed, wrapped in sheets together that you can keep somewhere private to peek at from time to time, do a strip tease for him or her, answer the door naked...

13. Cosy up on the couch

Have a comfy night in – especially if you already do lots of date nights – and watch a marathon of funny, romantic movies snacking on your favourite foods you both love. Sometimes, when couples get stressed out and time-poor, what feels most romantic is to relax together and have no pressure to dress up, go out and do something fancy.

14. Do a meditation course

Sign up for a meditation course together. Meditation lowers anxiety and stress and provides calm, couple building time … with the added bonus of raising libido by balancing and enhancing hormone levels in the body. Addressing your mind and spirit together can mean reigniting that spark together too!