Ten Self-Care Practices for Valentine's Day
For people who have a significant other to spend it with, Valentine’s day can be a time of fondness and affection. However, for those who are single, widowed, divorced, or have experienced unhealthy relationships, it has notoriously been a holiday to loathe. It can bring up feelings of inadequacy, sadness, and loneliness. For a lot of people, Valentine’s day serves as a reminder of what they are lacking in their lives. Whether you are blissfully in a relationship, or you are happily/unhappily single, it is important for you to focus on loving yourself and showing yourself the compassion you deserve this Valentine’s Day. Many times, if we have a significant other, we spend Valentine’s day focusing on that person. If we are single, we spend Valentine’s day focusing on what we see in others that we don’t have. Instead, spend some time this Valentine’s day focusing on being kind to yourself. Here are ten self-loving practices you can do this Valentine’s Day to rekindle the passion for the person staring back at you in the mirror.
10. Treat yourself to a gift. Maybe it is something that has been sitting in your Amazon cart for a while. Whatever it is, give yourself the permission to get something that you want.
9. Take yourself on a date. Many times, we go through life in a monotonous routine and don’t take time to really invest in ourselves. Take yourself out to a nice restaurant. Maybe it is a place you have always wanted to try, but have been too busy. Do an activity that you have always wanted to do. Maybe you have always wanted to go indoor skydiving or take a balloon ride. Just make sure you have fun doing whatever you want to do!
8. Start the day out with meditation/yoga. Spend some time attuning to yourself and noticing what is going on inside. Give your inner child the attention and concern he/she needs.
7. Take a break from social media. We often get caught up in the drama or social media. A lot of what we see on social media isn’t reality. We then place expectations on ourselves based on something that isn’t real. Do a social media cleanse. Give yourself time away for a day and see how it impacts your thoughts.
6. Write a love letter to yourself. Tell yourself how much you appreciate yourself! Remind yourself of your good qualities and list everything you like about yourself. Many of us are not used to doing this, so it may take some time and thought to come up with those things you like about yourself. Doing this will bring a sense of inherent worth.
5. Hang out with a close friend. Grab your bestie and go see a movie together! Take a shopping trip and go to a museum together.
4. Create a gratitude list. A lot of people feel like they are missing something from their lives around this time of year. Combat that feeling by writing about everything you are grateful for in your life. This helps our brains focus on the positives around us that we may not notice on a day to day basis.
3. Give yourself a stress-free day. Make a list of everything that tends to cause you stress and then come up with activities that help you relax. Create a schedule for the day that allows you to de-stress and enjoy yourself.
2. Pamper yourself. If you have always wanted to get a massage, but have never done it; GO FOR IT! If you have wanted to get a facial or mani/pedi, schedule it. Whatever you want to do to pamper yourself, make an appointment to do it.
1. Take care of your physical, spiritual, and mental health. Go for a walk in nature, get some sunshine, get some exercise, eat a healthy meal, do some art, go to the animal shelter and pet some puppies, make an appointment to see a counselor, attend a support group meeting, talk to a spiritual advisor, practice mindfulness, read a personal growth book. Look at your health holistically. Our spirits, minds, and bodies are connected and are affected by how we treat ourselves. A lot of times when we are feeling off, it is because we are neglecting a part of ourselves. Take a look at which parts of you that are being neglected. Focus attention on those areas. Spend the whole day being kind to yourself.