A Guide to Loving Yourself this Valentines Day
February is the month of love and whether you are spending it on your own or with someone you love, the Valentine's Day hype is not going anywhere, so why not take this time to make it all about you?
The relationship you have with yourself lasts forever and is the most important relationship you will ever have. This relationship is all about self-love, self-awareness, and self-value and when you take time to nurture yourself, you begin to feel mentally and emotionally happier, you attract people that make you happier, relationships are healthier, and, most importantly, you find happiness and peace with who you are.
You don’t have to wait for someone else to show you some well-deserved love and appreciation, just do it yourself!
The one and only Alex Russo is the biggest self-love inspo we need right now – gifting herself flowers just because she wants to is everything!
Show yourself love this Valentine’s Day:
Galantines Day
This is a popular suggestion for women everywhere on Valentine’s because it’s always fun when the girls get together. Get the girls together for a delicious meal, a games night, and themed cocktails, get dressed up for a fun night out, or get dressed down for a cozy night in and your favorite movies. Spending time with people that make you feel loved is so important to your mental well-being. It can make you feel supported, ease stress, and you'll feel happier around people who love you and you love them back.Plan a date with yourself
Take yourself out on a date and enjoy your solo time. Remind yourself that you look good! Get dressed up, get your hair and nails done. Go shopping and treat yourself to a few nice things, stock up on all your favorite foods, sit in a café, watch a movie, or just go for a walk. This is a great form of self-care because you can dedicate time to doing whatever you want to do. Solo dates allow you to try new things, meet new people, enjoy your own company, and boost your confidence.Spa Day
Take a whole day to relax and unwind. You can book a day at the spa or make it a day at home with a bubble bath, a face mask, your favorite essential oils, and feel-good music. Give yourself a mental and physical break for a whole day and remember that it’s totally okay to pamper yourself and do absolutely nothing - you deserve it!Buy your own Valentine's gifts
If you want chocolates, then buy yourself the biggest box. If you've had your eye on a luxury item, then treat yourself and splurge on something that you know you'll love. If you love fresh flowers, then don't wait for someone else to show up when you can pick them up for yourself. You don’t need to wait for someone else to buy you nice things when you can give them to yourself.Do something you enjoy
Engage in activities and hobbies that make you happy. It's important that you aren't constantly on the go and running after tasks. For an instant serotonin boost, you can just blast your playlist to dance and sing out loud. Just be free to enjoy the things you love and what makes you happy. For your own happiness and mental well-being, you should take time out to do things that you enjoy; if you find happiness in what you're doing, then it’s worth it.Do absolutely nothing
It’s as simple as that. If you have a day to yourself, and you don't want to do anything, then that is totally ok! Don't feel like you must always fill your days with a productive task or activity. Sometimes your body and mind need a day to rest and do nothing. So do exactly that and don’t feel bad about it.Journalling
Journaling isn't just for when you've had a bad day. It’s important to reflect on the positive things in your life and acknowledge everything that makes you special. Take time to write down what you love about your life right now and what you love about yourself. Take a moment to reflect on your progress and your good qualities. Write a list of things that you enjoy, good things that have happened to you, or ways in which people have shown you kindness. Emma Watson recently shared that she writes ways in which she has shown kindness or others have shown her kindness and that is a great way to appreciate yourself and the people around you.Set Boundaries
This is a form of self-care that can really benefit your mental well-being. Setting boundaries and saying no to activities, people, or environments that no longer benefit you is very powerful. When you do this, you affirm that your mental and emotional well-being deserves to be protected, and you won't accept certain situations or behaviors. If you struggle with self-love or self-value, then take this month to discover your boundaries and create a space where you can feel peace.Talk to Someone
If you find yourself struggling with self-love, self-criticism or this time can be very triggering for you then take time to speak to a therapist or a loved one. Therapy is a useful tool and form of self-care, so there is nothing wrong with booking time to talk to your therapist about whatever is on your mind. Therapy is extremely beneficial for your overall mental and emotional wellbeing, and can support you on your journey of healing, self-love, and self-acceptance.Not just a Valentine
Remember that Valentine's Day is just one day out of the year and whether you spend it loving yourself or loving someone else, you should always take time to show yourself some love and self-care. It’s important to remind yourself that you are worthy of love and happiness. There is nothing wrong with giving yourself special treatment because you deserve it!