Valentine’s Day is the day to celebrate your chosen sweetheart! Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th and known as the day of love. When you think of Valentine’s Day, you may think of a boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse. Perhaps, you think of your friends you cherish, but what if you decided to think about yourself first? Self-worth can sometimes be associated with selfishness, but that is not what it is at all. A healthy self-esteem comes from learning how to care and love yourself. Here are some benefits of self-care and 8 practical ways you can care for yourself this Valentine’s Day.
SELF-LOVE AND SELF-CARE IS IMPORTANT
- It helps set boundaries
Setting authentic boundaries allows you to protect your mental health. You honor yourself when you say no to things you don’t want to do. Your needs should be your priority. So, make a habit of doing things that feed your soul and don’t suck your energy.
- It builds self-confidence
If you are genuinely in love with yourself, you won’t need to look for external validation. You know you don’t need a romantic relationship to feel a sense of self-worth. Even if you are feeling lonely, it’s wise to remember another person will never fully alleviate this feeling within you. Choosing yourself will increase your self-confidence and lead to more balanced emotions too.
8 WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF LOVE AND SELF CARE
1. DATE YOURSELF
Take time to think about your favorite restaurant or hobby and carve out time to do it. Take a night off to date yourself! When you decide to date yourself, you are essentially saying I matter which has positive mental health benefits for your mind. When you are dating your partner or friend, you may have to take their desires into consideration, which can be challenging. But when you date yourself, you get to choose what you love to do and doing this always nourishes your spirit.
2. WEAR YOUR FAVORITE OUTFIT
When you look good, you feel good. From your outfit to your shoes and accessories, when you love what you wear, it can be a confidence booster. So, why not dress the way you want? Don’t rely on others’ opinions to dictate what you wear. When you wear something you feel good in, it gives you feelings of happiness, and is a reminder that you are indeed caring for yourself.
3. GIVE YOURSELF A GIFT
Who doesn’t want to be surprised with flowers and gifts? This Valentine’s Day, how about you buy yourself a bouquet of roses? Happiness does not always come from the high-priced diamond ring (that commercials tend to try to tell us we “need”); sometimes it can be as simple as a cup of coffee or some flowers to bring a smile to our face. The goal is to buy something for yourself that you wouldn’t normally do.
4. WRITE TO YOURSELF
Words have power. That’s why it’s important to write down positive affirmations to yourself. Don’t wait on someone else to do this for you. Writing uplifting words to yourself boosts your mood and self-worth. Save the letters and notes you write, and whenever you are down, take the time to read the positive things you’ve written about yourself. This will remind you how valuable and wonderful you are in this world!
5. GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
Don’t sacrifice your ME time. This is very important to remember in life. When you feel burnt out, remember to take breaks. Say NO to social gatherings when you feel exhausted and need to rest. When you feel sluggish, carve out time to exercise. When you feel stressed, take a break from technology and engage your mind in a puzzle or calming activity like coloring, painting, or listening to music. These are good stress busters from the day-to-day stresses.
6. MEND YOUR FAVORITE THINGS
Taking care of your home is important. When we ignore our living environment, it can affect us mentally. Take time to fix broken furniture in your home, clean your living room, sweep your floors, and tidy up your bedroom. A clean space is a reminder to yourself that you are taking care of yourself and that is important.
7. BE COMPASSIONATE TO OTHERS
Lean into what you are passionate about and offer compassion to others. It may be helping out at the childcare department of your local hospital or volunteering at a neighborhood animal shelter. Spending time at places you love will uplift your mood and give you a sense of satisfaction.
8. TAKE ACTION
Procrastination can feed your soul with hopelessness. If you have a big dream or a goal in life, take steps to make it a reality. Find new and creative ways to enhance your productivity like getting a written calendar or a journal to keep track of your progress. When you accomplish a goal or desire you’ve had, it increases your self-confidence.
CONCLUSION
Setting aside a few moments each day to give yourself some extra love gives you a sense of self-confidence and completeness. So, follow the tips above to treat yourself well this Valentine’s Day instead of waiting for someone else to do it. Remember, your happiness matters!
