7 ways to show yourself some love this Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love and there’s nobody you should love more than you! The longest relationship you’ll ever have is the one you’ll have with yourself, so today should involve prioritizing your own self-care and needs. With that in mind, here’s a list of several ways that you can show yourself a little bit of love today.
There are thousands of reasons why being single is good. You can do whatever you want, wherever you want, whenever you want! And on top of that, there’s no one to steal the covers or make compromises for - bliss! So why not write a list of all the reasons why you’re glad to be single? Include all the things you’re able to do now that would be more difficult (or even impossible) if you had a partner. For example, going on spontaneous trips, decision making or getting to spend time with friends and family. You can also include the undesirable things that can come from being in a relationship, for example, having to spend time with annoying in-laws or not being able to watch what you want on TV. Writing things down can really help us gain perspective on our current circumstances and highlight the positives.
Self-care has become hugely popular in recent years and rightly so! It’s been shown to lower stress hormones, increase self-esteem and improve mental health - what more could you ask for? So start by thinking about what you truly love to do. What is it that makes you feel awesome? It could be crafting something, meditating, cooking, reading a book or even taking a nap. Whatever it is, make sure you plan it into your day today. However many activities you choose to incorporate, make sure to engage in them for at least 30 minutes each to fully release those feel-good hormones.
A date without awkwardness, any red flags or boring conversation - sign me up! Dating yourself is a great way to truly connect with who you are and can help in your journey of self discovery. You could go to the movies, go to your favorite coffee shop or even dress up, cook yourself a fancy meal and then dance like no-one’s watching. Whatever you choose to do, it’s about enjoying your own fabulous company and learning more about what makes you tick.
Trying something new has been shown to reduce stress, release dopamine (the feel-good hormone) and potentially increase intelligence - all great ways to show yourself that you care. Activities that engage you physically, mentally and socially (like going to a language class or art class) tend to have the biggest impact, but anything that is out of the ordinary will prove beneficial.
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, but it also benefits you. Why not see if your local pet rescue center needs some help? Spending time with animals can increase happiness, combat any pesky loneliness and reduce anxiety. Or if you’re not an animal lover, how about dropping by your local senior living community and asking if you can volunteer there? Not only will you make someone’s day, but you’ll also boost your own self esteem and sense of purpose.
If you’re relishing the prospect of spending Valentine’s Day alone then that’s great news! However, if you’re struggling with the idea of being alone on Valentine’s Day, then the phone that’s attached to your hand every minute of every day - get rid of it! It’s tempting to go online today but seeing all the declarations of love risks leaving you feeling lonely and that’s exactly what this blog is here to try and prevent! Disconnect from the online world entirely for 24 hours and you’ll thank yourself later.
On a day that’s all about love, why not spend time with your nearest and dearest? Romantic love may come and go but the love of strong friendships and family can be lifelong and often these relationships play a huge part in our identity and how we feel about ourselves. If you can't be with them, why not reach out and send them a short message telling them you're thinking about them. It's the little acts of love that make the biggest difference.
Whatever you decide to do today, we hope you feel all the love in the world! Being alone doesn’t have to be lonely and in truth, it’s the perfect time for self discovery and self improvement. Relish in this opportunity and make this day all about you! You are beautiful, you are loved, you are enough. Happy Valentine's Day!