Love, love, love! Valentine’s Day means something different for everyone, and while there are many ways to celebrate it romantically or platonically, I want to share with you some ideas on how to show yourself some love this year.
After the tumultuous year of 2020, I think we all deserve to take some time out of your day and do some self-care. Below are my favourite ways to take care and spend time with yourself.
1. Reflect on all of the incredible things you’ve accomplished
I think one of the best things you can do for yourself is to look back at how much you’ve done in your life and really appreciate yourself! The past year (and those before, because let’s face it, there were other hard years besides 2020), was difficult but you’ve made it through. Even if your only accomplishment last year was just surviving, that’s a pretty amazing thing. Surviving a pandemic is no small feat, so pat yourself on the back for it!
Write down your accomplishments from the past year or two or five, (whatever timeframe you’re feeling)! This could be a great thing to do yearly to just reflect and appreciate yourself.
2. Dive deep into your favourite book, movie or TV show
One way that I love to relax my mind is by indulging in some sort of media, whether that is a book, movie or TV show! I’ve recently fallen back in love with reading sweet rom com books and to be able to live vicariously through the characters. But anything that can get your mind off of school, work or whatever other stress you have in your life is a great way to do some self-care this Valentine’s Day!
3. Take a bath
This one’s another classic “self-care” thing to do, but I think it really helps! Baths allow your muscles to relax and gives you the space to really be one with yourself and not have to worry about anything else. You can pair this with idea #2, or simply put on some music and just sit and relax. Get yourself a bath bomb or bubbles to give it a little pizzaz.
4. Move your body in a way that feels good
On the opposite end, I know I always feel better when I incorporate some kind of movement into my day. Whether this is a workout, a walk through your neighbourhood, or doing some yoga in your room, you’ll always feel better afterwards. Being able to move your body is a blessing that not everyone has, so if you have the ability, exercise it (get it?)!
Moving your body will make you feel better physically since it gives you those endorphins and you’ll know that you’re taking care of your body. Personally, I love doing MadFit’s dance party workouts when I need a little energy boost!
5. Let your creative juices flow
When I have some extra time for myself, one of my favourite things to do is something creative! Being able to freely express yourself through a creative channel is so liberating and can be therapeutic.
A few ideas for you:
- Painting (or paint by numbers situation)
- Music (singing, songwriting, playing an instrument)
- Dance (choose a song that you’re totally vibing with right now and just dance around your room to it!)
- Drawing (something realistic or abstract)
- Writing (if there’s a story in your head, let it out! or just write out how you feel about a certain topic)
- Filmmaking (want to make some TikTok videos or a YouTube video? try it out now!)
- Photography (want to take some cool shots for yourself or your Instagram? play around with it today!)
6. Journal how you feel this Valentine’s Day
On a similar note, I think journaling is a really great way to understand your feelings and express yourself privately. Specifically, you can journal about how you feel this Valentine’s Day and what it means to you in this point in your life. Whether you’re happy with it, or frustrated, you’ll be able to write freely about what you’re feeling without a worry that anyone will read it. Write as if you’re going to burn the pages tomorrow!
7. Bake or cook a favourite dish!
There’s something so satisfying about putting in the effort to bake or cook something and then being able to enjoy, quite literally, your hard work afterwards. I love being able to follow a recipe and put everything together, knowing that the end result will taste amazing (unless I mess up the recipe…)!
Grab a recipe for something you’re craving on Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube, or just Google and get started! I personally love baking some thick (or thicc, as some like to say) chocolate chip cookies for a feel good dessert.
8. Sleep
This might be my favourite, but honestly, I think we all need a little extra recharge! Take the time to sleep in today or to take a nap in the middle of the day if you’re feeling a bit tired.
9. Declutter your space
Spring cleaning exists but what about winter cleaning? I think we tend to hoard items over time and depending on when the last time you did a declutter was, you may have built up a bit of a pile. Clear your space and unload some things that may not be reflective of who you are now or who you want to be. Maybe you can tackle your closet first and then your workspace, but I know whenever I do at least one area of my life, I always feel so much more refreshed and ready to achieve my goals!
10. Set yourself up financially
This one’s a little bit more serious, but I think self-care encompasses more than just relaxing and enjoying your space. It’s also about investing in yourself and making sure you’re able to accomplish your goals in all areas of your life. This will depend on what your financial goals are, but I think just spending some time to research what options and recommendations are out there will be helpful!
For example, one of my goals last year was to start investing, so I spent some time researching how to get started with investing and what exactly I should do depending on my risk tolerance. Doing this research really made me feel more prepared and relieved that I was able to tackle this daunting task.
If budgeting is one of your goals, check out my recent budgeting blog on how to get set up for success!
11. Meditate
Adding a short meditation daily can be a great way to reset your mind and calm it down, but doing a slightly longer session on Valentine’s Day could be a great way to show some love for your mental well-being. I love doing guided meditations from Headspace or Insight Timer, but feel free to do whichever ones you enjoy best!
12. Get some fresh air
Going outside and enjoying the outdoors is always a great feeling! Since we’ve been cooped up in our homes for quite some time now, here’s your reminder to get out (if you’re able to) and enjoy the fresh air. You can take a short walk, or just go on a drive to pick up some coffee. Whatever it is that will get you outside, I promise it will clear your head and give you a boost in energy!
13. Clean your space
This is a spin off of my earlier idea of decluttering your space, but this time, it’s a little bit easier with just cleaning! For me, my mind is always a reflection of my physical space so having a clean workspace and living space is really important. Clear out the garbage, wipe down your desks and countertops and put your things in their respective spots to create a tidy space. Being able to sit down and feel your mind relax because your space is clean is the best feeling!
14. Get yourself a gift
Last, but not least, treat yourself this Valentine’s Day! Sometimes a little gift for yourself is the best way to show your love (especially if your love language is gift giving). Pick up a nice coffee order, or a new clothing item or tech accessory!
I hope you liked these 14 ideas to show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day! Let me know if you end up trying them out or just simply implementing some of these into your life on a regular basis. Comment down below, contact me through email or on Instagram!
