As February begins, we move closer to Valentine’s Day. In the recent years, caring for friends in addition, or as a replacement for, a romantic interest have become popular in the US. Pictures from Galentine’s or Palentine’s Day fill social media feeds. But there is something missing as we give love to others – providing self-care and love to ourselves. Especially during the ongoing stresses of the pandemic, political and cultural divisions, taking this Valentine’s Day as a reminder for self-care is more important than ever. So here are 8 ideas for Self-Care for Valentine’s Day 2021.
Begin The Morning Focusing On You.
When you wake up in the morning, don’t look at your phone to catch up on email or the news. Instead, give yourself a few minutes to wake up and let the energy to flow. Perhaps do a few stretches or yoga poses. We really like Yoga With Adriene but find something that works for you! If it is helpful for you, take a few minutes to think about what you want to accomplish for the day and visualize the steps of how you will get there.
Take a Few Minutes to Sit In Gratitude.
Set aside 10 minutes to write down what you are grateful for or jot down some general thoughts. Putting your thoughts into words can be very grounding, bringing focus to your day. Feel free to do this exercise in the morning when you are fresh, or throughout the day when you start to feel the pull of stress. If you haven’t done so lately, spend sometime noting the things you love about yourself.
Even during a pandemic, there is something fun to do.
Check out your local online events organization to see available activities to do in your city, while keeping safe. Many institutions are taking events online so you can do something amazing from your own home – like tour the Louvre. Or engage in outdoor activities, like a hike or bike ride. Fresh air can do wonders for your soul.
Turn off the TV, put the cell phone down and start a new book.
Libraries are opening up in some cities, check to see if yours is open. If not, find a local bookstore to purchase from and tune out the world for an afternoon. Your heart and mind will thank you.
Plant something.
Plants have been proven to help destress the body and mind. There is something really energizing about getting a new plant and watching it grow. Seeing the new plant growth brings such a sense of accomplishment. Find an amazing plant, purchase online if easier, The Sill, Bloomscape, and not surprisingly, Amazon, are some great places to purchase.
Spoil yourself with an amazing glass of wine.
Pick a delicious bottle of wine, create a beautiful charcutier board (here are some ideas) filled with only things you like on it. Have a date with yourself and do whatever it is you’d like to do – read, write, clean, organize, whatever an activity would be that bring you happiness. Enjoy a glass of wine, eat some amazing food and focus on something that you love.
Ideate Your Big Dreams
Whether it’s creating a vision board, writing in a journal, or crafting the ideas in your head, put into words/images your dreams and send them out into the universe.
Deliver flowers to yourself.
No need to wait on someone else to order you flowers. Pick a gorgeous bouquet and have the flowers delivered to you. Fresh cut flowers in your home are sure to boost your mood. Here is a link to find a local florist in your area. Use coupon code “LOVE25” to get $25 off a bouquet from Bouqs (https://bouqs.com/flowers/valentines-day/).
