Stel Coombe Heath Wholesome Lifestyle Project
Whether you’re single or in a relationship, Valentine’s Day can be stressful. And while it’s important to take care of your significant other, it’s equally if not more important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself!
After all, you can’t truly give or receive love if you’re not taking care of yourself first.
This year, I’m focusing on self-care as a way to show unconditional love for myself.
Here are seven essential practices for unconditional love:
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Get in touch with your senses.
We often forget how important our senses are to our overall wellbeing. This Valentine’s Day, make time to really connect with your senses. Listen to calming music, enjoy a delicious meal, and take in the smells of your favorite essential oils.
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Practice yoga or meditation.
Yoga and meditation are both excellent ways to relax and unwind. Yoga is a great way to relax, connect with your body and mind, and practice self-love. Yoga can help you find peace in your own skin by helping you get in touch with what’s going on inside of you. By focusing on breathing exercises and meditation during yoga classes, it will teach you how to be present in the moment instead of letting stress take over or distracting yourself from what matters most: loving yourself enough for both of us!
If you’re new to yoga, there are plenty of beginner-friendly classes available online or at your local studio. Likewise, if meditation is something you’ve been wanting to try, there are many guided meditations available for free on YouTube or other streaming platforms.
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Connect with nature.
There’s nothing like fresh air and sunshine to boost your mood and chase away the blues.
Connecting with nature is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress and anxiety, but it also has other benefits. Nature can help you be more productive, creative and mindful. It’s been shown that spending time in nature reduces rumination – the repetitive thinking about negative experiences or events – which can lead to depression.
Spend time outside walking, gardening, or simply sitting in nature and take in the beauty around you.
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Pamper yourself.
Treat yourself to a massage, manicure, or any other type of self-care that makes you feel special and loved. You deserve it!
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Write down what you’re grateful for.
Focusing on what we’re grateful for is a powerful way to attract more positive energy into our lives. This Valentine’s Day, take some time to write down a list of things you’re grateful for in your life. It could be anything from your health to your friends and family to your favorite possession. Whatever it is, express gratitude for it!
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Get in touch with your body.
Spend some time each day connecting with your body through movement, breath work, or simply by sitting in silence and paying attention to your physical sensations.
If you’re not sure how to get in touch with your body, try these:
- Take a walk in nature or along the beach and notice how it feels to sit on the sand, feel the sun on your skin and breathe deeply.
- Go for a swim or take a hot bath. Notice how heavy or light your limbs feel as they move through water and air respectively.
- Lie down somewhere comfortable (on a bed or couch) and pay attention only to what’s happening in this moment–no past regrets or future worries allowed!
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Listen to your heart
What does your heart truly desire? What makes you happy? Follow those desires and listen to that inner voice.
The Valentine’s Day season is a great time to focus on self-care and love. It doesn’t have to be complicated: just find ways to make yourself feel good! Whether that means taking a bath with candles or spending more time outdoors, doing things that bring joy into your life will help you become more openhearted and compassionate toward others.
I hope you enjoyed this list of self-care practices for Valentine’s Day. Remember that self-care is a lifelong practice, so make sure to keep up with these activities even after the holiday is over!
