Valentine’s Day is this Sunday! While I’m super excited about it, it might not be for the reasons you think. I’m all about self-love these days and I think you should be, too. What better day to practice it than V-Day, the holiday that’s already about all kinds of love? Whether you have a significant other or not, you can still practice these 6 ways to show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day (and every day, if you want!)
1. Take a bath
If you end up reading this blog for any length of time, you’ll soon realize that I really, really like baths. Baths are my solution for everything. Feeling sad? Take a bath! Broke your leg? Take a bath (but be sure not to get the cast wet)! Fought with your significant other? Take a bath (maybe together?)! To me, baths are the epitome of pampering. They’re great if you’re spending V-day in, but they’re also a good way to prep for a date later on! Light some candles, toss in a bath bomb, pour yourself a glass of vino (or just keep the bottle by the tub for easy access – I mean what, who does that?) and soak away your stress while reading a good book or listening to music. I sometimes use this time to catch up on YouTube videos by propping my laptop up on a chair by the tub – the sky’s the limit!
2. Do a face mask
If you have one you love already, that’s great – do it! If not, here are a few options! Raw honey is amazing if you struggle with acne – it’s a natural anti-bacterial, plus it’s a humectant which means it seals moisture in your skin. On top of that, raw honey is filled with nutrients and antioxidents that are super good for you! Make yourself a cup of tea and honey to sip on while you do it (but be sure you’re not just reaching your grubby hands into the honey jar – you’re not Winnie the Pooh!) If your skin is dry or irritated, I cannot say enough how incredible plain Greek yogurt feels on the face. It’s cooling and soothing and was my go-to when I had hella sunburn this summer. For store-bought options, my faves are this super cheap one from Queen Helene (good for unclogging pores) and this MIRACLE product from Soap and Glory – Soap And Glory The Fab Pore Facial Peel 2 In 1 Pore Purifying Mask And Peel *(I cannot say enough about this stuff. It’s a little harder to find, but my skin looks bright, fresh, and new after I use it!)
3. Eat yummy food
If there’s ever a day to indulge, it’s Valentine’s Day – I mean hello, holiday of chocolate and wine. Whatever you love to eat, have it and don’t feel guilty about it (even if it’s mozzarella sticks ON a pizza. You go live that dream. And invite me over.) Seriously, sometimes all it takes for my mood to spike through the roof is a bag of potato chips, because as much as I claim through gritted teeth that I LOVE these dried seaweed snacks that I paid too much for at Whole Foods, ya gotta give in to the cravings sometimes. (To be fair, I DO like those seaweed snacks, but when the choice is between that or some Salt n’ Vinegar chips? Come on.) Calories don’t count on Valentine’s Day, because I make the rules and I said so.
4. Watch a movie
You can do this while doing all of the other things! Some of my favorite love-y movies are Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Practical Magic (it’s not just for Halloween!), Penelope (a movie with a great message!), The Proposal (maybe I just like this because I am also an editor who loves Wuthering Heights, but it’s worth it for Ryan Reynolds shirtless, at any rate), Crazy Stupid Love, and Dan In Real Life (not your traditional romance, but adorable.)
5. Buy yourself something sexy
It doesn’t have to be lingerie (although heck yes, new lingerie! do it!) I always feel SUPER confident when I’m wearing a new outfit that I feel fab in. Even if you’re not going on a date, you can still treat yourself to something awesome – then when you DO have a date, you’ll knock it out of the park fore sure! Don’t have the budget for a brand-new outfit? I get the same thrill from a new lipstick, even one from the drugstore! This red from Revlon,*
I’m convinced, looks good on everyone and lasts ALL day. It’s always in my purse. Seriously. I’m linking to it because you’d probably gag if I took a picture of the gross one in my bag right now.
6. Indulge in a hobby
Take some time to do something you love, even if it’s something you do every other day. I find that sometimes I need a special occasion to give myself an excuse to make time for the things I care about, as sad as that is. Who has time for writing when I have a full-time job, two side hustles, a relationship, an attempted workout regimen, and the need for a shower every once in a while?! The truth is that even when I find time to dedicate to my pasisons, I never have time to tend to all of them – I love reading, writing, tarot, blogging, going for walks, watching the occasional TV show, surfing the Internet, finding cute animals to Instagram, and a whole lot of other stuff. Inevitably those get prioritized and I tend to do my favorites over and over again, while the others fall neglected to the wayside. Dedicate some time to that thing you’ve been wanting to learn but keep putting off, or that thing you know how to do but want to do more often. You’ll thank yourself later!
If you wanna buy yourself some more nice V-day-themed things, I suggest you check out my gift guide post and snag some of that stuff! I also recommend Gala Darling’s new book, Radical Self-Love: A Guide to Loving Yourself and Living Your Dreams*
– I keep talking about it because I’m only halfway through it and I’m already in LOVE.
I hope you have a lovely and wonderful Valentine’s Day, and remember that love isn’t measured in flowers or boxes of chocolate. Don’t feel down if you don’t have a partner! It’s just a silly holiday, and anyway you know that I love you so we’ll just be valentines if you’re lonely, no big deal. Smooches! xx
(links marked with a * are affiliate links – they’re not sponsored, but I get paid if you buy ’em! win-win! and of course, all opinions are honest and totally my own.)
