How to Show Yourself Some Love this Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day is a wonderful opportunity to focus on how we cherish and nourish ourselves and our loved ones. Today is a day to show your special someone how much you care, but we encourage you to also show some love to your number one cheerleader – you!

It’s easy to forget the love we need to thrive and be a better partner, parent, friend, and community member. Self-love is different for everyone, and there are many paths to achieving a healthy self-love routine.

Comparisons

Often times, people can become more observant of others than themselves. In the long run, only you can determine your worth, so start by ditching counterproductive habits like this one. Social media and other outside influences can often influence whether we feel adequate or not. Every individual has different struggles, strengths, and quirks, and comparing individual characteristics to others can become stressful and damaging. Paying attention to your own triumphs and individual progress is most important.

Tip from the team: Weekly or daily, try to think of one thing (big or small) to be proud of about yourself. Write it down or think back to it if you find yourself comparing your life to someone else's – focus on this accomplishment. You can even write it on a sticky note and post it on your bathroom mirror!

Nourishment

Body image and self-love go hand in hand. Striving for perfection can lead to a negative thought process. Give yourself room to eat the foods that make you happy, allow yourself to have down time and relax, and focus on what you need to feel your best.

Tip from the team: Start by choosing foods that make you feel good. Keep in mind foods that make you feel sluggish or uncomfortable and try to avoid them. Strict dieting can be restrictive and lead to overindulgence, so focusing on eating food that fuels you and gives you energy is a good start to eating and feeling your best. Check out this blog and these tips for more tips on mindful eating!

Personal Time

One of the biggest influences on self-love is others. Ensuring you have enough time for yourself can be hard when you are balancing the needs of those around you as well. Making space for yourself, whether it’s spending time with family or alone, is important. Everyone needs to focus on themselves sometimes, and this is not selfish. Spend your you-time doing something you enjoy!

Tip from the team: Oftentimes we have busy schedules with little down time, so embracing those short breaks has become a much-needed practice. Try putting your phone on silent, turning on some music, or sitting in silence for a short time each day. Relax and enjoy the moment you have to yourself without worrying about your list of to-do’s or other’s needs. ​

This Valentine’s Day, start by sharing the love with yourself. Realizing your progress and accomplishments, getting to know what nourishes you, and setting aside some time to relax can all be helpful in boosting your self-love. Click here for more self-care tips, and Happy Valentine’s Day from Pinnacle Prevention!

“Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives.”
Louise Hay