Valentine’s Day; the day to shower your nearest and dearest with some extra love. This Valentine’s we want you to show some love to the most important person in your life… YOU!
It doesn’t matter if you are coupled up or single, it’s important to pamper yourself from time to time, and show yourself the same kind of love and kindness that you give out so willingly.
Practising self-love isn’t always easy, our lives are so busy that “me-time” often isn’t a priority. It’s not uncommon for us to even feel guilty about taking time out to look after ourselves! But no matter how indulgent the term self-love sounds - prioritising it from time to time is vital for our mental and physical health.
Showing yourself a little self-love can boost your self-esteem and significantly reduce your stress levels, but it also has physical benefits; like increasing the level of your ‘happy hormones’ (scientifically dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin), improving your cardiovascular health and strengthening your immune system.
Let’s get started! Here are 6 simple ways to show yourself some love:
Do something you love!
Taking part in activities you enjoy boosts your mood and increases your energy levels - so whether it’s scheduling time to read a new book, do some painting, go for a walk or have a spa-day - you do you.Pay attention to your thoughts
It is so easy to be unkind to yourself, your biggest critic is often yourself. This Valentine’s Day, try to rationalise your inner critic by speaking to yourself as you would a loved one. Self-love is about respecting your needs and desires.Move your body
What physical activity gets you going? A brisk walk with the dog? A spin class? Whatever it is, exercise encourages the body to release endorphins, and getting some fresh air gives you your daily dose of Vitamin D - which supports your body’s natural mood-regulating system.Laugh!
It sounds so simple, doesn’t it?! Laughter releases endorphins and helps take your mind off stress. Hang out with the friends and family that make you smile and laugh until your belly hurts! Watch a funny video or watch your favourite comedy show on the tv - write down the things that make you laugh. If you’re feeling glum, you can come back to them to remind yourself. That brings us to point 5:Write it down
Offload your thoughts at the end of a long day by taking time to write down how you feel, almost like you are taking all the stresses and worries from your brain and transferring them to the paper, clearing your head. You can also write down the things you are grateful for, so that you focus your brain on the positives!Prioritise sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is so easily overlooked. But sleep is restorative and healing, allows you to think clearly and make the best decisions day to day - just one night of poor sleep can decrease your ability to make effective decisions and increase your stress levels.