In case you hadn’t heard, Valentine's Day is here again.
V-Day has a special knack for making single people feel lonely, or if you are coupled up you may feel extra pressure to show your love through material gifts and expensive dinners.
But this year I’m taking a leaf out of Miley Cyrus’ self-love book.
Her new song, ‘Flowers’, is a self-love anthem and given it continues to break streaming records, I’d say Miley is onto something.
We’re not craving romantic love and affection, but rather we want to be empowered to love ourselves unapologetically.
Not only that, there is merit to buying yourself flowers, in case you were wondering.
According to a study at Rutgers, flowers have an immediate impact on happiness, and a long-term positive effect on mood and their presence leads to increased contact with family and friends.
Valentine's Day is synonymous with roses but if you’re not into flowers, here are 7 other ways to show yourself some self-love this Valentine’s Day.
7 other ways to show yourself some self-love this Valentine’s Day
1. Take the day off
We can spend all the money on all the face masks, massages and have an impressive collection of bath bombs, but the truth is sometimes the best self care is letting yourself rest.
Mental health days are just as important as taking a day off for a physical illness.
Schedule Valentine’s Day off in advance and use the day to focus on doing something that brings you joy, whether that’s treating yourself to lunch out, a nail appointment or snuggling up on the lounge and binging your favourite show.
Rest, and most importantly, don’t feel guilty about it!
2. Spend time outside
Research shows that spending time outdoors in nature has a positive impact on our mental health.
If you’re in a city like New York, London or Sydney there are always new green spaces to find and explore. Here are some of my faves:
If you do find a new green space in your local city - let us know!
3. Try a digital detox
You could also use your day outside to do a digital detox.
Too much time spent looking at screens isn’t good for your mental health, but if the idea of switching off completely fills you with anxiety check out these ways to practice a digital detox without totally unplugging.
4. Get together with friends
We love a Pal-entines or Gal-entines soiree! Text your closest friends and organise something to do together.
You could catch a play, movie, have a games night - maybe a local pub quiz, or just get together for some dinner and cocktails.
5. Practice mindful cooking
There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of nailing a new recipe, but if you’re like me, by the time dinner time rolls around you’re looking for the quickest and simplest meal to whip up.
Why not use your mental health day off to try something new or plan to make something more experimental on the weekend?
Mindfulness can have huge benefits for your mental health and mindful cooking is one way you can practice. Check out this article from Headspace on how to get started.
6. Commit to trying that new hobby you’ve always wanted to
If cooking isn’t for you, maybe there is another hobby you’ve always wanted to try. For me it’s Park Run, I’ve always said I’ll do it but never get around to it. For me it’s a pottery class, I’ve always said I’ll do it but never get around to it.
This week, let's make a promise to each other - we will hit up our mates and find someone to join us. You’re so much more likely to commit to something if you have an accountability buddy.
Don’t forget to snap some pics and take us on Instagram @PepTalkHer - we would love to see what you get up to!
7. Invest in your career
If you’re short on accountability buddies, invest in your career and join us as a Masterminder!
Our Masterminders meet once a month for an hour.
Together we have built a community of people who know the value of investing in yourself, your career, and your future. We share stories, experiences, and practical advice on how to achieve our goals through accountability and encouragement.