SELF-CARE: My 5 Favorite Ways to Celebrate Yourself This Valentine’s Day (Without Feeling Silly About It) + FREE Self-Love Weekly Planner

Valentine’s Day is a day about celebrating love.

But like many people, I used to think that it was only about celebrating romantic love with another person.

And so whenever Christmas ended and the heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and candy started to fill store shelves, I used to feel sad and left out if I wasn’t in a relationship (or if I was in a rocky relationship).

My very idea of Valentine’s Day made me focus on what I was lacking—a healthy and loving romantic relationship.

And it stopped me from recognizing that romantic love isn’t the only kind of love that’s important to celebrate on Valentine’s Day.

After all, although romantic relationships are very important relationships for many people, they aren’t the only ones that matter. And they aren’t the only ones that are worth celebrating this Valentin

e’s Day.

So whether you’re single, happily partnered up, or in a rocky relationship this Valentine’s Day, feel free to celebrate the other awesome people in your life.

And most importantly, make time to celebrate the most important relationship in your life: the one you have with yourself.

Not sure how to do this without feeling awkward or silly about it?

Here are my 5 favorite ways to celebrate yourself this Valentine’s Day.

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• Give Yourself the Gift You’d Want to Receive

One of the easiest ways to celebrate yourself this Valentine’s Day is to give yourself the Valentine’s Day that you’d want to receive from someone else.

After all, who says that you can’t buy yourself that gorgeous bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolate, or even some sexy lingerie?

No one. Because you absolutely can gift these Valentine’s Day treats to yourself!

Now, because Valentine’s Day is usually marketed as a day when we give things to other people (usually a romantic partner), you might feel a bit silly buying yourself some flowers or grabbing a heart-shaped box of chocolate for yourself.

But think about it: Why does it need to be weird to celebrate yourself? You’re important and just as deserving of love as an actual or potential partner would be.

Plus, we buy these types of things for ourselves all the time! Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be any different.

Okay, but what if you still feel awkward about buying yourself a gift on Valentine’s Day?

Remember that no one at the store needs to know who you’re actually buying that bouquet of flowers or that spa gift certificate for.

You can also skip the quintessential Valentine’s Day gifts and buy yourself something that could pass off as an ordinary purchase—like a winter-themed flower bouquet or a fancy journal.

And if you want to be even more discreet about your purchase, you can even order your Valentine’s Day gift online and have it delivered to your home.

• Send Yourself to the Spa

Spa treatments are popular Valentine’s Day gifts. But you don’t need to wait for a partner to gift one to you. Instead, whether you’re single, casually dating, or have a partner who just can’t take a hint, you can sign up for some solo pampering by sending yourself to the spa.

The spa can be a great place to lock in some self-care while also getting time to yourself to decompress and recharge. So don’t feel shy about making a Valentine’s Day appointment for an Instagram-worthy mani/pedi, a relaxing massage, or whatever your favorite spa treatment is. And once you’re there, just sit back, relax, and let the pros do the rest.

What if your local spa is already all booked up for Valentine’s Day? Throw yourself the ultimate spa day at home. Pop your favorite scent into an essential oil diffuser, light some candles, put on some soothing spa music, and get cozy in a plush robe and slippers. Then, pamper yourself with a relaxing bath, a face mask, a body scrub, or even just a simple manicure.

• Treat Yourself to a Special Meal

Another great way to celebrate yourself this Valentine’s Day is to treat yourself to a special meal. Although you might be used to going out for lunch or dinner with other people, there’s no rule that says that you can’t go alone—even if it’s Valentine’s Day. So go ahead and celebrate all that makes you awesome by booking a table at your favorite local spot.

If it’s tough to secure a reservation on Valentine’s Day or you’d rather not be surrounded by couples that day, consider booking for the day before (or after) or getting takeout if it’s an option. This way, you can still treat yourself to your favorite meal while also avoiding the Valentine’s Day rush.

Of course, enjoying a special meal doesn’t have to mean eating out or ordering in. You can also devour some homecooked food by making the meal that you’d love for someone else to cook for you. Whip up your favorite appetizers, entrée, desserts, and beverages—whatever your heart desires. Then, light some candles, put on some music, and let yourself enjoy every bite.

Whether you treat yourself to a restaurant meal or cook up a feast at home, remember that the type of food you consume is totally up to you. You don’t have to splurge on a fancy restaurant or cook something decadent just because it’s Valentine’s Day. There’s nothing wrong with ordering fast food or making yourself a pizza if that’s what your heart (or stomach) is asking for.

• Take Yourself On a Date

Going on a Valentine’s Day date doesn’t have to be something you do only with a romantic partner. So if you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate yourself this February 14, why not take yourself on a date?

The great thing about planning a solo date for yourself is that you’ll get to do whatever activity you want. Want to go for a hike? Put on your hiking boots and head over to the best local trail in your area. Want to spend a quiet afternoon reading at your favorite coffee shop? Go for it! And if you want to do an activity that most of your friends and family don’t really love, now’s the perfect time to enjoy it.

Just like with treating yourself to a special meal, your Valentine’s Day date doesn’t have to involve an expensive, once-in-a-lifetime activity. (This isn’t a Hallmark movie, right?) Instead, your date can be as casual or formal as you want it to be.

You can even just turn your living room into a personal movie theatre by rounding up your softest pillows, changing into your most comfortable sweats, and prepping your favorite snacks to indulge in while watching any movie you choose.

• Write Yourself a Love Letter

You probably wouldn’t think twice about writing a loving note on a Valentine’s Day card for a partner or a birthday card for a close friend. So to celebrate yourself this Valentine’s Day, why not write yourself a love letter?

Now, I know that the idea of writing yourself a letter (never mind a love letter), might seem a bit silly. So if it helps, don’t think of it as a love letter. Just think of it as a note that you write to yourself or even just something similar to a journal entry.

You don’t even have to write it like a letter or note that’s addressed to or from someone. Instead, feel free to simply jot down the things you love about yourself, qualities you take pride in, or some recent accomplishments that have made you smile. These could even just be bullet points that say things like, “I’m a patient person,” “I’m awesome at painting,” and “I have healthy skin.”

Writing yourself a love letter on Valentine’s Day isn’t just a great way to practice some gratitude, self-compassion, and self-love. It’ll also boost your mood by reminding you of what an incredible person you are and all of the amazing things that are already part of your life.

This Valentine’s Day, Celebrate YOU

The advertising industry can make it seem like Valentine’s Day is a day that’s only for celebrating romantic love with a partner.

But the reality is that Valentine’s Day is the perfect day for celebrating all kinds of love, including the love you feel toward your kids, relatives, friends, and even toward yourself.

After all, the relationship you have with yourself is the most important relationship in your life. So whether you’re single, casually dating, married, or in a rocky relationship, it’s important to celebrate yourself too on Valentine’s Day.

This February 14, don’t be shy about treating yourself like the queen that you are and giving yourself that gift you’ve been wanting to receive, taking yourself out for the dinner you’ve been wanting to savor, or sending yourself for that massage you’ve been dreaming of.

Because remember, you don’t have to wait for someone to give you the love you want to receive. You can give it to yourself—both this Valentine’s Day and on any other day of the year.

That’s the thing about self-love: You don’t have to wait for a special day to practice it or enjoy it.

Instead, if you’re ready to experience more joy and love no matter what your romantic life looks like, finding simple ways to celebrate yourself and practice self-love on a regular basis is a great place to start.

Now, I know that when your schedule feels like pure chaos, finding time for self-love and self-care can be challenging (and maybe even downright daunting).

That’s why I’ve created a FREE self-love weekly planner for you.

It’ll help you find space in your hectic life to celebrate yourself on a regular basis so that you can experience the love and joy you deserve no matter what’s going on in your life.

And if you haven’t done so already, follow me on my Facebook page Vera Velini – The Assertive Happiness Coach. That way, you’ll be among the first to hear about new blog posts, resources, and courses.

Until next time!

Vera

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