Love Yourself This Valentine’s Day

Candy hearts, love letters, and boxes of chocolate populate stores when the month of February rolls around. The aisles are crowded with oversized stuffed bears and various Valentine’s day decor. These items often excite people, regardless of their relationship status. Valentine’s day is filled with messages of affection from family and friends, most often from romantic partners. However, the holiday can feel unnecessary or annoying for those of us not in romantic relationships. It can be filled with feelings of loneliness or sadness, as we might be stuck dwelling on previous relationships.

While taking the time to properly work through the difficult emotions of a past love is completely valid, it doesn’t always have to be this way for the singles of the world. We’re allowed to have fun this Valentine’s day too. There are so many things to do on Valentine’s day that will boost your mood and allow you to celebrate the person you should love most: yourself. Below are five simple ways to celebrate this Valentine’s day and not get down in the dumps.

Buy yourself flowers- This form of self care will get you up and out of the house on Valentine’s day. Connecting with nature can also bring you some ease if the holiday creates anxiety or stress. Though it might sound a bit cliche, buying yourself a fresh bouquet will boost your self-esteem; Miley Cyrus seems to agree too!

Host a “Galentine’s” day– This idea might take some planning, but it could be simple too! Hanging out with friends and celebrating your love for one another is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s day and feel less lonely. Dressing up cute and eating heart shaped candies isn’t just for couples.

Get up and at it:  One of my favorite things to do is workout or even go for a ‘hot girl walk.’ As simple as it sounds, it is such a healthy outlet to clear your head and get yourself out of the house.

Eat your favorite meal or treat- One of my favorite things to do is go out to eat and share a good laugh with friends. What better way to treat yourself than enjoying your favorite foods on this holiday? Whether it’s going out or ordering in, treat yourself to whatever you might be craving.

Retail therapy: This is one of my favorite forms of therapy on any given day, but Valentine’s day is the perfect time to treat yourself to that new pair of shoes or jeans you’ve been eyeing. This form of self care can be done in many ways whether it’s online or taking a trip to the mall. Think of the positives- you don’t have to spend money on gifts for someone else, so why not spend money on something for you!

You owe it to yourself to do whatever YOU want this Valentine’s day. Love yourself first, regardless of your relationship status!