Valentine’s Day can be a complicated time of year. While the focus on romantic relationships is great, it is equally as important to take a step back and prioritize self-love. If you are anything like me, you know that the journey to self-love and acceptance is far from being linear. It’s a complex process, one that many people work at over the course of their lives. I certainly have not mastered the practice yet, but I have accepted the fact that it really is okay to not yet have it all figured out. With that being said, there are certainly some steps that I have taken throughout my life thus far that have really benefited me in my own self-love journey. So, here are a few (possibly cliché, yet true) tips that have personally brought me that much closer to achieving self-love and acceptance.
- Developing a self-care routine
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This one has been really important in my own journey to self-love. It can look like whatever you want it to: a skincare routine, a journaling schedule, mediation/yoga sessions, going on walks and so much more. I believe that the value of consistently doing some sort of mindful practice, in which you focus on and take care of yourself, cannot be overstated.
- Allowing Myself some alone time
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In my experience, alone time has been really beneficial for my wellbeing. It is important to understand that you don’t always have to be doing social things; it can be really easy to get burnt out. Taking some time for myself during my week to simply decompress has done wonders for my state of mind.
- Validating my emotions
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Something that I am constantly having to work on is understanding that my feelings are valid, even if I might feel like I am being dramatic. Validating my emotions allows me to accept them, respect them, and therefore better understand why I feel the way that I do. In my experience, understanding my emotions has been a crucial part of self-love and acceptance.
- Surrounding myself with people who make me feel appreciated
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I know this one seems like a given, but it could not be more true. Spending time with people who support and respect me as a person is a huge part of being able to respect myself. I believe in quality over quantity when it comes to friendships; having a few true companions has been far better for my health than having many peers who won’t truly be there for me when I need it.
- Reminding myself that it is okay to have good days and bad days
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The road to self-love is not always straightforward; there are constantly ups and downs, and that is completely okay. There are no strict rules or expectations when it comes to working on self-love. The journey is different for everyone, and there is nothing wrong with having rough patches. Take a deep breath and give yourself some grace on the bad days; remember that they do not define you.