Life 12th February 2023 by Online editors

How To Practice Self Love This Valentine’s Day

There’s only one you and if you don’t treat yourself right, who will?

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, expect the week to be brimming with heart shaped chocolates, cheesy rom-coms and cringe worthy ads.

As much as it’s important to show your love to others, practicing self love is a must too. After all, how can you love someone else without loving yourself first? So, whether you’re all booed up this Valentine’s or more single than ever, here are five things you can do to practice self love.

1. Be kind to someone else

While self love should be mainly focused on you (keyword: self), sometimes showing kindness to others is all we need to boost our self esteem. Whether it’s sending a loved one a nice text, giving your co-worker a coffee, or complimenting a stranger, completing a random act of kindness uplifts our mood.

So, go out of your way to make someone feel special this Valentine’s Day. Happiness is contagious and kindness is its own reward.

2. Celebrate yourself

Valentine’s Day is about celebrating the ones we love, so if we are practicing self love, celebrate yourself!

The most important relationship on any Valentine’s Day is the one with ourselves. Why not write yourself a love letter or list all the things you like about yourself? (Who said it was narcissistic to love yourself?) Get all glammed up and wear your favourite outfit, even if it’s just to go nowhere. Use this Valentine’s Day as an excuse to shower yourself in love as you would do for others, after all, you deserve it!

3. Listen to some Taylor Swift


Okay, it doesn’t have to be Taylor Swift, but listening to some uplifting tunes is an easy way to feel good.

Live out your early 2000s teenage movie fantasies by jumping up and down in your pjs whilst blaring You Belong To Me. Make a playlist of all your favourite songs this Valentine’s Day and sing until your heart’s content. (Or until you get a noise complaint!)

4. Take a social media detox

Social media can be overwhelming, and let’s face it, Valentine’s Day doesn’t help. When your feed is inundated with perfect proposals, and Fomo fuelled dates, it can remind us of our romantic disappointments leaving us pressured to be the perfect partner.

Sometimes all we need is to take a little step back and ease off social media. No, I’m not suggesting you do a full blackout but if you are feeling overwhelmed, put the phone down. Miss Perfect Abs and your ubiquitous ex will still be there when you go back. Just take a day and focus on yourself.

5. Reach out to close ones for support

If after doing all our tips to practice self love you’re still struggling, reach out to a friend or someone close to you. As much as we like to think we can handle our struggles on our own, sometimes all we need is a listening ear and a little support. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone this Valentine’s Day. You may be surprised to hear they are feeling the same way.

Regardless of your relationship status, Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love so treat yourself right. The longest and the most important relationship you will ever have is with yourself, so put in the same amount of love and effort you would treat a partner with. And remember, self love is not seasonal but something that lasts all year round.

By Zana Zee Keough

Images via Pixabay / Pexels

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