How to Show Yourself More Love Pre-Valentine's Day

The "holiday of love" is right around the corner and, whether you're single or in a relationship, the pressure to shower those you care about with extra affection, gifts, and care can distract you from something pretty important: loving yourself.

Now, we're not suggesting you forego all Valentine's Day traditions and focus only on yourself this year (your Galentines/Valentines need you too!) but we are suggesting that, leading up to this semi-draining holiday, you get in the habit of loving yourself a little bit more. 

To some, Valentine's day is a lonely day, a reminder of what they don't have or don't want to have. For other's, it comes with loads of pressure to "love well" in over-the-top ways. Whatever camp you land in can be an exhausting one, unless you're conscious of your own needs leading up to V-day, and of course, on February 14th itself. 

Here are a few of our favorite ways to show yourself a little more love, regardless of your relationship status. 

1. Unplug from Social Media

It takes up hours of our day and can be difficult to unplug fully from, but if you struggle with comparison, "fomo", or feeling likely there's simply not enough time in the day for self-care, consider logging offline for a day or even a few hours each day. We promise you'll feel refreshed and, believe it or not, amazed at how much extra space you've created in your day. 

2. Take 30 Minutes

As amazing as a full spa day or weekend vacation would be, oftentimes "extravagant" self-care events are few and far between and can be impractical for day to day life. Instead, focus on giving yourself 30 minutes of self-care each day. Unplug after work with a candle-lit bath, treat yourself to an extra long lunch, spend time reading before bed. Self-care doesn't have to be complicated and, usually, like in all relationships, the simplest things make the biggest difference.

3. Be Aware of Your "Type" 

We're big fans of learning more about yourself via personality typing systems like the Enneagram or Meyers Briggs. As cheesy as it sounds, knowing your type (or types) can help you learn how to better care for yourself. What works for your best friend might not work for you, so the more you know about your unique personality, the better equipped you are to care for it. 

4. Take Yourself On a Date

You don't need a partner or a friend to go on a date. Whether you love alone time or not, doing something you enjoy with just you is a great way to get to know yourself better and reenter your normal routine feeling refreshed. 

5. Ask for Help

Mama's we're looking at you here. Juggling all of life's demands isn't easy and, whether you have littles or not, asking for help is a vital part of successfully achieving your goals AND caring for yourself. There's nothing wrong with hiring a babysitter, calling your mom, or asking a co-worker to help lessen your load every now and then. 

6. Create a Healthy Work/Life Balance

Along with unplugging from social media and asking for help, one of the simplest ways to care for yourself mentally and physically is to set healthy work/life boundaries. Let your work stay at the office (or, if you work from home, set clear boundaries about when "work time" is and when "life time" is.) When you're home, be fully present. It's easier said than done, but we promise that it will make all of the difference. 

How do you care for yourself? Remember to make space for YOU this "Valentine's Day season".