My husband hates Valentine’s day. He considers it a contrived holiday to get us to buy more stuff.

I on the other hand, kinda like celebrating Valentine’s Day.

So where does that leave us?

At this point, I’ve given up on my husband, and honestly, don’t want to force him to get into a holiday he’s not into, because I do understand his point.

That said, I’m all about celebrating the big and little things in life (especially after 2020) so this year, instead of foregoing Valentine’s day, I decided to celebrate with self-love.

Related: 5 important life lessons we learned in 2020

And if I can make one recommendation, it’s that you do the same. This year, celebrate the holiday with self-love – whatever that means to you.

Why? Because I think we could all use more self-love and compassion towards ourselves. Imagine how much happier we’d all be if we treated ourselves with the same kindness we show our friends. I think the world would be a much better place.

So this year, when you celebrate Valentine’s Day, join me and embrace self-love!

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Ways To Celebrate Self-Love on Valentine’s Day

So how do we give ourselves self-love on Valentine’s Day (and beyond)? Below are a few simple ways in which you can give yourself the love you deserve (on this holiday, and every day).

Start from Within

If you do nothing else this Valentine’s day to treat yourself well – at least do this one thing. Pay attention to your inner monologue and stop the negativity. Would you talk to your best friend the way you talk to yourself? No way! So why do you let your inner voice prattle on like it knows what’s best? I know it’s easier said than done, but try to stop your inner voice from being so critical and instead, talk to yourself the way you’d talk to your friends. Show yourself some compassion and love.

Honestly, we should all be doing this every day. But if we have to start somewhere, then let’s start with Valentine’s Day.

Pamper Yourself

Do something today that is indulgent. Take a bubble bath. Eat those fancy chocolates. Order in from your favorite restaurant. Or lock yourself in your bedroom for a couple of hours of ‘me time’. Read that book, take a nap, do whatever it is that will make you happy.

Treat Yourself

We don’t need to wait for someone else to buy us a gift. We can buy ourselves a gift. And even more so on Valentine’s day. Stop waiting for someone else to send you flowers and get the damn gift for yourself that you really want! This gift should be something that will bring you joy. What have you had your eye on? It doesn’t have to be a fancy or luxurious gift. It can also be something you need but haven’t wanted to splurge on.

Maybe it’s a new pan you want for cooking, but you keep telling yourself it’s too expensive. Or perhaps it’s another tie-dye sweatsuit, the official wardrobe of the pandemic. (Hey, I already have 3, so I won’t judge!) And if you do want that luxurious gift, like a new bag, a velvety throw, cool kicks, or a piece of jewelry, then go for it! Get yourself something that when you look at it, you’ll remember that this gift came from you, on Valentine’s Day, to celebrate self-love and care.

Self-Love Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Ok, selfishly, I put together a bunch of gift ideas for things that I want for myself. (Maybe my hubby is reading this?!) Just kidding….

While there are many things I want, I’m only going to pick one gift for myself on Valentine’s Day. I want one special thing that will remind me how important it is to love myself and splurge on me once in a while.

In case you need some inspiration, check out my round-up below of Valentine’s gift ideas for you to buy for yourself.

1. Treat yourself to adorable dessert plates, because we should always leave room for dessert!

2. I’m obsessed with soaps and buy them wherever I go, so I love this Valentine’s Day-themed heart-shaped soap.

3.  Why not practice self-love on Valentine’s Day with another tie-dye sweatsuit? This one from Amazon gives me all the cozy vibes.

4. We can always use more storage, so why not get a cart that’s pretty and functional at the same time?

5. I have a confession to make. I already started practicing self-love ahead of the holiday and bought this Diptyque candle for myself!

6. Even our feet need a bit of self-love so buy yourself a pair of super soft furry slippers.

7. if you’re going for luxury, consider this pink, faux fur throw.

8. Sometimes you just want cookies. So treat yourself to these adorably decorated treats for Valentine’s Day.

9. Don’t wait for someone else to buy you jewelry. Get it for yourself because you deserve it! I love this three-tier pendant necklace from Madewell.

10. Do you drink tea? coffee? hot water with lemon? all 3? Then you need a mug that brings you joy every time you take a sip of your hot drink.

11. Nothing says self-love like a journal where you can write down your innermost thoughts, dreams, and more.

12. I’ve told you before that Laneige is one of my favorite skincare brands. Personally, I can’t live without the water bank moisture cream and the water sleeping mask. Now I’m going to add the lip sleeping mask to my nightly skincare routine.

13. How fun are these sneakers? Not only do they look good but they’re good for your workouts too. So give yourself some self-love that’s fashionable and functional.

14. I’ve been burning candles at home non-stop since the pandemic began so I’m ready to invest in this wick trimmer and candle snuffer to support my habit.

What Does Self-Love on Valentine’s Day Look Like For You? 

I hope you found these tips for adding self-love to your life helpful. And please remember that these are things we should practice every day, not just on Valentine’s Day.

Now I’d love to hear from you. How do you normally celebrate Valentine’s Day? Do you do anything for yourself? Do you practice self-love?

This year, I hope you consider treating yourself because you deserve it.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Related: The monthly round-up for January 2021

Related: Invest in yourself – how I changed the trajectory of my life

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