Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
This holiday is usually all about celebrating those that you love, but what if we flipped it and made this holiday all about you? The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself. Self-love and self-care are concepts I find myself talking about all the time with my clients, especially as they relate to food!
So what can you do today to take care of yourself? Show yourself love and kindness this Valentine’s Day.
1. Learn something new! One way to boost self-worth is to gain a new skill set. Been wanting to learn how to woodwork, crochet, or bake the best Valentine’s Day cake? Take a local class or even an e-course.
2. Start a journaling practice. Taking even 5 minutes out of your day to reflect, jot down ideas, or even vent by writing in a journal has been shown to have tremendous benefits for mental health.
3.Disconnect from the internet for 2 hours. In our digital world, this is a tough one. We have become increasingly dependent on our computers and phones. However, this can often feel like we are forced to constantly check in. Taking a 2 hour break from all technology daily and instead taking a walk, an exercise class, or reading can do wonders for your self-care.
4. Act like a kid – or play with a kid. Get a coloring book, a puzzle, or do some crafts. If you have kids or nieces and nephews, take some time to just play pretend with them. Let your mind travel to far away places, like Narnia or Oz. This gives your “adult brain” a much needed rest.
5. Join a book club. Not only will this force you to take time out of your day to disconnect and read a book for fun, but you will have a built-in social activity to look forward to at least once a month. You will also start to built new friendships who share common interests.
6. Be a tourist in your own town. Plan a whole day of activities in your very own town, as if you were visiting. Or, just head out for the day and let yourself wander. Who knows what you’ll stumble across – it could be your new favorite restaurant or spa spot.
7. Declutter! Decluttering your home is a powerful way to practice self care. We meet a lot of our needs at home: sleep, relaxation, nourishment, support, solitude and reflection. By cleaning up and decluttering, you make your space a place of sanctuary instead a place of chaos and stress.
8. Treat yourself to a spa day. This is something we rarely think to do for ourselves because it seems like too much of a luxury. But it’s important to treat yourself to luxurious things too. Book a spa day for yourself, or just get a manicure or a massage. It doesn’t have to be for a special occasion – it can be just because it’s part of your self care practice.
9. Edit your social media feeds. It’s sometimes helpful to go through your social media profiles and unfollow people who routinely make you angry, anxious, or upset. This can be a friend or even a celebrity who you have been following. If you realize that someone’s posts regularly make you annoyed, you can simply unfollow them. This “mutes” them even if you don’t want to un-friend the person.
10. Move around or stay still. Sometimes it’s incredibly healing to put on some music and dance in your living room for 15 minutes straight. Other days, it’s rejuvenating to lay down on your yoga mat in complete stillness and silence for 15 minutes. Ask yourself which one of these your body and spirit is craving regularly and let yourself do either – or BOTH!
Jennifer is a Registered Dietitian and the owner of Eat With Knowledge in Nyack, NY. She is on a mission to help people heal from diets, and find peace and balance with their food choices. She leads a team of dietitians who support the philosophy, “Feel Fabulous about Food!”
If you are looking for support to heal your relationship with food, check out our Nutrition Counseling page here. If you are unable to become a client but would still like to learn from us, you can purchase our Eat With Knowledge Roadmap here!