To me from me: the best gift you can give this Valentine's Day

By Kate Shackelford

Valentine’s Day is a time to show our love for friends, family and possibly that special someone. However, we often forget that we deserve some attention and appreciation, too. Here are a few ways to remind yourself that you can also be that someone special.

Pamper yourself. Your body is a temple, and it is important to take care of it. Incorporating a self-care ritual into your day can really help you relax and rejuvenate. You can do a face mask (I recommend the Beautycounter No. 3 Balancing Facial Mask with charcoal), take a bubble bath or even just get an extra hour of sleep. These are only a few examples of the many ways you can pamper yourself in order to show your body the love it deserves.       

Write down things you are grateful for. It is very easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of our lives and sometimes, these negative thoughts can adversely affect your mood for the entire day. This Valentine’s Day, I encourage you to consider some things in life that you are grateful for, and then jot them down on whatever you can find, even if this is the notes section of your phone.

Write yourself a love letter. Compliment yourself. In this note, you can include anything ranging from how you are proud of a certain grade you made or how you managed to say something nice to your sibling (I’m sure many of us know how hard that can be sometimes). In short, this love letter is a figurative “pat on the back,” meant to boost your confidence and self-esteem.

Take a break from social media. There are so many negative influences on social media. Seeing pictures and stories of the incredible events taking place in other peoples’ lives can easily lead you to find fault in your own. Comparison is the thief of joy, which means social media has no place in your self-love agenda for this Valentine’s Day.

Surround yourself with things that make you happy. In the words of Tom Haverford, “treat yo’self.” You could buy a bundle of your favorite flowers, indulge in gourmet chocolate, plan a fun girls’ night, or cozy up with a good book or movie. The key is to partake in something that makes your soul smile.  

Make 2019 the year of you. This Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to focus on yourself for a change and discover how to fill your life with as much love as you can.