How You Can Practice Self-Love During the Valentine’s Day Season

By Sarah Logan

The following article was printed in the February 2020 edition of The Campus.

Whether you are currently in a relationship or you are single, practicing self-care is essential for a fulfilling and happy life. It can be difficult for many singles to love themselves when our society prioritizes the idea of “settling down” with one person. The practice of self-caring can become seemingly impossible with Valentine’s Day on the horizon. When the celebratory day of love finally arrives, will you be grateful for what you do have rather than what you don’t?

Here are some ways to practice self-careduring the Valentine’s Day season:

1. Indulge in activities that stretch your mind. Whether it bereading a book, picking up an old instrument that you may have played in youryounger years, walking around NYC while tuning into your favorite podcast, orpiecing together a difficult puzzle. These activities allow you to break upyour routine thoughts. By participating in these activities, you have thechance to take a break from society’s views on love and enter into a differentthought pattern.
2. Make a date with yourself or a good friend. Friendship givesyou the chance to become intimate with others around you that aren’t yourfamily members or significant other. Spending time with good friends allows youto take a break from individuals you see every day. In this case, that could beyour close family members or a significant other. By spending quality time witha friend, you are avoiding loneliness and isolation. However, your mostvaluable friend can be found within yourself. No matter who walks in or out ofyour life, one aspect will always remain constant: you always can rely on yourself.By spending time with yourself, you’re strengthening the mindset that youattribute with yourself.
3. Train your body and mind healthily. Althoughmeditation can seem cliché and over-hyped at first, your mind will thank youwith time. The practice of meditation forces you to sit with your thoughts andgently push them aside. Instead of a distraction like the activities mentionedin #1, meditation gives you the opportunity to be with your thoughts. Bytraining your body, you can stay with your thoughts as well. Whatever your favoriteform of exercise is, any form of movement will benefit you; it could be ridinga bike, doing a quick yoga routine, running a 5K, or weightlifting.
4. Write down your progress and problems. Journaling isseen as a form of meditation for many people, me included. Breaking down yourthoughts with a pen and paper can be very satisfying for many. You can seejournaling as a way of therapy between you and the paper. Be sure to documentyour successes as well. Went for your first mile run? Gloat about it in yourjournal! Took yourself out to the movies? Don’t forget to jot it down in yournotebook! The transformative triumphs of your life are equally important asyour failures.
5. Meet up with a licensed professional. If you believethat you still need assistance in the self-love department of life, do not beafraid to call up a therapist near you. Reaching out can be hard enough, letalone opening up to a stranger. However, you will most likely feel like aweight has lifted from your shoulders once you express the feelings that youwere too afraid to say to an individual that you’re close to.

As human beings, we are taught that beingsurrounded by others guarantees comfort and security. Many of us may enjoyconstant company around us, while others appreciate and relish in alone time.Practicing a good balance of the two is important for growth and happiness. Bytaking little steps towards an existence where you’re both comfortable spendingtime with a loved one and spending time by yourself, you are practicingself-love. Loving yourself before anyone else makes it easier to love thosearound you more and more.