Self-Love First – Essential Valentine’s Day Self-Care Tips

Practicing self-care on Valentine’s Day is a meaningful way to prioritise your own well-being and happiness, regardless of your relationship status. Valentine’s Day is often associated with love, but it doesn’t have to be limited to romantic relationships. It can often feel repetitive or focused on others, but dedicating time for you makes it about you, creating a lasting memory of self-care. Self-care helps you honour the most important relationship you’ll ever have – the one with yourself.

The day can bring social pressure or feelings of inadequacy. Practicing self-care allows you to focus on your own needs rather than outside expectations, helping you to stay grounded and content. Whether you’re single or in a relationship, taking time to care for yourself allows you to make the day about your personal joy, growth and fulfilment.

Engaging in activities that nurture your mind and body can reduce stress, improve your mood and increase feelings of gratitude and positivity. Prioritising yourself on a day centered around love sets a criterion to practice self-care more consistently throughout the year.

Here are some ideas for self-care on Valentine’s Day, ranging from cheap and cheerful to more expensive treats:

Cook or order your favourite meal. This is a wonderful way to treat yourself with love and care, giving you the freedom of choice to cook or order exactly what you want without compromise. It’s a chance to celebrate your preferences and savour something that you really enjoy. If you are cooking at home, then set the table, light some candles and play your favourite music. If ordering in, make it feel special by arranging the food on a plate and enjoying it without distractions. Eat dessert first if you want. Finish with some chocolate indulgence. Whatever you want to do. Food can be very comforting and treating yourself to your favourite dish is a warm reminder that you deserve happiness and care, and don’t forget dessert! 😊
Treat yourself to a spa day. This is an excellent way to prioritise self-care and relaxation. You can do this at home by lighting candles, using essential oils or bubbles in the bath, using a face mask and body scrub and relaxing with meditation and herbal teas whilst wrapped in a cosy robe or you can visit a spa and enjoy facial skin care treatments, massages and other spa treatments which improve your physical health by soothing muscles, hydrating skin and boosting circulation. Pampering yourself with a spa day helps to reduce tension and creates a sense of calm, leaving you refreshed and recharged – a great opportunity to practice some mindfulness or meditation. A spa day is a luxury which reinforces that you are worthy of care, attention and indulgence.
Enjoy your favourite hobby. This is a fantastic way to practice self-care and make the day meaningful. Hobbies bring happiness and help you to reconnect with what you love. Engaging in a hobby helps to shift your focus, reduces stress and boosts mental well-being. It’s a great way to channel emotions and express self-love. Dedicate time for your hobby, making sure there are no distractions. Create a cosy environment, maybe enjoy a nice tea and snack, and really focus on the process rather than the finished result. Enjoy the moment.
Move! The is great for nurturing both your physical and mental well-being. Physical activity releases endorphins known as the ‘feel-good hormones’ which help to boost your mood and combat any Valentine’s Day blues. It reduces cortisol levels, lowering stress and promoting relaxation. Whether that’s a yoga class, our 30-minute circuit or a walk through the park or on the beach, get your body moving. Try this body positive workout to make you feel great: Your Body Positive workout – W Fitness
Do something you love. Doing something that you love to do releases endorphins making you feel happy. It doesn’t matter what you choose to do, it could be going for a run, playing music (this is the perfect time to create a feel-good playlist), having a girly catchup, reading a book, watching a film wrapped up in cosy blankets, having a spa day or anything else that you like to do. The important thing is the fact that you make time for you to do what you like to do 😊
Spend time outside. Fresh air is wonderful for your mental health. Take a stroll around the park, go for a hike or simply sit outside in the garden – yes, I know you’ll need to wrap up at this time of year but you will reap the benefits. I love taking a coffee outside to drink and just sit for 20 minutes really taking in what’s around me. Enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and reconnect with nature.
Turn your phone off! I am guilty of not doing this but I am going make sure that I take more time away from my technology. Do you feel that sometimes you have a better relationship with your phone than you do with your family? Do you really need to check the email as soon as it lands in your mail box? Give yourself the present of turning off your phone for the day and take a break from comparison to focus on you, and really connect with yourself or others. Focus on the present and enjoy it without distractions from social media.
Be calm. If you are always on the go and busy, take the time on Valentine’s Day to be calm and to reset your nervous system. Try deep breathing, meditation, a yoga class, a hot bubble bath or a long leisurely walk to slow down. It’s difficult to relax when you are always on the go but just taking 30 seconds to a minute twice a day to practice deep breathing will instil calm. Another approach to achieve calmness is to start a journal, as it’s a great way to take stock of your feelings, accomplishments and experiences. Writing down what you are grateful for can shift your mindset towards positivity, while expressing your thoughts on paper can help to calm your mind. Journaling as a form of self-care allows you to reflect, process emotions, and connect with yourself.
Smile or laugh! Smiling and laughing releases endorphins that make you feel good whilst reducing stress. Watch a funny film, read a funny book, tell jokes, play games or ask AI to create some t shirts for you – Hannah and myself did this to get some ideas for designs and we were in stitches with what they came up with – not sure we’ll be using any of them lol! 😊 Find things that make you smile or laugh and try to incorporate them into your daily life for a small boost every day.
Treat yourself to something special. Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to splurge a little, whether it’s jewellery, skincare products, a new book or a bunch of flowers, treat yourself like you deserve to be treated.

Valentine’s Day is about celebrating love, and that includes self-love. Use the day to prioritise your own happiness, nourish your soul, and remind yourself of your worth. Whether you’re indulging in chocolate, journaling your thoughts or simply enjoying some peace and quiet, they key is to focus on you.

The relationship that you have with yourself is the most important one of all so take this Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to fall in love with yourself all over again 😊

Much Love

Caroline & Hannah xx