Whether or not you buy into the hype of Valentine’s Day, whether you’re single, taken, or somewhere in between — it is always important to remember the one person that deserves the most love in your life: YOU!
What does this have to do with breast health, you ask? Well, self-love is a practice that supports and increases our self-esteem, which in turn may positively affect our overall physical health and boost our immune functions, studies show. It appears that protecting yourself from breast cancer doesn’t just involve healthy lifestyle habits and early detection strategies. (To learn more about the latter, visit koninghealth.com!)
Actively and regularly choosing to pamper yourself is not just a frivolous whim — it’s a way to show yourself the love you deserve and to strengthen your immune response to the obstacles it might face in the future. So, without further ado, let’s dive into some awesomely unique ways to independently practice self-love!
Self-Love Idea 1: Take Yourself on a Date
Imagine your perfect date. No, not the person — the day. You plan it in advance. You wake up excited, the butterflies already rising in your stomach. You take a long, luxurious, candle-lit shower while listening to some romantic tunes to get in the mood. You pick out that one outfit that is comfy, yet elegant, the one that shows you off in your very best light. They come over with flowers right on time. You eat at your favorite restaurant. You dance the night away. You catch a great movie at the theater.
Whatever your ideal evening is, you do not actually need another person to make it happen. Most of it anyway. So, go ahead and take your fine self out on that perfect date. Treat yourself to the prettiest flowers, just because. Spend time pampering yourself and dressing up to be your favorite version of you. Check yourself out in the mirror. Make a reservation for one, proudly, at your favorite restaurant, and order the most delectable thing on the menu. Relish in the independence of it all. ‘Alone’ does NOT mean ‘lonely,’ and even those of us in relationships deserve some time to ourselves!
Self-Love Idea 2: Purge Your Socials
Social media overwhelm is a real thing, y’all. The constant pressure to be connected to people and things through our screens can be incredibly draining, not to mention damaging. Multiple studies show the negative effects social media has on our self-esteem, forcing us to constantly evaluate our own worth against the sculpted and superficial online personas of our peers.
So, another way to practice self-love is to go through all the lists of friends, connections, and follows you currently have on all the platforms, and clean house. Ask yourself — is this person a positive presence in my life? Does this page offer valuable content? Do I benefit from this weekly email subscription? If the answer is no: unfriend, unlike, and unsubscribe. Show yourself some love, and have fun with purging negativity and empty time-wasters. You’ll feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders once you do. Promise!
Self-Love Idea 3: Splurge to Hire Help
Unfortunately, our society sometimes holds a harmful and unnecessary belief that asking for help is a sign of weakness. There is another harmful and unnecessary belief that equates hiring help to some sort of snobby, boujie brattiness. However, when we realistically consider our lives, we must realize that there is only so much one human being can accomplish on their own.
Sometimes, self-love means admitting to ourselves that we are, indeed, overwhelmed and having the agency to help ourselves. Take a look at all the things you feel you have to do. Are there items that you could delegate to someone else? This could be as simple as asking a good friend to pick up some groceries or be your meal prep accountability buddy.
For bigger, more daunting tasks, like cleaning your entire house, tackling the dreaded tax filing process, or decluttering your garage — consider hiring a professional. Sure, it may seem like an unnecessary waste of money, but the peace of mind and feeling of freedom that comes with unloading some of the big stuff off of our to-do list is so worth it!
Self-Love Idea 4: Have a Day of Nothing
Finally, the easiest way to practice self-love is to allow yourself to do absolutely nothing. It sounds odd, but when we realize that our lives are constantly filled with activity, it makes sense to need a break from it all. So, plan a conscious day of nothing. Take that personal day off work. Turn off all seven of your alarms. Wake up, and just be. If you feel up to doing something — great! Go do it, as long as it doesn’t add stress to your plate. Or, don’t. Give yourself permission to veg out and let your brain and body relax and recharge.
Practicing self-love is difficult when most things in our life demand something from us. All of our energy flows outward, and it can feel weird trying to reverse the flow. However, self-love is incredibly important not only for our mental health, but our physical health as well. Remember that this Valentine’s Day, and use this occasion to reinvest in your own well-being.