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Ah, February 14th – we meet again. I have mentioned this in other posts but despite currently being in a happy and healthy relationship…I really can’t get down with Valentine’s Day. Am I a romantic? 100%. Do I love showing my loved ones how much I appreciate them? Absolutely! But do I love the expectation to buy a bunch of sugary treats, overpriced roses/one-function gifts, and glorify being “paired” with someone? Nah.
I know that may sound Grinchy (…but make it Valentine’s so Vrinchy?) but I have always enjoyed prioritizing self-love on this holiday in addition to showing my special someone how much they mean to me. In the end, our relationship with ourselves is the greatest we will ever have, so why not celebrate that??
Here are some of my favorite free/inexpensive ways to show some self-love this Love Day:

Move that awesome bod!

What better way to show appreciation for your body’s abilities than practicing them? One of my favorite ways to treat my body to movement is taking an early morning walk, and then doing some yoga or Pilates. However you most enjoying moving (running, dancing, swimming, weight-lifting, whatever!) give yourself some time to do it!

Get Dolled Up

We feel good when we look good right? No matter what gender you identify as or what you like to do/wear to feel good in your skin – give yourself the time to do it today! I love spending an extra 5-10 minutes to do my make-up because it is my way of showing myself love. What’s yours??

Eat A Glorious Meal

I have a short, sad story to tell: I love pizza, and I am allergic to dairy. One way I show myself love is to spend a little extra time or money on food than I might normally – for me, this might look like making dairy-free pizza topped with all my favorite veggies at home, or treating myself to some SNAP pizza. Finding that sweeet spot of treating yourself to food you love and food that makes you feel wonderful afterwards is a beautiful gift to give yourself!

These are just a few small ways to give yourself the self-love you deserve today (and everyday!). How do you like to celebrate yourself on Valentine’s Day?

Written by GUADS staff member Kate