Valentine’s Day is often a day where we celebrate, recognise and appreciate those closest to us. The one day each year that reminds us of the importance to take time out and show how much we care. But there is often one very important person in our lives that gets forgotten, mistreated and abused – ourselves.
So this Valentine’s Day, let’s also practice a little self love and care by moving ourselves up our list of priorities. To get you started, here are six gifts to give yourself this Valentine’s Day.
1. Respect
Remember you are only human. There will be days where you don’t tick off all of the tasks on your to-do list, where you leave the house a littler messier than you wanted to and reached for the snack you swore you wouldn’t have. On these days when you find you aren’t living up to your own expectations, be glad that you noticed it, change your behaviour and move on – don’t beat yourself up, or say harsh words.
Change your perspective. Instead of looking at what you didn’t achieve, look at what you did. Celebrate the ordinary achievements as well as the extraordinary. Things go wrong all the time, everywhere – just put it behind you and get on with living.
2. A daily date
Stop chasing the clock and make yourself a priority. Allocate at least 1% of your day (15 minutes) to yourself to relax and re-energise. In order to have a good relationship with yourself you need to invest time into it, in the same way you would with anyone else. This time should non-negotiable so black it out in your schedule and don’t let anything else take priority.
3. Pampering
Do something special to reward yourself for all of the hard work you do. It could be a massage (though this is more of an essential than an indulgence), facial, pedicure and manicure, a weekend away at a health retreat, a few hours in a health spa, a guilt-free nap, a little retail therapy or a day at the beach or in nature. Whatever will give you a sense of wellbeing and relaxation.
4. Essential Oils
Scents are powerful. Not only can they remind us of specific memories from years gone by, they also have incredible benefits on our mental, physical and emotional health. Whether you need to relax, energise or add a little more romance to your life in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, you can find a the perfect essential oil as well as Aromatherapy Insight Cards from our online shop(https://jenniferjefferies.com/product-category/aromatherapy/).
5. A little adventure
As we get older and our lives filled with more responsibility we can lose our sense of adventure, but it is a key part in living a happy and fulfilled life. The best way to get it back is to get out of your comfort zone and do something adventurous.
It could be rock climbing, hiking, abseiling, surfing, hot air balloon riding, bungee jumping, sky diving, hot laps in a race car, go-carting, white river rafting, scuba diving with sharks, deep sea fishing, camping, 4-wheel driving or travelling. If there has ever been an activity you wanted to try or a place you wanted to go, plan to do it this year.
6. Presence
With busy, overscheduled lives we have a habit of looking into the future, focusing on the next day, to-do, or deadline, missing the moments we have right in front of us. Having so many roles to fulfill throughout the day only adds to the distraction. But as the famous saying by Ralph Waldo Emerson goes, “Life is a journey not a destination”.
Give yourself permission to slow down and enjoy the moment. Spend quality time with your partner, kids or someone important to you. These are the moments that really matter and the moments you’ll regret missing later.
What gift will you be giving yourself this Valentine’s Day?
