Valentines Day
For decades Valentine’s Day has been marked by sweethearts exchanging the traditional gifts of flowers, candies and cards.
Date nights get penciled in, and reservations are made for special restaurant dinners or romantic getaways.
We dress in reds and pinks and it’s a fairy tail evening with the ones we love.
However, not so much when you may be struggling with depression or a loss of a relationship.
Good news is whatever your feelings are good or bad the day can consist of self-love and self care.
Here is how…
- Try positive self-talk. The way we speak to ourselves and about ourselves informs us on how we feel.
- Try replacing, “I hate being alone,” with “I accept and love myself, and I choose to focus on positive thoughts.”
- Treat yourself. Enjoy your self-care time! Do something you enjoy that also refuels you. Some ideas include practicing yoga or meditation or indulging in a midday nap if you’re tired.
- You may want to invest in learning a new skill, like cooking, painting, journaling or music therapy. Whatever it is, do something that brings you joy even when no one else is around.
- Read positive affirmations to inspire you that you are strong and not alone.
- Avoid social media.
- Take yourself to dinner.
- Go to the theater and see that romantic movie you know you want to see.
- Invite your friends to a lunch picnic/outing.
- Go to your favorite grocery store or market and pick up a bouquet of flowers for yourself.
- Buy the clearance candy and indulge.
- Remember that it’s not the end of the world.
It’s impossible to avoid stress.
Whether it’s impending deadlines for school or work, a packed to-do list or an argument with a loved one, everyone experiences stress from time to time.
How you handle the stress is what makes a difference, and your response can impact the trajectory of the rest of your day and week.
Even though you might want to crawl into a hole and sulk, finding ways to cope and take care of your mental health in the middle of or after a stressful day can pay off.
In fact, research shows that in just 60 to 90 seconds, it’s possible to reset our bodies and minds to get on the right track after experiencing stress.
All it takes is having tried-and-tested strategies that work for you both in the moment and after a difficult event or hard day.
Self-care strategies can not only provide immediate benefit, but also have a lasting positive effect on your overall mental wellbeing.
Research shows that regularly practicing self-care can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, help you face challenges head-on and increase your resilience.
Regular physical exercise can be an efficient way to process stress and can help improve your mood, your sleep, and your memory and thinking skills.
All in all don’t feel down during a day that was dedicated to cupids love, there are much more important days in life.
This post was written by Lauren K., and published by Convenient Counseling Services.
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