Sadness isn’t mandated if circumstances don’t match the ‘perfect’ holiday definition. Try these self-care tips to be happy on Valentine’s Day!
I remember celebrating Valentine’s Day when I was a young child. Simple Valentine’s boxes, tiny cards, and exciting pieces of candy. My favorite was grandma’s cupcakes topped with pink frosting and red candy.
On the other hand, Valentine’s Day sometimes seems so complicated for adults.
It only feels perfect for amorous lovers, happily married, or families with young children.
But does it mean unhappiness if your circumstances don’t match the ‘perfect’ Valentine’s Day description?
Absolutely not!
Self-care Tips to Be Happy on Valentine’s Day
Your circumstances don’t require you to avoid the celebrations.
But, you may need to take a new approach to treat yourself.
One of the first ways to be happy while celebrating red heart day this year is through self-love.
Be your valentine to yourself.
How? By saying kind things to yourself!
And just being nice – to you!
You’ll thank yourself for a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be discouraging and stressful! Get this FREE faith-based guide to learn 6 ways to nurture your heart and be happy. Be sure to grab yours!
This post lists 4 of the best self-care tips for this day of love.
1 Focus on Truths
A great tip is to focus on true things.
So, first, remember you are loved. Not just by your family or friends.
As a believer, God created you and loves you more than you can imagine.
We all remember this most of the time; however, that truth can get lost when we’re drowning in circumstances that aren’t our choosing.
- So make it a habit to spend at least a few minutes a day reading scripture to remind yourself of what is true for you as a believer.
- You can also spend time in quiet reflection or meditation. Meditation is an activity that successfully reduces anxiety. Prayer is a form of meditation and also provides peace for anxious thoughts. God is always with us. He is pleased when we take good care of our minds and bodies.
- Another way to focus on what is true is to start a gratitude list. Making a list of who or what you are grateful for provides a tangible way to see the many ways you are blessed. A list of thanks can be impactful as you recognize how even little things can create volumes of gratitude.
- Piggybacking on that idea, a success or reflection list can also offer a glimpse of reality during difficult circumstances. When you master a new skill, meet a goal, or cross a milestone, add it to your list.
You’ll quickly see you have a ton of successes to celebrate – even while going through struggles and hard circumstances.
2 Fill Yourself With Good Things
Filling yourself with good things on Valentine’s Day can help you feel more optimistic on Valentine’s Day. You can feel better physically and emotionally if you are filled with good things.
- Grab a few minutes of exercise, walk, or squeeze in an extra workout. Even if you don’t like to exercise, today is the day to move around more than normal. Spend a few extra minutes stretching your muscles and making yoga moves to de-stress and keep tension at bay.
- You’ll also need to eat healthy foods that improve brain health and emotions. Foods like fish, seafood, beans & legumes, leafy greens, other vegetables, olive oil (monounsaturated fat), yogurt, and nuts can effectively promote mental health.
- If cooking is relaxing, plan a special menu with your favorite ‘time-consuming’ recipe. Create a shopping list for the ingredients. Then, shop early so you can be excited to be home and prepare it at your leisure, expecting a great meal ahead.
- Try to get the right amount of sleep the nights leading up to Valentine’s Day, so you’re not tired – which is a setup for volatile emotions.
- Pamper yourself a little. Treat yourself to some dark chocolate, take a minute to enjoy it, and savor your tea time or coffee break.
- Finally, make an effort to brighten your senses. Light your favorite scented candle, listen to uplifting music, and use your favorite lotion, and if you enjoy flowers or nature, buy a new floral arrangement or spend time in nature. Enjoy a few bites of your favorite flavors (as dessert or meal).
3 Reduce the Negatives – One of the Best Self-care Tips to Be Happy on Valentine’s Day
First, the obvious and probably one we should work on, even when it’s not Valentine’s Day, is taking a break from social media’s negative influence, the news, and knowing minute details of current events.
Stay informed, but you can catch the headlines every couple of days and still be in the know without getting bogged down in all the negative details.
B. The first tip can help you with the second; turn your frown upside down. Smile!
Do things that make you – or others smile.
Can’t think of anything?
Smile anyway.
Smiles are contagious.
C. Reducing auditory stimuli is another great self-care tip to be happy.
Not just the news but little squeaks or creaks in your environment that remind you of things you haven’t finished.
Which leads me to be productive. Work on completing one task (no matter how small) to meet a goal, cross something off your to-do list, or make your environment more pleasurable. Sometimes fixing a squeaky door or leaking faucet can make all the difference!
Yes, even on Valentine’s Day:)
D. Finally, a great way to reduce the negative is to create a self-care routine for special or busy days.
If you suspect you won’t be able to do your normal self-care routine – or are worried you may not feel up to it – create a substitute self-care routine.
Here are a few examples of steps to use to build a self-care routine for busy days:
- Spend a few minutes lingering in bed before you get up to flex and stretch your muscles. Roll your shoulders and rotate your neck in circles.
- Get extra ice water ready while you drink your morning tea or coffee. Busy schedules interfere with fluid intake and leave you dehydrated and feeling tired.
- Spend a couple of extra minutes doing meal and snack prep so you’re not tempted to grab fast food on the run.
- Even if you’re staying home, shower, get ready, and put clothes on like you’re going out.
- Replace your ‘to-do’ list with your ‘I’ve done it’ list, and write down everything you’ve done with a positive note. Rested, relaxed, read a poem, etc.
- Call a family member or friend you haven’t talked to.
- Focus on being kind to strangers if you get out. Smile to cashiers, food delivery people, etc.
- Plan a fun activity for the near future.
- Do a bed check at bedtime: Did something make you especially happy today? Can it be something you do more often and should be part of your normal self-care routine? Add it!
(NOTE: You don’t need to use all the above ideas to build an effective self-care routine for your busy days!)
Sharing with others is another way to be happy.
The first way is surprisingly beneficial. According to research, talking to strangers like you know each other – or are even friends – can create happiness. Incredible, but it works!
Helping others can also be a way to improve happiness (whether you know them or not). Helping others by volunteering a little or a lot of your time or sharing a monetary gift will boost your mood.
I think helping others is a beautiful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
On the other hand, hanging out with close friends and family is probably my favorite way to improve my feelings.
When it comes to the best self-care tips to be happy on Valentine’s Day, I think this one is most helpful because it usually creates fun or deep conversation!
In conclusion, many effective self-care ideas exist to be happy and at peace on Valentine’s day.
However, this long list’s success is that you don’t have to do all of them.
You can be happier in most cases with just one – as long as you put it into action.
Now, which one are YOU going to choose?
Don’t forget your FREE copy of the Nurture Your Heart Guide HERE!
Ready for more? Here are my latest posts!
- What To Do For Dry Mouth Caused By Allergies
- Allergies Cause High Blood Pressure: How to Lower Your Risk
- How to Stop Snoring and Sleep Apnea When Allergies Cause Snoring
- 10 Ways to Save Money on Your Healthcare
- Don’t Fear Scoffers – 3 Ways They Give Us Courage in Ministry
Lisa Kimrey is a 30-year veteran registered nurse, speaker, and author of the Bible study, The Self-care Impact: Motivation and Inspiration for Wellness. At Mylifenurse, Lisa writes about simple ways to care for yourself to stay happy, healthy, and rejuvenated while you serve and care for others. Combining her years of nursing expertise with Scripture-based encouragement, Lisa shows readers easy ways to begin and maintain their self-care journey – without feeling guilty. Be sure to grab your FREE Self-care Starter Guide!