“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” -Buddha

Whether you have a valentine, gal-entine, or you’re just excited to take advantage of the 50% discount on chocolate on the 15th, this month is a reminder to show a little extra love and appreciation to those you love, and that list should include yourself. While Valentine’s Day can feel a little cheesy or come with undue pressures and expectations, we encourage you to celebrate the holiday by focusing on the most important relationship of all - the one you have with yourself.

1. Start your day with positive self-talk

If we were all as nice to ourselves as we are to the women we meet in the bathroom on a night out the world would be a better place. It’s really easy to get stuck in a cycle of thinking that the grass is always greener on someone else’s IG feed but try and remember it’s just a filter.

This week write down one thing you love about yourself every day or dedicate the daily gratitude section in The Self-Care Planner to the qualities you appreciate most about yourself. Adding this daily dose of self-confidence to your morning routine will help get your days started on the right foot.

2. Gorgeous, gorgeous girls set boundaries

When you set aside time for yourself whether it’s for a manicure, workout class, or even just time alone to book, you should treat that as if it’s any other important engagement. You wouldn’t flake on plans with your best friend or your boss and the same should go for the time you schedule for yourself.

If you are constantly canceling on yourself you need to cancel that habit, now. Burnout is inevitable if you become the last item on your to-do list. You may even potentially end up resenting those around you. Block out time for yourself each day, and don’t be late!

3. Give yourself a “yes” day

Give yourself an entire day of doing exactly what you want with no external input. No partner to weigh in on what to eat, no group chat figuring out where you should go that night, no kids stealing the remote, just a day (or as much time as you realistically can take) to let yourself have exactly what you want.

Whether this means you’re going to be browsing Target for hours without being nagged to leave or going to the beach to watch the sunset with a bottle of wine, do exactly what feels good to you without the pressure of friends, family, or society to stop you or judge your choice. Why? You deserve it.

While we hope these ideas help you feel the love this Valentine’s Day, we encourage you to make these habits part of your daily routines throughout the year. For more self-care tips, check "How to Keep a Meaningful Gratitude Journal" on the blog.