Practice Self-Love this Valentine’s Day (and Every Day)

Valentine's Day is almost here and it's time to show a little extra love to the special people in our lives. But what about the most important person of all? Yourself!

Many people who find it easy to be loving and generous to family members and friends often struggle with the notion of being kind to themselves.

Self-love isn’t silly or selfish —and it can make life’s challenges so much more manageable.

Developing a positive relationship with yourself is vital for good mental well-being.i Being kind to ourselves lowers anxiety and stress and helps build self-esteem and resilience.ii  Without self-love, you’re more likely to be self-critical and fall into people-pleasing and perfectionism. There’s a great chance you’ll tolerate mistreatment from others and may even neglect your own needs and feelings because you don’t believe you are worthy of care and respect.

Being in tune with your values makes it easier to live a life that’s authentically you. Self-love gives us the courage to be assertive, make decisions and set boundaries in our lives.iii

So do yourself a favour, take a deep breath, give yourself a little hug and try our simple steps to practice self-love this Valentine’s Day (and every day):

• Eat well - Healthy eating is an act of love. The healthier the food you eat, the better you'll feel after a meal. Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables and drink more water - your body will thank you.
• Move your body - Whether it’s a brisk walk around the block or a virtual workout, exercise encourages the body to release endorphins as well as reducing levels of cortisol – a stress hormone.iv Getting outside in the fresh air not only clears the airways, but a daily dose of Vitamin D could help support the body’s natural mood regulating system.v
• Get a good night’s sleep - Sleep is the foundation of so much of our physical and mental health.vi Practise healthy sleep habits – otherwise known as ‘sleep hygiene’ – to really start looking after yourself. It can be as simple as making sure your bedroom is comfortable and calm or avoiding electrical devices an hour before bed. For those still struggling, you may benefit from a valerian-root based herbal remedy, such as Kalms Night One-a-Night, traditionally used to help relieve sleep disturbances.
• Pay attention to your thoughts - It is very important that we remember to be kind to ourselves. Whenever you notice you’re saying something unkind to yourself, simply switch to a gentler tone and try to evaluate things rationally to contain your inner critic. Speak to yourself as you would to a loved one. Self-love is about respecting your own needs and desires and is essential to counteracting stress.
• Write it down - Try taking time at the end of each day to write down how you feel. Offloading thoughts in this way can help slow down your thinking and clear your mind. Writing down the things you are grateful for can also relieve stress by focusing your mind on what’s positive in life.vii
• Do something you love - Doing things you enjoy is good for your emotional well-being.viii Simple activities, like having a soak in the bath or meeting up with friends for coffee, can brighten your day. Try to avoid distractions that seem enjoyable at the time but make you feel worse afterwards, such as drinking too much alcohol or eating junk food.
• Laugh more - Laughter releases endorphins and can help to take your mind off stress.ix There's no shortage of laughter opportunities from entertainment, both at the cinema and at home, including movies, TV comedies, and humorous podcasts. Try sharing your recommendations with friends, and you'll have something to reference and laugh about together.
• Stop comparing yourself to others - Don’t feel you have to ‘live up to’ other people – whether that’s idealised social media images or your own friends. Everyone is on their own path, and no one really knows what struggles other people have. Identify your own values and goals – and focus on those.

How Kalms can help

With over 50 years' experience, Kalms is dedicated to providing traditional herbal remedies used to relieve stress, mild anxiety, sleeplessness and exhaustion. Our range offers a choice of remedies that can fit into your life. Whatever challenges life throws at you, you can make the most of it.

To find out more about the Kalms Range, click here.

i Having a Self-Relationship: 9 Ways to Make it Healthy (psychcentral.com)

ii Why self-love is important - and how to cultivate it (My Online Therapy)

iii Why Self-Love Is the Pillar of Your Life (Intelligent Change)

iv Exercising to Relax - Harvard Health Publishing (Harvard Health)

v Vitamin D: Benefits, Sources, Deficiencies (healthline.com)

vi Physical Health and Sleep: How are They Connected? (sleepfoundation.org)

vii How to Clear Your Mind for Reduced Stress (verywellmind.com)

viii How to be happier - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

ix Stress relief from laughter? It's no joke  (Mayo Clinic)