Valentine’s Day is fast approaching - the days roots lie in Roman fertility festivals and for a lot of people is all about celebrating romance and togetherness with their significant other, but for many, Valentine's Day is difficult for many reasons and not a day to be celebrated at all. It can be a day that serves as a stark reminder of loneliness and isolation - even for those in relationships who feel that they should be happy but still find themselves yearning for connection, so as the day looms I want you to find ways to celebrate yourself this year. No matter what your relationship status, try reconnecting with yourself this February 14th.

I have put together a few ideas below but whether you try one or all of them is up to you;

Allow yourself some comfort; Wrapping ourselves up in something warm and soft gives us feeling of comfort and safety. Allow yourself some time this Valentine's Day to relax in something offering warmth and comfort; a scarf, old slippers, a new blanket, fluffy socks or a big warm jumper can be great items to help us look after ourselves.

Empty your calendar; This may sound unachievable but in actual fact, scheduling a day off can be really beneficial for your mental health. Giving yourself the chance to rest and recuperate can help you to manage your stress levels and even benefit your immune system. However, if you do arrange a day off - make sure it is a day off! This is your day and the aim of it is to not be bound by time or by other people. Don’t complete errands for other people, let family members know that you will be unavailable and turn your phone volume off. This is a whole day where you can sleep in, read a book, tend to your garden, take a walk or doing whatever makes you feel good or be happy.

Think Ahead; If Valentine's Day feels too difficult to face alone try making connections online. Whether that’s having dinner via a video call with a friend or finding online classes or events to attend. We are obviously currently in lockdown and seeing people face to face is not advised at present, however, there are still opportunities for volunteering from home. Volunteering is a good way to meet likeminded people and can be rewarding as it gives us a chance to help others.

Honour your own achievements or personality traits; Striving towards your goals is extremely admirable and when we have achieved our goals it's easy to forget any obstacles or challenges that we faced to get to where we are. Try making a list of all you've achieved and any obstacles that you overcame to reaffirm your strength and give you that boost to keep you moving forward.

Self-love is the most important kind of love, so if there is anyone you should be showing love to this year - it should be you.

With love …

Tamsin

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