Christmas has always been my favorite holiday and will be for life. But a close second has also always been Valentines Day! Even when I was single. Call me a romantic (cause I totally am) but there’s something about Valentines that makes me so happy! Plus, getting married five short days after this sweetheart holiday has cemented February as a month I really look forward to!
In the spirit of this special season, I want to share a some Valentines inspired self care ideas! It doesn’t matter what your relationship status is, you deserve to love on yourself and others in February!
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I think there are 5 major areas of self care we should focus on so I have a couple ideas to meet each of these areas!
SPIRITUAL SELF CARE
During this season of love, let’s make sure we’re placing the Lover of our souls at the very center of it all. Jesus. Loves. You. So. Much. Period. And what a great time to either reset your relationship with Him or do something a little extra beyond your regular devotional practices!
PRACTICAL:
- Write a special love letter to Jesus, praising Him for all He has done in your life. Make a list of the reasons you love Him and maybe write your favorite scriptures that express His love for you. Put it in your journal, slip it in your Bible case, or even frame it and put it on your desk or bedside table.
- Try a February scripture writing plan.
- If you don’t do so already, start beginning your prayers with focused adoration and praise to God for who He is. Start your sentences with phrases like “Lord, I love You because…”, “Father, thank You for…”, “God, I praise you because…”, “I see Your mercy & love when…”.
JUST FOR FUN:
- Make a playlist of your favorite I-love-Jesus-songs and play/sing them throughout the month.
PHYSICAL SELF CARE
Did you commit to going to the gym in January? Did you start going then quit a couple weeks in? Oh, that was just me? Welp, I got sick soooooo there’s that….. Whatever your excuse is, if you’ve already fallen off the workout wagon then you and both need to get back in the fitness game. Physical self care is so important! Here are some ways you can pay better attention to your body’s needs.
PRACTICAL:
- If you haven’t gotten yourself in the gym yet or you already stopped going then you need to do one of two things: 1). get your bum back in the gym, baby, or 2). find a simple routine you can do at home. Need a little extra motivation? Treat yourself to a cute new pink or red water bottle to bring to the gym or a new workout top to refresh your wardrobe!
- Evaluate your rest, water, and eating habits. What do you need to tweak? Choose one area to start focusing on this month. Don’t try to change everything at one time. Just choose one action. Remember, you only have this one body! Love it by taking better care of it!
JUST FOR FUN:
- Take a soak in some bubbles! Light some candles and read a book or listen to your favorite playlist or podcast. If you don’t have a tub then treat yourself to a long, hot shower. If you have essential oils, drop a few on your shower floor and let the steam create some awesome aromatherapy!
- If you have even more time, then do a whole at-home spa session. Face and hair mask, sugar scrub, mani/pedi. Ask your spouse if you can get a free massage too (but don’t forget to return the favor)!
Mental/Emotional Self Care
When it comes to this area of self care, I can’t stress enough how much our minds need space to breathe. Chaos can take on different forms – a busy work schedule; running your kids around to school and all the other activities; constantly consuming content on social media, television, radio, & music players; social events stacked upon more social events. Creating more bandwidth in your mind does a few things:
- creates space to be in better daily communication with Jesus
- gives you a clearer head to make more intentional decisions
- helps you to better respond to life rather than react to it
- allows you to pay better attention to those around you
PRACTICAL:
- Instead of reaching for social media, the news, or your get-up-and-go motivation playlist first thing in the morning, try playing calm, light instrumental music for the first 30-45 minutes of your morning. This will set a pleasant, peaceful tone in your home and give you time to think and reflect.
- If you don’t already, make sure you take a moment to connect with your spouse EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. A long hug. A short make out session (or a long one lol). Holding hands. Looking into each other’s eyes. A sweet text message at lunch time. A quick, sincere “How are you doing/feeling?”, “How was your day?”, “Can I do anything for you today?”, “Is there anything I can help you with this week?”. Connection doesn’t take a lot of time but doing it consistently will make a deep impact on the emotional state of your marriage.
JUST FOR FUN:
- If you’re like me, you like a good ol’ fashioned classic rom com. Why not indulge in one of your faves this month? Some of my favorite classics are It Happened One Night, You’ve Got Mail, Sabrina, You Can’t Take it With You, Swing Time and Two Weeks Notice.
- One great way to slow down is with a good book. This is a great time to re-read a favorite (notice a theme?). I think I might re-read Little Women in February! If you’re looking for a more practical read so feed your soul, I suggest one of these from my TBR:
- Try a fun project like a vision board (if you haven’t created one yet), a scrapbook of your favorite photos of you and your sweetie (and kiddos if you have them!), a new dessert recipe or DIY home decor piece for the living room. It doesn’t have to be complex or cost a lot of money. You can do it by yourself or with others. Just take the opportunity to kick back and get creative!
ENVIRONMENTAL SELF CARE
Since I work from home, I spend a looooooot of time there. Therefore, one of my goals this year is to create a cozy, clean, inviting home environment. I want it to be clean and functional for me to work in, and warm and cozy for my hardworking husband and brother (our housemate!).
If your home isn’t the environment you’d like it to be then I invite you to do one thing this month that will get the ball rolling!
PRACTICAL:
- Pick one room in your house that needs some attention & TLC. First, declutter. Get a trash bag and throw. junk. out. If it’s good stuff then make a donation pile but get rid of it. Once you’ve gotten rid of the clutter, add some homey touches. A pretty pillow & throw on the sofa. New seasonal mantel decor (might I suggest something Valentines themed?). Some new candles. A framed photo. Books on the coffee table. A house plant. Flowers on the desk or kitchen table. It doesn’t take much to spruce up a room. Check Pinterest. Enlist the help of your family. Have some fun creating a space you all can love!
JUST FOR FUN:
- I already mentioned music twice but here I go again! If you’re married/in a relationship, make a playlist with your sweetie of your favorite songs. You know what I’m talking about – the stuff you listened to when you were dating, the songs that played at your wedding, and all the tunes you’ve discovered through the years. If you’re truly music bugs, you can do this every year, curating a new playlist to enjoy throughout the year. If you’re single, you can do the same thing with a friend or family member!
SOCIAL SELF CARE
Self care is definitely about what we do when we’re alone but as I’ve already shown, it also pertains to how we interact with others! The point is healthy interaction. And since we’re talking about Valentines inspired ideas, they should also be super fun as well as practical!
PRACTICAL:
- Spend some time clearing out one or more of your social media accounts. Unfollow pages/profiles that are negative or detrimental to your mind and spirit. This, believe it or not, can be an act of love – love for yourself and Jesus. You don’t want to junk up your mind with useless, unhealthy social media and you also don’t want to harm your walk with the Lord.
- Plan a post (or a few) that can motivate or inspire someone else during the Valentines season. Find some great quotes or scriptures. Take some lovely pictures and write an encouraging caption. Be a producer of joy and love this season!
- Get out your calendar and plan times to hang out with friends or spend time with family. Your people are important and time is precious. Prioritize opportunities to make lasting memories with those you love most!
JUST FOR FUN:
- Send Valentines Day cards to friends and family. They don’t have to be fancy – just something sweet and simple that will show some love to those you love!
- Plan a special Valentines date with your sweetheart. Out on the town? At home? On a budget? Room to splurge? With the kids cause you can’t find a sitter? Whatever you have to do, make it special! I hiiiiiiiighly recommend THE DATING DIVAS for all things date ideas and valentines. They. Are. The. Best. If you’re single then duh! plan something for you and your girlfriends (Galentines anyone?). Or even by yourself! I’m all about taking advantage of holidays to do something a little special, no matter what my season of life!
I hope you found some ways to take care of yourself during this season of love!
I would love to know how you plan to practice self care in February!
