Valentine’s Day is often about showing love to others, but we say: it’s time for a reframe. As a busy parent, when was the last time you showed love to yourself?
We know what you’re thinking—somehow even when you know you deserve it, you still find yourself feeling guilty when you aim to prioritize yourself. Welp, say no more, because a self-love holiday is on the horizon and if ONLY for one day, it’s time to re-connect with ourselves.
No need for big budgets, boxes of chocolates and a whisk-yourself-to-a-5-star-resort for you to feel taken care of— there are a few small ways to grant yourself moments of peace and indulgence to make a big difference in the months ahead.
1. 1 hour, made for you.
Carve out time—whether it’s 10 minutes or an hour—to do something just for you. Literally, set the time. Lock the door, throw on a robe and scroll TikTok without reading Slack, checking texts or making sure your caregiving partner is OK. This is YOU time baby. Read a book, enjoy a cup of coffee while it’s still hot (imagine that!), or simply sit in silence without anyone calling your name. If you can’t find space in your house, we’re not above sitting in the car fully reclined…or taking a leisure walk no matter the weather can be pure bliss.
2. A face mask, a scented candle and you’re golden.
A full blown spa trip might not be on the horizon, but serenity is at your finger tips with a few simple steps. Light a scented candle, draw a warm bath or grab your heated blanket and raid your local drugstore for a few handy face masks— we are in business. One search for “Calming Spa Music” on Spotify will unlock some serious decompression time, made for you..
3. Avoid the doom scroll for sleeptime pampering.
We’re all doing it…the kids get to bed, it’s finally quiet and thus begins 2+ hours of revenge time, made for you. Instead of staying up late scrolling, shut it down early and opt to break up the norm for an early-to-bed night that might just result in a couple extra hours of rest for you. We know, we know, there’s no stopping your 4 year old from popping up by your bedside at 4AM, but we still vote for a good old college try. Bonus points if you sneak in a nice piece of chocolate or a handful of your kid’s Little Spoon snacks before you hit the hay.
4. It’s time for the babysitters club.
One hour of time sans worrying about your kids? We’ll take it. A whole evening (or *gasp* would a whole day be in the cards?!) just for you thanks to a trusted friend or family…just say yes. Use whatever time you can snag to fill you cup. Get a manicure, swing by an old workout class, grab a bite with a friend, date your partner…it’s a push that goes a long way if you’re lucky enough to have people in your life to care for your kids AND you every once in a while.
5. Bring back the LOLs with your BFFs.
Open up that group chat that’s been on silent mode the last month and catch up with friends—and if you can see them IRL, it’ll bring you the belly laughs and love you’ve been long missing. Reconnecting with YOU can often be a result of reconnecting with your people. So get together virtually or in person to reminisce and simply hang out. You’ll be surprised how refreshed you feel.
