GIVE YOURSELF A LITTLE LOVE

It’s finally February; the month we start looking forward to longer days while we celebrate love from coast to coast! While you’re spreading all that love around, it’s important to keep yourself in mind too! As we make our way towards Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d share a few ways to show yourself a little love on February 14th (and any other day you feel like giving yourself a hug).

1. Take yourself on a date.

Everyone needs alone time, but that doesn’t have to mean holing up in your apartment with Netflix and wine. Going out alone might seem daunting, but it can be an incredibly relaxing experience. You’re on your own timetable, making decisions just for yourself. There’s no debating where to dine or what movie to see, no time constraints if you want to wander through the mall by yourself, and definitely no lingering doubt about your choice not making everybody happy. The only person you should be looking to please is yourself, and who knows best how to do that but you?

2. Celebrate your platonic relationships.

February’s most infamous holiday might put a premium on romantic love, but February can also be a great time to remember all your besties. Leslie Knope’s “Gal-entine’s Day” on February 13 is a great place to start, but a gender neutral “Pal-entine’s Day” can be any day you like and include everybody in your contact list! Whether you send one big group message, or go all out on brunch with buddies in your area, reaching out to any and all loved ones when they cross your mind is a wonderful way to cheer up everyone’s day, including your own.

3. Clean up your space.

From small steps like wiping countertops or cleaning your bathroom mirror to bigger projects like cleaning out your wardrobe or culling your personal library, making the effort to neaten your living space can be a big stress reliever. It works at work too! Set aside a half an hour at the beginning or end of your day to get the clutter off your desk and out of your email inbox to take some weight off your mind. And if you do decide to chill out with Netflix and wine, doing it in a place that’s clean(er) is much more relaxing than trying to watch your favorite show while your laundry shames you from its pile on the floor.