Valentine’s Day Self-Care Tips
The day of love, Valentine’s Day is officially here! Though it comes off as superficial with the flowers, chocolates, and teddy bears galore, one aspect of it is constantly getting overlooked. Yes, it’s refreshing to have someone to spend this special day of the year with, but what about self-love?
With all the chaotic events going on in the world, we often forget to take care of ourselves, and Valentine’s Day is a great day to catch up on that. Here are some ways in which you can have a self-care Valentine’s Day:
Refrain from Social Media
Social Media has become our main form of communication and keeping in touch with the world. Though it’s easy to access and comes with many perks, such as finding hilarious memes, videos, and socializing with others across the globe, it could also harm the way we think. It can be a major distraction and help you procrastinate and different posts and comments may upset you. But mainly, if you’re single, today may be the day you might not want to log onto social media and see couples galore across your feed. Taking a break for an hour, a few hours, or even the whole day could help you pay attention more to what’s around you, and help you focus on tasks that need to be done.
Create a Playlist
One of the best ways to unwind is to turn on the speakers and listen to your favorite songs. Listening to music is one of the best ways to relax and take your mind off of things. Open up your streaming app of choice, or if you’re old school, put on your favorite record, sit back, and enjoy.
Songs Recommendations:
- “Me and Your Mama” by Childish Gambino
- “Pink + White” by Frank Ocean
- “Motion” by Emotional Oranges
- “Melting” by Kali Uchis
- “Say That” by Toro Y Moi
Do a Skincare Routine
If you want to get into major relaxation mode, do a skincare routine! There’s nothing more relaxing than getting your skin silky smooth and feeling refreshed afterward. One of the best ways to do so is by doing a facial cleanse, followed by a facial mask, and topping it off with a good moisturizer.
Skincare Recommendations:
- Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub
- Shea Moisture African Black Soap w/ Shea Butter
- Cetaphil Deep Hydration 48 Hour Activation Serum
- Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel
- TonyMoly I’m Hemp Sheet Mask
Read a Good Book
One thing that I got back into doing during this pandemic was reading. I bought plenty of books to keep me occupied and curious. The best way to enjoy a nice read is to get into some comfortable clothes and sit somewhere peaceful and quiet with a candlelit, that way you’re in complete focus mode.
Book Recommendations:
- “We Are Never Meeting in Real Life” by Samantha Irby
- “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” by Issa Rae
- “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett
- “The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health” by Rheeda Walker
- “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
Catch Up on a TV Series
Now is the perfect time to catch up on that series you’ve been falling behind on. After getting into sweatpants and doing that skincare routine, you should put your feet up and enjoy one of the many shows that streaming services have to offer. There’s a wide array of series worth watching that’ll have you in binge-watch mode all day long.
Series Recommendations:
- “Euphoria”
- “A Black Lady Sketch Show”
- “I May Destroy You”
- “Pose”
- “Lovecraft Country”
Practice Mindfulness
After unwinding during the day, a great way to end the night is to try practicing mindfulness. Getting in tune with yourself and your emotions helps relax your body and reduces any stress that you may have. If you’re like me, practicing mindfulness can be a bit challenging, however, there are now apps designed to help you with that along the way.
App Recommendations:
- Calm
- Headspace
- Mindfulness
