Fall in Love with Yourself: A Self-Care Guide
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples—it’s for celebrating the most important relationship of all: the one with yourself.
While Valentine’s Day often shines the spotlight on romantic relationships, it’s also a perfect reminder to nurture self-love and prioritize your well-being. Self-love isn’t just a trendy concept; it's a cornerstone of holistic health, impacting both mental and physical wellness. As Pooja Lakshmin, the author of Real Self Care, puts it, “Self-love is also revolutionary and world-changing.” Just like putting on your oxygen mask first, we must take time for ourselves so that we can show up for the people and things that matter most to us, too. This season, consider embracing wellness practices that not only soothe the body but also rejuvenate the mind and spirit.
Embrace Self-Love: The Heart of Well-Being
Self-love involves more than bubble baths and spa days—though those are wonderful! It’s about creating habits that support your physical, emotional, and mental health. Research from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology highlights that higher self-compassion correlates with reduced stress, greater emotional resilience, and improved mental health. Prioritizing practices like cold plunging, that challenge you to embrace something challenging or a stressor teaches your brain and body to respond with endurance and calm to build resilience. Just like building any muscle in the gym, your brain can carry that approach over to other areas of your life like a stressful meeting at work or an uncomfortable conversation with a friend.
While being able to handle the daily stressors of life with more resilience is helpful, that doesn’t mean we live stress-free lives. Building your self-care tool kit with many approaches to nurture yourself is important. After all, we can always hop into an ice bath to regulate our nervous system! However, studies have found that individuals who actively engage in self-care practices report higher self-esteem and greater self-worth, two concepts directly linked to resilience and overall well-being. Prioritizing activities like mindfulness, exercise, and rest has been shown to foster a positive self-image and emotional stability.
Here are simple ways to cultivate self-love:
Mindful Mornings: While we often want to hit snooze in the morning, creating time in your day before you tackle your to-do list and job duties can create a better foundation for the rest of your day. Try Mel Robbin's 5-Second Rule and count down 5-4-3-2-1 and launch yourself out of bed to get going. While your coffee is brewing, take some sips of water and take 15 minutes to practice breathwork or meditation. These practices can help you ease into your day and boost your brain’s ability to focus while reducing stress throughout the day.
Reverse Negative Thought Patterns: Disrupt negative self-talk by talking to yourself the way you would a friend or saying the opposite of the negative thoughts. For some of us, the inner critic's voice is very loud. However, negative thoughts are linked to anxiety, low self-esteem and poor mental health in general. Find positive affirmations that feel good to you and start there in the morning. Our co-founder Cindy loves practicing positive affirmations while she is in the cold plunge to press ctrl+alt+delete on negative thought patterns.
Move Your Body: Engage in activities you enjoy, whether it’s yoga, dancing while you clean the kitchen or a brisk walk in nature. All movement matters! You don’t have to be an athlete to experience the benefits of exercise like improved mood, better sleep, and improved body image–all foundational to self-care and self-esteem.
Digital Detox: Now that Dry January is over, some people are engaging in Phone Free February and while it might not be possible for most people to ditch their smartphones, limiting social media and not staying locked into the 24-hour news cycle does have many benefits for our mental health. Did you know we ask you to leave your phones behind during sessions at Loyly? We want you to detox your mind and body and one hour away is a great start!
Journaling: Putting your thoughts to paper can have an immediate impact on your mental health. Using practices like morning pages a key practice in The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron with the intention of “dumping your brain” on the page can clear out the noise of negative thoughts and be a great way to practice gratitude or focus on the good things you have going in your life no matter what time of day you do them.
The Power of Contrast Therapy: A Ritual for Body and Mind
Contrast therapy isn’t just for athletic recovery, it’s also an active form of self-care. Taking additional time out of your day away from the stressors of life is a big act of self-love that we don’t take lightly at Loyly. The mental benefits of cold plunge and sauna are just as impactful as the physical. Our communal space is for social wellness and you can use your time to connect with others, read a book in the sauna, meditate, and relax. Just like you rarely regret a workout, taking time for this bio-hacking self-care for your well-being is game-changing.
Benefits of Contrast Therapy for Self-Love:
Stress Relief: The alternating temperatures help regulate the nervous system, reducing cortisol levels and promoting relaxation.
Mood Boost: Exposure to cold therapy increases norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter linked to improved mood and focus.
Holistic Wellness: Regular sessions support immune health, improve sleep quality, and enhance mental clarity.
Create Your Self-Love Ritual
Valentine’s Day is a wonderful reminder that love starts from within. By embracing self-care rituals like contrast therapy, mindfulness, movement, and digital detoxing, you’re not just indulging in temporary relaxation—you’re actively investing in your long-term well-being. True self-love is about showing up for yourself consistently, making choices that nurture your mind and body, and building resilience to navigate life’s ups and downs with greater ease. Whether it’s stepping into a cold plunge, journaling your thoughts, or simply taking a deep breath before the day begins, every act of self-care reinforces your worth. So, this season and beyond, commit to the most important relationship you’ll ever have—the one with yourself. You deserve it.
