Ah, February: the month of red roses, limitless rom-coms, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. Maybe you’re a hopeless romantic and look forward to February 14 all year, or maybe Valentine’s Day typically feels sad, lonely, or disappointing. But celebrating love wouldn’t be complete if the #1 priority wasn’t how you love yourself.
No matter what your relationship status says on Facebook, the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself. Yes, that might have been a cliché your mom told you growing up or what you read in The Care and Keeping Of You when you were 11 years old, but it’s also a powerful truth. How you feel about and talk to yourself determines the success of other relationships, and is a key component of physical health and mental health. How you love yourself literally impacts every aspect of your life, and therefore, learning to love yourself is the most important skill you could master.
Since February is the month of love, we’ve put together a challenge focusing on the most worthy kind of relationship: the one you have with yourself. For every day in February, you’ll be challenged to try journaling prompts and activities focusing on getting to know yourself, wooing yourself, caring for yourself, and prioritizing yourself. Follow the challenge, and you’ll have a whole new perspective on self-love by March 1.
1: Make a list of five things that always make you happy and put it on your mirror, desk, or fridge where you’ll see it often
2: Buy yourself flowers
3. Revisit a childhood hobby
4. Go for a walk on your lunch break
5. Make a playlist of all your favorite songs
6. Unplug for three hours
7: Journal prompt: Get to know yourself. Take some time to think about what you believe in, value, and like. Make a list of your strengths (particularly the ones that have gone unnoticed).
Source: @lolaomonaija
8: Say “no” if you want to say no
9: Eat the rainbow by trying a variety of fruits and vegetables
10: Splurge on the item you’ve been wanting
11: Take yourself on a date or set the table with candles and a fancy table cloth
13: Watch your favorite movie
14: Journal prompt: look at a picture of yourself as a baby or young child. How would you talk differently to yourself if you were talking to her? What do you want to tell her?
Source: @sassyredlipstick
15. Identify your love language and then do one thing to show yourself love in that language
16. Make a promise to yourself and then keep it (work out before work, make a smoothie for breakfast, take a real lunch break, cut off work at 5 p.m., etc.)
17. Unfollow or mute every account that doesn’t make you feel inspired, encouraged, or good about yourself
18. Sit in child’s pose for a minute whenever you’re stressed
19. Dress up in your favorite outfit and put on your favorite lipstick
20. Take some time to “play:” turn on music and dance or do something creative like coloring
21: Journal prompt: write down past mistakes you’re still holding onto. Reflect on how you’ve changed since those past mistakes or embarrassing moments. Realize how even the worst moments have made you stronger, kinder, and better, and then forgive yourself.
Source: @kayla_seah
22: Say “thank you” instead of “I’m sorry”
23: Sneak leafy greens into sauces, dips, and dressings
24: Write a list of the things you love most about yourself
25: Start an inspirational book
26: Treat yourself to a new vibrator or download an app like Coral (because sexual wellness is self-care)
28: Journal prompt: How can you become more “you?” We love ourselves when our actions align with who we really are. Make a list of your qualities, likes, traits, strengths, and passions. Then, write down how you can become or more of each thing. Also, get rid of the activities or traits that don’t feel true to you, and fill up the empty space with more you-ness. Every work goal, wellness intention, and daily schedule should support becoming more of who you really are.
