Be your own Valentine!

Valentine’s Day is usually about giving your special someone flowers, chocolate, and romantic gestures, but the most important relationship you’ll ever have is the one you have with yourself. This February, instead of focusing on who is or who isn’t celebrating you, try tuning those feelings into some self-love. Being your own Valentine is about choosing kindness, rest, and appreciation for the person you are working to become. 

Start your day with something that feels good

Starting your day off with something that feels good is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to care for yourself. Before the emails, to-do lists, classes, workouts, and notifications start pulling your attention in every direction, give yourself a moment belonging entirely to you. Whether it's enjoying slowly sipping your morning coffee or tea, stretching while the sun comes up, journaling a few of those early bird thoughts, taking quiet moments, listening to a relaxing playlist, or just enjoying the early morning sounds of Auburn. 

Treat yourself

Whether it is going to grab your favorite coffee, taking a peaceful walk, hitting the gym, dancing with Aubie at basketball games, or visiting a spot you love around Auburn, make time to do something just for you. In this season of love, it's all about celebrating the amazing person that you are. Treating yourself doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. It can be as simple as slowing down and choosing one small thing that makes you smile. Do something that brings you joy and comfort, not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day!

Self-love letters

Write yourself some positive sticky note compliments and place them in spots you see every day. These can be places like your mirror, your desk, your fridge, or inside your laptop.  They don’t have to be deep and poetic. Try things like, “I am learning and growing," “My body is strong," "I am proud of myself," or “You’ve got this!” By reading these affirmations often, they become gentle reminders of your worth. Over time, those feelings about yourself will start to become natural and stronger.

A clean space is refreshing

Sometimes the most powerful form of self-love is simply giving your future self a little reset. Cleaning doesn’t always have to mean a full deep-scrub or an hour-long home project. It can be as small as making your bed, clearing off your desk, doing a quick load of laundry, or opening a window to let in the fresh air. Tidying up just enough to feel refreshed creates a little breathing room in your day and helps your mind feel lighter. When your environment feels calmer, your mind follows. Wanna know the best part about it? You decide what “enough” looks like. There is no pressure for perfection, just small steps that help you to feel more grounded, organized, and supported in your own space.

Love isn’t seasonal

It's easy to think about love when the whole world is decorated in red and pink, but the truth is, love isn’t seasonal, and your worth doesn’t rise and fall with the date on the calendar. You deserve care, kindness, and compassion on ordinary Tuesdays, busy school days, quiet weekends, and even on the days when you don’t feel like your best self. Self-love is a practice, not a holiday. It shows up in the way you talk to yourself while you are learning and growing. Valentine’s Day may come and go, but you are worthy of love in every season, every chapter, and every version of you that exists along the way.

Be Well, Auburn.