I hope you all had a lovely Valentine’s Day yesterday.

This week, I’m switching gears to a bit more of an inward love. A self-love, if you will.

Loving others is hard, but it’s much harder to love other well when you don’t love yourself, or don’t treat yourself well. And sometimes it’s necessary to take a minute and show yourself some love and grace.

Self-care is so underrated. It is such a powerful and valuable thing, and many of us forget about it completely. We’re busy, we’re stressed, we’ve got too much too do and not enough time to do it, and by the time we get a minute to ourselves, it’s time to do it all over again. Interest rates are through the roof, politics are sickening, real estate is hard to come by and inflation is killing us.

We need a minute. More than a minute.

When I start to feel overwhelmed and exhausted, I know I need some time to myself to recharge. Sometimes that looks like blocking my entire evening to read, or leaving the house to run errands by myself, and maybe treat myself to Starbs. Sometimes it’s a long walk outside or a glass of wine on my porch.

For those of you who need some fun ideas on self-care, here are some of my favorites!

spend the next sunny afternoon outdoors.

Have lunch outside, call a friend for a happy hour, take a walk after work, or take your kids/dog to the park. It’s amazing what a little sunshine can do after so many gray days.

make a reservation at a new or nice restaurant.

Because every day is a special occasion.

go to an actual bookstore (or library) and pick up a new book.

Spend the evening reading, with a hot cup of tea and a candle burning.

treat yourself to your favorite spa/beauty service.

Whether it’s a pedicure, facial, massage or a lash lift, you’ll feel like a million bucks afterward, and isn’t that just the kind of boost we need?

get the flowers.

Next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up a bouquet for yourself. It doesn’t have to cost a lot. The blooms will brighten your day every time you walk by.

find a new recipe on Pinterest and make it.

Put on your favorite music or podcast, make your favorite drink and enjoy the process of making something new for yourself. It might even be your new favorite recipe!

take a PTO day.

I do this at least once a month. I take a random Monday or Friday, and I use that day to sleep in, exercise, catch up on things around the house, complete a project, meal prep or just hang out and play with Will. It is the BEST.

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” Mark 6:31-32

“Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:4