Treat Yourself This Valentine’s Day

As a busy healthcare professional, most if not all of your energy is tied up in caring for others. Whether it is your patients at work or your family at home, your needs are usually the last priority most days. This year, use Valentine’s Day as a reminder to care for yourself. It doesn’t have to be on February 14th, as long as you take the time to treat yourself. Here are a few ways you can give yourself some “me time” as a reward for everything you do for others.

Best Self Care Ideas

Take a Spa Day

• Everyone enjoys being pampered once in a while. Book a day at your local spa and relax with a nice massage, facial, and a mani-pedi. If a spa day seems like an extravagance that you can’t afford right now, you can turn your home into a day spa! Plan for the kids to be elsewhere or choose a day when they are in school. Decide what you are going to need and pick them up in advance. Some nice scented candles, bath crystals, your favorite face mask, and anything else that can help you complete the day spa feel. Don’t forget to pick up your favorite cheese or sweets that you enjoy.

Visit the Gym

• Do your job and family commitments leave you with little time to spend on your physical well being? Do you prefer a good workout to a spa day? Then treat yourself to an open-ended day on your physical health. Instead of trying to squeeze in a quick session at the gym before rushing home to make dinner for the family or getting back to work, plan a day at your gym or studio where you can get in a full body workout, take a yoga class, or even spend some extra time stretching or in the sauna room.  Don’t forget to stop for a smoothie or snack after all your effort. You may be sore tomorrow, but deep down you will feel great!

Treat Yourself to a Shopping Spree

• When was the last time you were able to head out to your favorite stores without the kids in tow? A shopping spree can be just the trick for allowing you to visit your favorite stores, spend as much time as you like trying things on without the little ones tugging at your sleeve. While you are out, visit your favorite café for a relaxing lunch. If you prefer to shop in a group, plan the shopping spree and lunch with your besties.

Enjoy Dinner and a Movie

• Whether you have a significant other or not, Valentine’s Day is most often celebrated with dinner and a movie. A date night if you will. Treating yourself to a solo date night can be very liberating. No haggling over where you are in the mood to eat, no compromise on what movie to see, you get to choose. Spending some quality time alone can be the perfect remedy for recharging your batteries. If you have never had a solo date night, you will quickly lose any initial awkwardness when you see others doing the exact same thing. There are also theaters that offer food and drinks during the movie, so you don’t have to dine alone!

Do Something Completely Different

• Are you a creature of habit, like most of us? This Valentine’s Day, make a plan to do something you have never tried before. It can be something as simple as taking a painting class or as adventurous as skydiving. The key is to break the mold of your every day and do something that is going to take you outside of your comfort zone. Without stretching once in a while, we can never grow!

No matter what you choose to do for your day of self care, the most important part is to set time aside to put yourself first for a change. There are plenty of other ways to treat yourself and we want to hear from you! Join the discussion on our Facebook post or below in the comments and let us know what your Valentine’s Day plans are this year.