In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, today we are going to be talking all about LOVE!! Now before I lose too many of you because you either don’t like Valentine’s Day or are not here for a sap session, just hang tight. While I could go on and on about how much I love love, today we are going to be focusing more on how to love yourself.

This has been a tough week for me. I have been both physically and emotionally exhausted. I have had non-stop meetings and phone calls on top of my regular class and work schedule. I have been so overwhelmed, and have neglected to take some time for myself. My stressed nature was carrying over into my sleep schedule and although I was so exhausted, I was unable to sleep. I don’t know if you all just did some quick math there but Stressed + No Sleep + Busy Schedule = a very unhappy Madeline.

Monday of this week sent me a full on hail storm of stress and overwhelming experiences. I felt like I was treading water in the ocean with tired legs. Every time I thought I had a handle on something a new wave of unexpected events hit. Recently, I have been doing an 80 day workout program. Monday was day 70. It took everything in me not to skip my workout for that day. I was so exhausted, had no motivation, my head was pounding, and all I wanted to do was go to sleep. However, I was 70 days committed to this program. There was no way I was about to give up with only 10 days left. This was when I had to have a little self-love check with myself. I needed to buck up and choose me. Although I had 15 things on my list to take care of, I needed to pause and take a second to take care of myself. I walked into that workout with no motivation, and my spirits low, but that workout did more for me than just check another day off the list. Completing that workout gave me an opportunity to workout my stress in a healthy manner, pause and take time for me, and showed me that even on the really bad days, my determination was stronger than my will to give up. Now, I am not here to flex and show off, but rather to show how important it is to take time for yourself.

Loving yourself is step one of a healthy lifestyle. I truly believe that you cannot fully devote yourself to other people, or activities without loving yourself first. I, like many of you, am a pleaser. I like it when the people around me are happy and will generally do everything I can to keep them happy. This is not a bad thing, but you have to know how to delegate your time effectively. Putting others first is an admirable quality, but you must put yourself first sometimes. It can be uncomfortable sometimes to say no to things or people because you need to take care of yourself, but it is completely necessary.

It is easy to fall into the trap of brushing off your feelings and emotions for the sake of everyone else. It takes courage to step away and allow yourself to process, reflect on your experiences and give yourself room to grow. Now, I am no expert on this. In fact, I have a lot of work to do as I continue to learn how to love myself better.

One of my favorite phrases is “Grow through what you go through.” I know it is a cheesy phrase, but it offers new perspectives to the trials that come with life. Approaching tough situations as an opportunity for growth rather than an obstacle to keep you pinned, sets you up for success rather than failure. I strongly believe that there is a great learning opportunity in failure. In fact, as backwards as it sounds, I advocate strongly that failing often is a pillar for success.

Probably not the Valentines day post you were expecting, but it was put on my heart to have a little deeper conversation on the importance of self-love. If you need some ideas on fun ways to take care of yourself I’ve listed some of my favorites below.

1. Set aside an hour to read your favorite book.
2. Get in your car, go pick up some of your favorite food and have a little picnic with yourself in one of your favorite spots.
3. Go for a walk outside. I know it is February but bundle up and get out there. Challenge yourself to find beautiful things outside in the cold months, and give yourself some time to appreciate them.
4. Journal. If you haven’t noticed already, I love to write. I have never been a “dear diary” kind of girl, but I can appreciate documentation of what is going on in my life.
5. Exercise. Go to YouTube, pick a fun exercise that fits the time frame your looking for, and take some time to love your body. There are thousands. From dance workouts to yoga, there are so many amazing workouts FOR FREE on YouTube. Our bodies are amazing no matter the shape or size. You’ve got this body for the rest of your life. Learn to love it and appreciate how amazing it is.
6. Doodle, practice calligraphy, or sketch. Art is a great way for you to reflect on your emotions. Channel whatever you are feeling into a simple doodle, a painting, or a sketch. Emotions are the best form of inspiration.
7. Do nothing. Yep, you heard me. Do nothing. So many of us are programmed to think that we have to rush around from one place to the next for our lives to be lived fully. While I thrive on a busy schedule, I have found that it is so important to give myself some lazy minutes. Sit in silence, watch TV, stare at the ceiling. Do something mindless to give yourself a mental break.
8. Plan something fun for you and your friends or significant other. Planning events that I know my favorite people will enjoy is an awesome way for me to let loose while setting myself up for something fun in the future.
9. Do a devotional. This is my go to when I am stressed, can’t sleep, or can’t seem to get my mind to slow down. There have been so many times where I have been in bed and can’t seem to let my mind rest. I whip out my Bible app, pick a devotional centered on peace, read, reflect, and before I know it, my heart rate is back down and I am ready to sleep.
10. Make a slip knot blanket. They are super easy. I promise if I can figure it out, so can you. Go watch a YouTube video on how to do it, buy your yarn, and get to work. This is one of my favorite mindless activities. It is a great stress reliever, and when you are done, you get a warm fuzzy new blanket!

These are my top ten. If you are struggling to figure out how to get yourself to slow down, reach out in the CONTACT section of the blog and I’d love to brainstorm with you some new ways to love yourself! Happy Valentine’s Day all. Give your people some love, and give yourself some love.