Valentine’s Day is just right around the corner, whoohoo! I honestly love Valentine’s Day for the discounted chocolates the day after (sry Dr, I promise I’ll eat less sweets… soon), and of course you know I’m all about that sappy pink-and-red hearts marketing.

However when it comes to dating, I’ve never been fond of the whole Valentine’s Day bonanza. I make it KNOWN to the person I’m dating that I like to be appreciated and treasured each and every day, so in a way I’m subtly boycotting this holiday. LOL. It’s basically like NYE prices all over again, and I’m not about it… unless Person X decides to cook for me, then sure why not? 😀 *cough cough*

Valentine’s Day IS wonderful for the girls however, and of course, YOURSELF. I know what you’re thinking, umm hello self-care everyday?

But let’s be honest, we get carried away with our busy schedules sometimes, so V-Day can be a nice gentle reminder to take care of yourself.

V-Day, U-Day, it’s only one letter off LOL.

Here are some ways you can invest in yourself —

1. Go for a physical exam

Just last week, I had a physical exam. From an eye and ear exam to a pap, I went for the whole holistic approach. Even though this was my third pap, the discomfort feels all the same. I was lucky to have an amazing doctor at BU talking to me throughout the exam, so I was pretty relaxed about it. She even asked if I wanted to look under the microscope and all since I’m into public health! Anyway, the results are in and I could not be happier. Invest in yourself by going through regular checkups 🙂 It makes things so much better knowing you’re your healthiest self!

2. Try making a new drink

So I was pivoting around my little kitchen trying to figure out a yummy drink I could make while doing homework… and then it hit me. Why not try making a turmeric cinnamon latte? I heated up some vanilla almond milk on the stove, put in a few dashes of turmeric, and some cinnamon… swirled it all around and poured it into my mug! Then to top it off, I added more cinnamon. It was the perfect mix of bitter and sweet, plus turmeric has always been a huge staple in my pantry growing up. I always love those multipurpose pantry staples, you know? This one’s for you, mom <3

3. What about a little concoction?

On SuperBowl Sunday (Go Pats… not over it, never will be!), I brought over Health-Ade Kombucha in the jalapeño, kiwi, cucumber flavor and thought to myself, why not try it as a mixer? Inspired by some influencers I follow on the ‘gram, I mixed some kombucha with a little mezcal, tequila, lime juice, and ice to get a super yummy jalapeño infused smokey marg (with some health benefits?) For more kick, I recommend adding some jalapeños to your drink as well.

4. Learn something new

You can read, listen, or watch! I’ve been reading Gabrielle Union’s “We’re Going to Need More Wine” lately and been binge watching dark serial killer crime documentaries. My mind is always on opposite tangents, but I think that’s what keeps me going. You can also learn something new on Skillshare! I just signed up for an Adobe license (thank you, BU!) and I plan on taking some Photoshop classes on Skillshare, so I can get my creative juices flowing and create better content for you. They have different classes on a plethora of topics, so there’s literally something for everyone!

5. Get in check with your finances

So lately, I’ve been putting a halt to spending and more into paying off my credit cards! I graduate in May, so I really want to be credit card debt-free so I can just deal with student loans when May comes around. I recommended this three years ago (!!), but I highly recommend unsubscribing to some emails. I know myself too well to know that I will succumb to any sales going on, so I’d rather not know sometimes. I’ve also been cleaning out my closets and selling what I don’t want/need on Poshmark/Mercari, which brings me to my next point…

6. Declutter your space

I admit, I can be a hoarder sometimes… but lately, I’ve been tossing out whatever I haven’t used in a while. I’m not exactly Marie Kondo, but I’m doing the best I can to declutter my space. It can be as simple as throwing out random notes and organizing your space into sections.

7. Make or update your vision board

It’s February. How are we feeling about those goals? While I always use my Passion Planner to check in with myself and evaluate my stance on the road map, I also like to create mood boards. I don’t buy magazines that much these days, so I like to either print inspirational things out from Pinterest OR Canva to create a virtual one. I’m very much a hands-on person, but these can make things much more accessible these days especially when we don’t buy things in print.

8. Pamper yourself

Cliché, yes, but it’s still a great idea… right?! I’m not much of a massage person bc I tend to get real awkward when people touch me (LOL), but if you’re into it, I highly recommend. Something as basic as getting your nails done, planning a Galentine’s brunch, or doing a photoshoot would work too! Point is, you should do whatever makes YOU happy… especially something you don’t usually get to do!

Hope you’ve enjoyed some of my tips! Whatever you choose to do, please DO take some time for yourself! I wish you all a sweet Valentine’s Day!