While Valentine’s Day (and the month of February generally) is a wonderful occasion to show your significant other how much you care about them, it can also be an unfriendly reminder of one’s status as a chronically single high school student (ahem, such as myself). So, I decided, why not show myself some love?
For me, my self-care days started as a way to cope with the times when everything that could have gone wrong went wrong, or when I’m overwhelmed by the busy ongoings of high school. Now my self-care routines are a necessity.
My first feel-good tip is to clear your surroundings a little. Being busy with school can lead to neglect for your personal space, which is completely normal. Usually overlooked as self-care, resetting your room and bathroom, or another space you spend a lot of time in, could make all the difference to decreasing your stress levels. It could be as little as putting away miscellaneous items scattered around your room, but I find that any progress makes a difference to my mindset.
Another one of my go-to’s for a quick boost is exercise. Whether it’s hitting one of the Chloe Ting pandemic workouts or just doing some light stretching, releasing endorphins are a great way to cure seasonal depression of any kind. Not to mention that the 15 minutes I spend exercising makes me feel better about the four hours I spend hunched over my computer.
So-called everything showers are my, well, everything. They are hands down the most important part of my self-care routine. These are showers that are much more extensive than a usual shower and tend to take a lot longer than regular showers. Each “everything shower” can be customized to what your body needs; at the very least, mine include a full hair care routine (hair oil, shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, etc.) and full body treatments (body scrubs, shaving, specialized body washes, bath oil etc.) in a candle lit setting. Not only are these extremely hygienic, they also leave me feeling phenomenally fresh afterwards.
Sitting in bed, under a heavy blanket and in my pajamas is another one of my go-to relaxation techniques. Especially in February, when the weather is still chilly, getting nice and cozy with a hot cup of tea and a nostalgic TV show provides an extremely comforting warmth. It also doesn’t require a lot of effort to set up, which is a big plus during those lazy days.
Showing yourself some love, whether it’s taking care of your physical health, mental health or hygiene, is extremely important, not just in the depths of winter when extra pampering might be called for, but year round. If you’re feeling the blues, look to self-care solutions as the way to emerge as a happier, healthier person.
