Showing love to the people in our lives can be much easier than showing ourselves love. But, making the time to care for ourselves is just as important.
Here are 5 easy self-love practices you can try!
1. Make time for things that make you smile and truly happy.
Think about the things in your life that make you smile. What are the activities that bring you the most joy? What helps you clear your mind and de-stress? Cultivating self-love looks different for each person. But honing in on what makes you truly happy is the most important thing.
2. Start a journaling practice.
Taking the time to journal for 5 minutes a day can make an immense impact on your mental health. Keep a gratitude journal and write down 3 things that you are grateful for every morning. Look back on these 3 things as a reminder during the day.
3. Disconnect from the internet for 2 hours each day.
In a world where technology is constantly around us and changing, it can be hard to tune out all of the noise. Carve out a time in your day where you can silence your phone and put away your computer. This will give your brain a much needed and deserved break.
4. Clean out your social media feeds.
Are there certain pages you follow on social media that do not bring you joy anymore? How do their messages resonate with you? If they cause you to think negatively towards yourself, then it is time to unfollow those pages. Instead, follow the pages that offer messages that align with you goals and make you feel good about yourself. You deserve it.
5. Treat yourself to a day of joyful movement, or a day of needed rest.
Listen to your body on whether it needs movement or rest. Engaging in movement that you find enjoyable could be dancing in your living room, taking a yoga class online, or going for a walk with a friend. And on those days where rest is needed, listen to your body. Close your eyes, put some music on, and lay down for a bit. Either way, you are showing your body self-love.
Information gathered & adapted from:
https://eatwithknowledge.com/10-easy-self-care-practices-for-valentines-day/
https://blossomcounsellingcentre.com/blog/self-love-valentines-day
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Servings: 24
Ingredients
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup white granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
Preparation
1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line your baking pans with parchment paper.
2.Cream together the butter, white sugar, and light brown sugar until it is smooth and creamy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, and then stir in the vanilla extract.
3.Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water and then stir that in to the batter with the salt. Stir in the flour and chocolate chips. The dough should be very thick at this point in the preparation.
4.Form the dough into balls the size of walnuts. Place these on the baking pan and slightly flatten them out.
5.Bake for 10 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time, until the edges of the cookies look lightly brown. Remove the cookies to the racks to cool.
Serving Size: 1 cookie
Nutrition Information per Serving: 14.1 grams total fat, 8.7 grams of saturated fat, 45.1 grams carbohydrate, 0.5 grams fiber, 2.1 grams protein, 112.2 milligrams sodium, 60.0 milligrams potassium, 29.2 grams sugar
Recipe adapted from:
https://cookeatshare.com/recipes/my-ideal-chocolate-chip-cookie-290526/external
