​​Self-Love This Valentine's Day: 5 Ways to Care for Yourself

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Valentine's Day is traditionally seen as a celebration of love between partners, but it's also the perfect opportunity to focus on the most important relationship you’ll ever have — the one with yourself. Self-love is the foundation for living a fulfilling, balanced life, and it's something we often forget to nurture. Whether you’re in a relationship or flying solo, taking the time to care for yourself can bring a deep sense of peace and satisfaction. This Valentine’s Day, why not give yourself the gift of self-love?

Here are five simple but powerful ways to nurture yourself this season:

1. Set Boundaries (And Stick to Them)

Self-love starts with understanding your own needs and setting boundaries that honor them. Whether it’s saying no to plans that drain your energy or creating space for personal time, knowing your limits is key to emotional well-being. Valentine's Day can sometimes come with a lot of external expectations — from social media posts to the pressure to be in a relationship — but remember: your peace of mind is what matters most. Honor yourself by setting boundaries that protect your time, your energy, and your mental health.

2. Indulge in Your Favorite Self-Care Ritual

Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths (though those are lovely too!). It's about creating rituals that nourish your body, mind, and soul. Take time to engage in an activity that makes you feel good. Maybe it's a long walk in nature, journaling your thoughts, doing yoga, or listening to your favorite music. Treat yourself to something that brings you joy and peace. If you can, create a "self-love playlist" or light some candles to set the mood. This act of prioritizing your own well-being sends a message to yourself that you are worthy of love and care.

3. Celebrate Your Achievements

Self-love is also about recognizing and celebrating your accomplishments. No matter how big or small, your wins are worth acknowledging. Reflect on the progress you’ve made — whether it's in your career, personal growth, or relationships. Take a moment to express gratitude for how far you’ve come. You deserve to be proud of yourself. Write down three things you've achieved recently and give yourself credit for them. The more you celebrate yourself, the more you'll reinforce your own worth.

4. Practice Gratitude for Your Body

Your body is the vessel that carries you through life, and it deserves your appreciation. This Valentine’s Day, take a moment to connect with your body in a positive, affirming way. Engage in a gentle stretch, dance to your favorite song, or simply take a mindful moment to acknowledge your body for all the incredible things it allows you to do. Consider saying affirmations like: “I love my body for all it does for me,” or “I appreciate how strong, resilient, and capable I am.” Treating your body with love, respect, and gratitude is an essential part of self-care.

5. Give Yourself Permission to Rest

In a world that often glorifies hustle and productivity, it's important to give yourself permission to rest. On Valentine's Day, allow yourself to take a break from the demands of daily life — even if just for a few hours. Disconnect from work, social media, and the pressures that come with them. Rest isn't a luxury; it's a necessity for your mental and physical health. Whether it's through a nap, reading a book, or simply sitting in silence, rest replenishes your energy and helps you show up as your best self in all areas of life.

Bonus: Write Yourself a Love Letter

If you’re feeling extra inspired, take some time to write yourself a love letter. Pour your heart out to yourself. Acknowledge your strengths, forgive yourself for past mistakes, and express love and gratitude for everything you are. This is an exercise in self-compassion, and it can be incredibly healing. When we extend love and kindness to ourselves, we create a solid foundation for all other relationships.

Conclusion

This Valentine’s Day, remember that you are worthy of love — and that includes the love you give to yourself. By taking small, intentional steps to care for your body, mind, and soul, you're laying the groundwork for a deeper sense of happiness, peace, and fulfillment. Whether you're spending the day with a partner, friends, or by yourself, give yourself the love, attention, and respect that you deserve. After all, the relationship you have with yourself is the one that will carry you through every other relationship in your life.

So, go ahead — pamper yourself, celebrate yourself, and most importantly, love yourself. You’ve earned it. ❤️

Bucket List for 2025

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Personal Growth & Learning

1. Learn a new language — Challenge yourself with a language you've always wanted to speak.

2. Take a pottery class — Learn the art of creating something with your hands.

3. Read 50 books — Aim to read a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and self-improvement.

4. Start journaling — Create a habit of daily reflection through writing.

5. Attend a public speaking workshop — Overcome your fear of speaking in front of others.

6. Take an online course — Learn something new, from coding to photography to psychology.

7. Develop a morning meditation routine — Begin each day with a few moments of mindfulness.

8. Create a personal vision board — Visualize your goals for the future.

9. Write a letter to your future self — Revisit it at the end of the year.

10. Practice gratitude daily — Start or end your day by listing things you're grateful for.

Adventure & Travel

1. Go on a solo trip — Travel to a destination you’ve always wanted to explore on your own.

2. Try glamping — Enjoy nature without sacrificing comfort.

3. Visit a country you’ve never been to — Immerse yourself in a new culture.

4. Take a hot air balloon ride — Experience the thrill of floating above it all.

5. Go hiking on a challenging trail — Push your limits and enjoy the view from the top.

6. Go whale watching — Observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

7. Take a cross-country road trip — Plan a journey with scenic routes and unexpected stops.

8. Visit an ancient landmark — Explore the ruins of a historical wonder.

9. Try camping under the stars — Sleep in a tent and connect with the night sky.

10. Experience a traditional cultural festival — From Diwali to Oktoberfest, take part in a unique celebration.

Health & Wellness

1. Try yoga or Pilates — Take your flexibility and mindfulness to the next level.

2. Start a fitness challenge — Train for a marathon, triathlon, or other event.

3. Do a digital detox for a weekend — Disconnect from your devices for 48 hours.

4. Try a juice cleanse — Detox your body and see how it feels.

5. Take a dance class — Salsa, tango, or even hip-hop, feel the rhythm.

6. Complete a 30-day fitness challenge — Whether it’s push-ups, squats, or yoga, commit to 30 days.

7. Join a sports league — Find a local league for tennis, soccer, or whatever sport you enjoy.

8. Go on a wellness retreat — Rejuvenate your mind and body in a serene environment.

9. Try ice bathing or cold therapy — Dive into the icy water and discover its health benefits.

10. Do a mindfulness retreat — Immerse yourself in meditation for a few days.

Creativity & Art

1. Create a scrapbook — Preserve memories by documenting experiences.

2. Take up photography — Start capturing the beauty around you with a camera or smartphone.

3. Learn how to paint or draw — Tap into your artistic side and develop your skills.

4. Start a DIY home decor project — Transform your space with a creative touch.

5. Learn to play an instrument — Always wanted to learn guitar, piano, or drums? Now’s your chance!

6. Join a writing group — Share your stories and ideas with others.

7. Make your own candles or soap — Create custom gifts or personal items.

8. Design your own clothing — Experiment with fabric and create a new wardrobe.

9. Create your own YouTube channel or blog — Share your knowledge, skills, or experiences with the world.

10. Learn graphic design — Create stunning visuals for personal or professional use.

Social & Community

1. Host a dinner party for friends — Try out new recipes and enjoy quality time.

2. Volunteer for a cause you care about — Give back by helping those in need.

3. Take a group fitness class — Join a class to meet new people while working out.

4. Join a book club — Share your thoughts and ideas on literature with others.

5. Start a neighborhood cleanup initiative — Organize a local event to beautify your area.

6. Organize a charity event — Raise funds or awareness for a cause you’re passionate about.

7. Take a cooking class with friends — Learn to make a new dish and enjoy the meal together.

8. Join a board game night — Spend time bonding with friends over your favorite games.

9. Attend a live theater performance — Support local artists and experience the magic of live performance.

10. Participate in a charity walk or race — Get moving while supporting a meaningful cause.

New Year’s Resolutions: Is it laziness or executive functioning that keeps us from reaching our goals?

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Written by: Bryan Randolph, LICSW

For many people, the start of a new year provides inspiration to make positive changes.

Studies have shown that nearly half of Americans create a resolution to improve themselves in the upcoming year. Yet, by the end of January, nearly 80 percent have stopped working on their goals. Meaning by the time you read this post, there is a good chance that you may already be struggling with maintaining motivation for keeping your resolution. For some people, this can lead to feelings of guilt and regret and possibly even shame and hopelessness. Yet, the culprit behind this failure may be more related to Executive Functioning (EF) than a lack of resolve or willpower.

Executive functioning refers to how our brain carries out different tasks related to setting and achieving goals. If we think of the brain as an orchestra, executive functioning is the conductor who directs all the sections to play together in harmony. At its heart, creating and keeping habits boils down to figuring out what to do and how to do it. Understanding the different executive functions and their role in setting, planning and achieving goals can help us identify personal areas of strengths and weaknesses.

Understanding executive functions and their role in setting up and following through on goals:

Thinking Skills (The what to do):

Organize/ Plan: The ability to come up with ideas and choose an area to improve.

Planning is taking our idea and creating a specific, realistic and measurable way to achieve it. Individuals who struggle with these areas may have difficulty knowing how to identify and express their thoughts or organize their thoughts in a logical manner. They may also struggle to focus on creating a plan without getting distracted by unrelated thoughts, fantasies about unrealistic outcomes. Planning may also lead to anxiety or distress due to past failure or worry about not being able to follow the plan.

Initiate: The ability to start working on the plan. Individuals who struggle in this area tend to

be those who engage in all or nothing thinking and can take on one of two extremes. Those who start out extremely strong and full of energy and excitement only to lose motivation once the task becomes boring or routine. Unrealistic goals and plans also contribute by sapping energy upon realizing that accomplishing our goal is going to be harder than we thought. At the other end, are those who avoid starting all together due to forgetting the plan or due to anxiety or stress.

Organize Materials: The ability to gather necessary equipment or supplies and keep them organized and available. Individuals who frequently lose things or forget where they put them often find following a routine stressful or frustrating. Continually having to purchase new items can also create a financial barrier. Working Memory: The ability to hold information when working on a task. This is an important part of organizing and planning as it allows us to keep track of our thoughts and not have to continually “reinvent the wheel” due to losing track of ideas. It can also make learning something new frustrating if we have trouble remembering or understanding written or verbal instructions.

Self-Monitoring: The ability to accurately assess our performance. This is an important part of following through on our plan to achieve our goals. Difficulty with self-monitoring can cause us to either underestimate our performance and become frustrated with our perceived lack of progress or overestimate our skills and effort and become frustrated when our results do not match our expectations.

Behavior skills (The how to do it):

Shift - The ability to shift refers to being able to switch from one task to another. Individuals who struggle with shifting often have rigid thinking and have trouble adapting or modifying plans when things change or aren’t working. Another component can be the tendency to hyper-fixate, such as spending time focusing on one part of the plan to the exclusion of others or getting stuck on having to create the “perfect” plan.

 Inhibit - Refers to the ability to manage competing impulses and to remain focused on the task at hand. This is one of the most common areas that people associate with executive functioning. It shows up in many of the phases of accomplishing goals by allowing us to remain on track and not become distracted.

Emotional Control - Emotional Control is one of the most important EF skills because it allows us to recognize, validate, and manage the feelings that come up for us during the process of setting and working on goals. In order to improve executive functioning, it is crucial to identify which areas we struggle with due to lack of knowledge or skills and which areas are hard for us due to managing our emotions. 

Conclusion

Perhaps the most important part of working on goals is to follow the motto of “do what works for you.” Pay attention to which of the areas above feels more natural and look for ways to utilize those strengths. Identify areas that are harder and seek out strategies for improving those skills. If you are unsure of how to make improvements, it may be beneficial to work with a therapist or executive functioning coach. Growing Roots has counselors with extensive experience working with individuals of all ages to improve areas of executive functioning. If you believe counseling could be helpful in addressing EF, please contact the office at office@growingroots for more information.

More information about Executive Functioning

The Science Heavy Stuff:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/behavior-rating-inventory-

Of-executive-function

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10512143/#:~:text=Executive%20functions%20(EFs)

%20skills%20are,wide%20range%20of%20mental%20disorders

Regular Language Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavior_Rating_Inventory_of_Executive_Function

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/executive-function
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325402

More Tips for Achieving Goals:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-

do/202412/why-new-years-resolutions-set-you-up-to-fail