Valentine’s Day is here, and it’s time to show a little extra love to the special people in our lives. But what about the most important person of all? Yourself, whether you’re single or taken, it’s important to pamper yourself with the same kind of love and kindness that you’d shower on anyone else.

Here, the Kalms experts share six simple ways to practise self-love on Valentine’s Day and beyond. Practising self-love isn’t always easy. With so much else going on in the world, me-time usually lasts on the to-do list. Worse, we can sometimes feel guilty about taking the time required to care for ourselves. But no matter how indulgent or fancy the term may sound, prioritising self-love has some serious benefits for our mental and physical health.

In addition to boosting self-esteem and lowering your stress levels significantly, self-love has other physical health benefits, including increased levels of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin, aka the ‘happy hormones’, better cardiovascular health and a strengthened immune system.

So do yourself a favour, take a deep breath, give yourself a little hug and follow Kalms, the traditional herbal remedy specialists, top six simple ways to practise self-love this Valentine’s Day and every day.

Do something you love

Engaging in activities you enjoy elevates your mood and boosts energy. So, schedule time regularly to do something just for yourself, whether it’s journaling, mediation, painting, listening to music or simply giving yourself an at-home spa treatment.

Pay attention to your thoughts

We must remember to be kind to ourselves. Whenever you notice yourself saying something unkind to yourself, switch to a gentler tone and try to evaluate things rationally to contain your inner critic. Speak to yourself as you would to a loved one. Self-love is about respecting your needs and desires and is essential to counteracting stress.

Move your body

Whether it’s a brisk walk around the block or a virtual workout, exercise encourages the body to release endorphins that counteract cortisol release. Getting outside in the fresh air not only clears the airways, but a daily dose of Vitamin D supports the body’s natural mood-regulating system.

Write it down

Try taking time at the end of each day to write down how you feel. Offloading thoughts in this way can help slow down your thinking and clear your mind. Writing down the things you are grateful for can also relieve stress by focusing your thoughts on what’s positive in your life.

Relax your mind and prioritise sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is restorative and healing. It also gives you clarity in your thinking and decision-making. Even just one night of poor sleep can decrease your ability to make effective decisions and increase stress levels. Valerian root-based remedies such as Kalms Night One-A-Night can be used to promote a refreshing and restful night’s sleep, whilst Kalms Day help to promote relaxation and relieve stress.

Laugh more

Laughter releases endorphins and other healthy hormones and helps take your mind off stress. Don’t know where to begin? Please note who makes you laugh and smile and spend time with them. Read the newspaper and look for goofy headlines. Take a quick break at work to watch a funny video. Record a TV show that makes you laugh. Keep a journal of all these little things, so when you’re feeling blue, you have a pick-me-up guide.

The Kalms Range is available to buy in-store and online at Boots, Superdrug, supermarkets, pharmacies nationwide and online retailers such as Amazon or directly from the website.