Loving yourself on Valentine's Day The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself.

You wake up the morning of Feb. 14, still single. You yawn, because you realize there is absolutely no point in Valentine’s Day without a Valentine. And this is a natural thought; the day is filled with beautiful — if not cheesy — fairy tale romances and a seemingly endless stream of social media posts celebrating relationships that you can’t experience for yourself. But what you don’t realize is that Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romantic love; it’s also an opportunity to celebrate you; it’s a reminder that the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself.

What is self-love?

Oxford Languages defines it as “regard for one's own well-being and happiness (chiefly considered as a desirable rather than narcissistic characteristic).” Essentially, it is what it sounds like: to love and care about yourself.

It is an essential psychological practice that can enhance self-esteem, foster confidence, and boost overall life satisfaction. It also can play a major part in alleviating mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, and stress, and it can even have a positive impact on physical well-being.

Why self-love?

Research suggests that, when practiced, self-love puts you in a state of mind that promotes positive habits such as eating well, staying active, and practicing stress relief techniques, according to Psych Central. Positive mental health can, in turn, encourage healthy lifestyle choices, such as acknowledging the importance of nourishing your body and eating well.

For your physical health, self-love can improve immune function, cause better glucose control in individuals with diabetes, and enhance relaxation, according to The Emily Program.

But practicing self-love, cultivating it, isn’t always as easy as it is made to be. The words “practice self-love” can be carelessly tossed around, but we live in a culture that emphasizes physical attractiveness and tangible possessions, which can make it difficult to truly appreciate who we are. Scrolling through social media, you see everyone showcasing their seemingly perfect lives—flawless beauty, luxurious vacations, and material successes. As you view these images, you may start to compare your own life to these curated snapshots of happiness and success, which can lead to feelings of social anxiety and low self-worth.

How to boost your self-love

By practicing mindfulness techniques such as meditation or deep breathing exercises, you can cultivate a greater awareness of your inner self. This awareness helps you appreciate your qualities and strengths, improving your relationship with yourself.

Self-care plays an important role in loving yourself as well; those high in self-love nurture themselves every day through healthy lifestyles and routines, like exercise, healthy social interactions, and enough sleep.

What many struggle with at times is setting boundaries for themselves. Society may be pressurizing, but the ability to say “no” is still there, waiting to be said to activities or relationships that harm you physically, mentally, or emotionally.

Most have a tendency to be harsh on themselves as well, constantly striving for an ideal or perfect version of themselves that is often unrealistic. No human is ever going to be perfect — it’s best to live in peace with the fact rather than bring down your own self-esteem by constantly fighting it. It isn’t bad, it’s being human.

Additionally, make it a point to identify and appreciate at least one thing about yourself every day, no matter how minor it may seem. It could be a trait you like about yourself, or a task, of whatever size, that you completed that day, but celebrating these small wins can deepen your sense of self-love.

So maybe you’re single on a day associated with celebrating relationships. Maybe you’re not. If you want to see change, you must start with yourself, and the same applies to love: If you want to be able to love and be loved, you must first learn how to love yourself.