Have you ever felt like you've lost your friends since becoming a mum? If you have, you're not alone. Maintaining friendships takes a lot of effort, an effort we'd honestly rather be spending on keeping our household and our sanity afloat. Seeing all the celebrations around us on February 13, you might find yourself mourning the loss of many of your platonic female friendships. But you don't have to! Here's a list of self-love rituals you can practise for Galentine Day ... and every day thereafter. After all, your first best gal is worth celebrating on this day, too: YOU.
Further reading: 15 Valentine's Gifts to Get for Yourself
Self-love rituals for single mums on Galentine's Day
Start your day with affirmations
If you're not doing this already, you're missing out on a powerful way to set your intentions for the day. As soon as you wake up, smile at your reflection in the mirror and recite positive thoughts to yourself out loud. You can create your own "I am" affirmations or find one online. Beanstalk Mums has an incredible list of mantras for your well-being and for meditation. Check them out to find something that resonates with you. I promise this simple practice will boost your self-esteem and confidence.
Write yourself a letter
There's truly nothing better than having female friends, and Galentine's Day is here to show them your appreciation and gratitude. Still, don't forget about the little girl inside who's been with you and will be with you forever. Sometimes, it takes just a whisper of "thank you" to connect with her. But you can make things more special ... like writing a letter to yourself.
My friend Chaire uses an email service provider that allows her to send letters to her future self. She has been doing this for almost ten years but says she still gets excited whenever she receives one on her email. You can do the same or take the snail mail route - either is perfectly fine!
Take a long, warm bath
Honestly, when was the last time you took a proper shower since you became a mum? We're busy, sure, but self-love also involves looking after yourself. Take this unofficial holiday to pamper yourself. Grab a bath bomb or a shower gel that you really like. Light up some scented candles. Take out your best towels from the closet. Pour yourself a glass of wine to enjoy.
Take it up a step and go to the spa for your much-needed pampering. Whether it's a full-body massage, mani-pedi, facial, or body scrub, I promise you'll feel fresh and so much better after.
Self-love rituals for single mums (cont.)
Buy yourself flowers
Thankfully, the days of thinking this is "just for losers" are behind us. Sending yourself a beautiful bouquet is one of the best ways to practise amour propre. Flowers are luxurious, special, and — let’s be honest — not cheap. Treating yourself to a bouquet or even a single stem shows that you believe you deserve something extravagant and beautiful just because.
Take yourself out on a date
Thank god going on a date with yourself is not seen as something weird anymore. It doesn't have to be a 5-star restaurant, but something you will really enjoy. Treat yourself to a cup of expensive tea and a pastry in a cosy café. Go to the library to read the book you've been putting off because of your hectic schedule. Go on the beach by yourself. This is a great time to check in with yourself emotionally.
Can't bring yourself to leave the house? You can also set up a special dinner for yourself after tucking the little ones to bed.
Create your sacred space
Do you have a space in your home you consider sacred? If not, this is the time to set up one. It's the one spot in your house that you associate with calm and warmth. It can be a book nook, a small table with your religious articles, or your personal self-love altar filled with cleansed crystals. You can decorate your special spot with the comfiest rugs and throw pillows. Have some incense or candles in your favourite scent. Here, you can sit in silence and read, pray, or meditate.
Remember, you can say no to invitations from your gals
Finally, if you're lucky enough to still have female friends who would want to spend Galentine's with you but you're not feeling like it, you can say no! In the end, true soul sisters won't leave you just because you decided to skip on a night out. Real girlfriends accept and respect that you have a completely different life now, especially now that you're a mum.
Conclusion: Self Love Rituals for Galentine's Day
You might think you're missing out on being with your female friends on Galentine's Day now that you have become a mum. But the truth is, this is a perfect time in your life to date your first best friend, your true ride-or-die: yourself. Use this time to create a self-love ritual to appreciate yourself for your strength, courage, and resilience.
What's best about these habits is that you can take anyone and make it a part of your lifestyle. The key is to make these practices intentional. It doesn't matter if you make it a part of your morning ritual as long as you're doing it regularly. Making it a point to be truly loving to the little girl inside you will make you realise that, actually, you're not missing out on a lot.
Because when you nurture yourself, you’re not just surviving motherhood ... you’re thriving. So this Galentine’s Day, celebrate the friendship that’s been with you all along: the one with that gal that's within you.
