How to Love a Little Differently This Valentine's Day

Are you feeling the pressure to plan an extravagant date or find the perfect gift for your significant other?

What if, instead of focusing on romantic love this Valentine's Day, we expand our thinking and love beyond our romantic relationships?

Here are 3 ways to rethink how, who, and what you show love to this Valentine's Day:

1. Show the planet some love

Think beyond the scope of loving people, and work together to show the eartha little love this February. With small changes and just a little effort, you can have an impact on the health of the planet.

 

Here are 5 practical ways you can show the planet some love this Valentine's Day: 

1. Clean up your community. Grab a pair of gloves, a garbage bag and a trash picker and spend a few minutes picking up garbage in your neighbourhood or at a local park. This can be a great way to get your kids involved in thinking about how their actions impact the world around them, for good and bad.
2. Learn about your municipality's garbage and recycling guidelines. You may be surprised at some of the materials that you can sort to be recycled instead of trashed. Reorganize your garbage and recycling centre in your home to help you collect the right materials for curbside pickup and/or taking to the depot yourself.
3. Make a sustainable swap.Think about one way you can cut down on waste in your home. Maybe it means treating yourself to a new glass mason jar tumbler instead of disposable single-use water bottles; or picking up a set of beeswax wraps instead of a new roll of plastic wrap.
4. Plant a tree.Add some green to your own backyard, or consider gifting a tree instead of sweets this February. Not only are trees a beautiful symbol of growth, they also contribute to the health of the environment by cleaning the air you breathe, filtering the water you drink and providing a habitat to countless other plants and animals.
5. Choose reusable when on the go. If you're planning to treat yourself to a triple shot mocha at a local coffee shop or take-out sushi for dinner, don't forget to bring your reusable mug, containers and bags. Designate space next to your front door or in your car to store a reusable cup, container and bag so you always have them on hand. It's a habit that will reduce your single-use waste while on the go, and it will very quickly become second nature to reach for those practical reusable items!

Loving the planet can be as simple as rethinking your everyday purchases, and reorganizing your home to produce less waste.

Gather a few of your besties, choose one or two ideas from this list and spend your Valentine's Day making the world a little brighter.

 

2. Show your body some love

The time for a little extra self-care is now.

Much of our time is spent considering the needs of others, but are you giving your own bodythe physical, mental and spiritual care that it needs?

Consider what you are putting into your body. Avoid overly processed foods in exchange for nutrient-rich, natural and local ingredients. Stay away from health and beauty products and even drinkware that expose your body to harmful toxins.

Make time for exercise, existing hobbies, or the chance to learn something new. These activities can be a great way to connect with others too!

Give yourself permission to buy something you've had your eye on for weeks now, or to get rid of something that's been holding you back.

Self-care might mean booking a morning at the spa to recharge after dropping the kids off at school, treating yourself to fresh eats at a local cafe, or leaving the dishes for another day so you can curl up on the couch with that book you've been meaning to finish for weeks.

Whatever this looks like for you, give yourself the space to treat yourself in the ways that mean the most to you this Valentine's Day.

3. Show one another some love

Be a generous giver. Look beyond your closest relationships and bless others around you with a simple gift that shows them you care.

These gifts don't have to be extravagant. They can be as simple as a small mason jar full of your favourite Valentine's Day candies (conversation hearts, anyone?!) or a note of encouragement.

When you sit down with your children to help them write out valentines for their classmates, ask them who else they could write a little note for. Maybe it's the school bus driver or crossing guard, or the mail carrier. A handwritten note from a child is the perfect way to brighten someone's day!

Embellish your Valentine's Day gifts with our FREE printable mason jar valentines! With two unique designs in full colour and black and white versions, our FREE printable valentines make great gift tags or valentine cards.

Download your FREE printable candy hearts mason jar valentines HERE.

Download your FREE printable 'Spread the Love' mason jar valentines HERE.

Stuck for easy gift ideas? 5 Simple & Sweet DIY Valentine's Day Gift Ideas