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What to get your own damn self this Valentine’s Day

By Vanessa Nirode

|Updated
Practice self love this Valentine's Day, because sometimes it IS all about you!

Practice self love this Valentine's Day, because sometimes it IS all about you!

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Valentine’s Day is about showing the important people in your life how much you love them. The one person in this situation we all tend to neglect is ourselves.
 
Self-appreciation (and gifting) is an excellent way to reflect on all the difficult things you’ve done and accomplished which experts say builds confidence. In a world where we’re often met with images and media suggesting that we’re perhaps less than adequate, a self-confidence boost can never hurt – nor can giving ourselves permission to take care of ourselves.
 
No matter if you’re in a relationship or not, it’s still perfectly acceptable to give yourself a treat on this national day of celebrating love. You deserve it.
In light of this, here’s what to get your own damn self this Valentine’s Day.
 
Casper the Glow Light

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According to research, more than one in three Americans don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis. For many of us, winding down from a busy day can be a difficult feat at times. This little glow light from Casper, with its self-dimming warm hue, helps to naturally lull your body to sleep. It also works great as a portable witch or fairy light to illuminate your nighttime strolls.
 
Nano Ionic Facial Steamer

Not only does this device function as a facial steamer, but you can also use it as a humidifier and a towel warmer. The nano steamer uses heat and an ultrasonic (meaning it utilizes high-frequency vibration to produce mist) vaporizer to create nano ionic steam which can be more effective at penetrating skin than regular old steam. Clean pores are happy pores.
 
Luxury Cotton Robe

For a mere $35, this 100% cotton, terry robe can’t be beaten. The unisex sizing makes it comfortably oversized and always cozy, perfect for wrapping yourself in after a long, hot bath or shower. The included bath slippers are a step or two up from the disposable variety but their low profile means they’re a great slipper to slide into your carry-on bag for use on long-haul flights to visit your long-distance beau. 

I have long been a proponent of sending flowers to yourself. The Verona bouquet, named after the town where Romeo and Juliet took place (romance, drama, beauty, and tragedy) features both full-sized roses and spray roses mixed with hypericum berries. And science supports the idea that flowers can help us feel less depressed, anxious, and agitated.
 
Ritual KonMari Intention Setting Kit

Intention-setting rituals, or the idea of putting positive thoughts out into the universe and manifesting good situations, can help us explore and recognize feelings of gratitude and possibility (two things that many of us find elusive at times). This kit includes rose quartz which is thought to have emotional healing properties, a palo santo and sage wand, a beeswax candle, bath nectar, and anointing oil – all the ingredients you need to create your own intention ritual.
 
Heatable Bear Friend

There are times when all of us, no matter what age we are, need to curl up on the couch with a teddy bear. This plush bear takes the stuffed animal comfort thing up another level with its calming lavender scent and microwaveable-ness. If you’re a person with chronically cold hands, consider also the hand-warming “supersized” sloth.
 
Stemless Wine Glasses

These stemless mason jar wine glasses are perfect for a night in with a good book or Netflix binge. Made from thick, sturdy glass, they hold 21 ounces of liquid so you don’t have to keep extracting yourself from your couch cocoon to get a refill.
 
Theragun Mini

For all your muscle aches and pains, the Theragun Mini provides a deep tissue massage in a compact package – because not many of us cannot afford regular professional massages. Especially useful for those of us who routinely ask our bodies to do occasionally nutty things like long-distance runs or day-long cycling adventures.
 
Bala Bangles Wrist and Ankle Weights

Made from steel-wrapped soft silicone, these ankle and wrist weights are perfect for adding (the right kind of) resistance to your home workouts and/or your daily walk. They come in a variety of colors like seafoam, blush, and sage making them stylish as well as functional.
 
Cooling Handmade Chunky Knit Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets have been shown to help ease anxiety and promote calm. The only problem is many of them are stuffed with fillers that make them hot and stuffy. This chunky knit blanket from California Design Den Store is airy and breathable while still delivering ten to fifteen pounds of comforting weight.
 
Sndyi Scalp Massager

Do you know how good it feels when you get your hair washed at a salon? This little scalp massager from Snydi allows you to replicate that feeling in the comfort of your own shower while exfoliating your scalp and reducing oils and potential dandruff. Made from wheat straw and food-grade silicone, this brush won’t cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment.
 
Esarora Ice Roller

An ice roller uses cold therapy to calm your skin, relieve muscle pain, and promote lymph circulation. They’re for soothing puffy eyes and sunburns, and may even prevent facial wrinkles. Some people also report that ice rollers provide them relief from migraines and/or sinus headaches.
 
San Francisco Indoor Skydiving

Treating yourself to an experience is a great alternative to the “buying too much stuff” problem. Fulfill your dream of flying at this indoor skydiving one. During the lesson, you’ll learn how to float in an 800-horsepower vertical wind tunnel. After the training session, your instructor will guide you in a free-fall experience.
 
Beginner Surf Lesson

In this two-and-a-half-hour surf lesson, you’ll learn the basics of surfing including safety, paddling mechanics, how to catch waves, and how to get up on the board. Hosted by Adventure Out, a National Surf School and Instructor Association accredited class. 
 
Painting Class

If you’ve always wanted to take a painting class, Valentine’s is the perfect occasion to gift yourself one, especially since art can also be a form of meditation. In this 90-minute session at Glow, you’ll be given a 12x16-inch canvas and the personal attention needed to guide you on your meditative, artistic journey. You’ll leave the class with your painting and (hopefully) a renewed feeling of calm.
 
Silent Disco Beach Yoga at Bake Beach

As the saying goes: the cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea. Add in some disco and you’re sure to feel better about whatever it is that ails you. Disco beach yoga includes practicing yoga while wearing headphones that deliver zen beats and instruction directly into your ears while still allowing you to hear the waves.
 
Mindfulness and Nature Hike

Gift yourself a mindfulness experience with this thirty-minute nature hike in Wildcat Canyon, followed by meditation, yoga, and journaling (journals and pens provided).
 
Remember, the most important relationship in your life will always be the one you have with yourself. (And it’s always okay to give that person a Valentine’s Day gift that reminds them (you!) of that fact). Though self-care has become a rather overused marketing buzzword, there is still truth in the idea that we need to take care of ourselves in order to be able to take good care of those we love. And what better day for both of those than Valentine’s?

Vanessa Nirode is a freelance writer who covers wellness, tv/film culture, outdoor adventure, and e-commerce for Hearst Newspapers, HuffPost, PopSci, Threads, and others. She’s also a pattern maker and tailor for film and television but most of the time, she’d rather just be riding her bicycle.