Valentine's Day is creeping up on us and I know that for some this can be a day that is dreaded. Maybe if you're single and you wish you weren't, if you've just gone through a break up, or you just cba to see all these soppy couples all over your IG feed. 

This Valentine's we're ready to change the narrative at SWEAT SZN...it's all about SELF-LOVE.

Loving yourself, your body, your mind, learning about who you are and what you desire, and figuring out how you are going to get there. 

I really feel that the most important thing is to make the relationship with yourself the best it can be, and then any other relationships you have will prosper, or new ones will fall into place. Sometimes you can entertain the wrong things with the wrong people because you haven't yet mastered loving yourself. It's ok to take a moment for yourself, gather your thoughts, think about what really makes you tick. It's ok to be selfish if it means that you rediscover yourself, your happiness and your peace.

• CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS. Think about the great things you have done in your life, things that made you feel good and gave you a sense of fulfilment. Even if these things seem small, remember them, cherish them and feel proud of them. 
• DISCOURAGE NEGATIVE SELF-TALK. My friend Harriet once told me when I was feeling a little down... 'Go to the mirror, look at yourself, tell yourself you're amazing and remember who you are'. I loved this so much and think it's something we should all take on board when we're feeling a little unsure of ourselves.
• BE GRATEFUL.Remember all of the things that you are thankful for in your life. Write them down or note them in your phone. Look at them every week as a reminder that you have so much to be grateful for, life is good and you deserve it all.
• SURROUND YOURSELF WITH LOVE. The people you spend your time with has a huge impact on your self-love. Be around those who feed your soul, not eat it. It is so important to have friends/family who are on your wavelength, who uplift you, who make you love life and yourself. 
• SET BOUNDARIES. Following on from my last point, don't be afraid to set boundaries with the people in your life who aren't uplifting you. Don't let anyone drain your energy or make you feel uncomfortable. You can meet like-minded people via apps such as CLIQ (linked further down).
• SELF-CARE. Indulge in taking care of yourself, physically and emotionally. Do the things that make you feel good, whether that's walking outside, talking to friends, working out, eating good food, or all of the above... do that.

I've gathered together some of my favourite quotes as inspo for you on your self-love journey. So save them, screenshot them, share them with others and help spread the self-love wave...

So we've got some words of inspiration and we're going to be so full of love for ourselves this Valentine's that we can celebrate the day of love comfortably!

With this in mind, I've put together some ideas of fun things to do:

• Go see the 'Bob Marley: One Love' at the cinema, the film tells the story of his life and is released on V Day itself
• Book a brunch or dinner, if finance permits...nothing better than some soul food and chit chats with your bestie
• If finances do not permit, go for a long walk with friends or join a community group. There's an app called CLIQ which gives you access to so many different clubs in you area and is a great way to meet new people. We have our own club on there which you can join for our future events too. Have added the link below...
• https://share.thecliq.app/clubs/9aaaf124-e82c-4edd-9270-a5a416cf0e2a
• Lastly you could try a little retail therapy. Elevate your everyday active wardrobe with the new SWEAT SZN SPORT collection. Nothing gets you motivated to move like a new outfit. We have a special discount for our blog readers. Use code 'BLOG25' to get 25% off your order!

I hope you found this blog post worth the read and that I've inspired you to start a self-love journey, or love yourself even more than you already do this Valentine's Day. Whoever you decide to spend it with, whether it's your partner, your bestie, your family or just yourself I hope that you feel love, give love and celebrate love!

Lots of love, Amy x