Simple And Sustainable Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Self-Love (And Other Ways To Connect With Yourself)
written by Jasmine Irven
Regardless of your relationship status, Valentine’s Day offers a great reminder of the importance of love and compassion.
It’s the perfect day to reconnect with your energy, and share that light and love with others in your own life.
While this connection definitely doesn’t have to come in the form of physical gifts and spending money (I’ve included a few other ideas of ways you can connect with yourself and others below), I also know that many of us speak in the love language of gift giving and receiving, which I think is really special.
So, I’ve curated a list of a few simple and sustainable gift ideas which are sure to bring some connection and light to your week.
sustainable candles
Candles are such a simple way to bring more light and warmth to your space. They’re helpful for setting the mood and intention of the day or evening, as well as evoking certain feelings. Not just any candle will do though! Ensure the candle is sustainably sourced and is made from natural ingredients to avoid toxins entering the air as you burn the candle.
I personally like Mala The Brand, known for their eco-friendly candles. They are hand-poured in Vancouver, their jars are 100% recyclable and made from 25% post consumer material, and a tree is planted in North America with every purchase. P.s . you can use the code bliss for 10% off your purchase.
Alternatively, check out the local markets or small shops in your area which are more likely to have hand crafted candles with a focus on sustainability and wellness.
incense and incense holder
Similar to candles, incense is a great way to set the mood, bring warmth, and cleanse your energetic space.
Ensure the incense is natural, rather than covered in plastic resins which emit toxins into the atmosphere when you burn them.
Because we’re all about relaxation, we’d suggest a scent like lavender for Valentine’s Day. I’d also pair this with a cute incense holder like this one from Province Apothecary.
tea blends
Tea is a great gift for any occasion. If you’re looking for some local Canadian, small businesses to support check out Soulful Tea Blends for tea curated to support you throughout each phase of your menstrual cycle (use code JAS10 for 10% off your order!), or opt for a tea subscription service like Amoda Tea which ships you sample sizes of uniquely curated, small batch tea blends from around North America each month. P.s. Amoda Tea also has some really delicious and simple tea recipes on their Instagram page like this chocolate tea bark!
I also love the idea of making custom tea blends for those you love.
Head to a local health market, herbal shop, or spice market depending on the ingredients you are looking for, where you should be able to track down loose herbs and spices, flower buds, cloves, pods, etc. You can play around with blends yourself or follow a recipe online.
For Valentine’s Day consider a refreshing mint tea blend with spearmint leaves and lavender buds (or separate these to make 2 separate teas), or a fun floral blend with rose petals and chamomile. A warming chai tea with black tea, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom pods would also be lovely.
If you’re looking for more inspiration check out the Herbal Academy Instagram account or blog and/or consider taking a herbal course like their Introductory Herbal Course, or their Herbal Preparations 101 Mini Course (or gifting it to a loved one and taking it together!).
lavender and lemon bath salts
DIY a set of bath salts by combining Epsom salt with Himalayan salt, lavender flowers (or essential oil) and lemon zest (or lemon essential oil).
Let rest for 30 minutes or so and then sprinkle some in a bath for a beautifully relaxing blend! I’d suggest grabbing a mason jar for the salt mix and pairing it with the promise that you’ll draw your loved one a bath when they want to use them. 💛
dark chocolate
Vegan dark chocolate (75%+) is a great gift, particularly for Valentine’s Day as it has a number of benefits including being full of antioxidants, and working as a mood and energy booster.
Look for more minimally processed chocolates with fewer ingredients, when you can.
I like Alter Eco (note not all of their products are vegan, but a good selection are) and Giddy Yoyo bars, and have also heard good things about the Raw Halo raw chocolate, and Loving Earth dark chocolate.
I also am in love with Mid-Day Squares which are chocolate bars packed with protein and fibre!
book
If you know someone you love has been eyeing a book (or if you have), pick it up! This is a super sweet and personal way to let someone know you love them, and that you pay attention and listen to them.
We have a list of our current recommendations on this page, but for love day specifically we’d recommend You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero, What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey, and/or 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think // Brianna Wiest.
You could also getting them an e-book if they have a Kindle or e-reader, or an Audible membership if they enjoy audiobooks more.
airbnb/ staycation
It’s not to late to book a staycation in your area! Give yourself and/or your loved one(s) a change of scenery by picking a nearby town or city and getting an Airbnb for the weekend.
This is a way to break from your normal routines, get out of your space, and try new restaurants, cafés, activities.
infrared sauna
Great for detoxing, infrared saunas have a long list of benefits including muscle relaxation, stress reduction, pain relief, and improved circulation. Not many people invest in their own relaxation so I feel like this is such a beautiful and thoughtful gift to let people know that it’s okay to take time to disconnect and focus on yourself.
Infrared saunas are becoming more and more popular, so you can likely find one in a local spa, natural health/wellness clinic or yoga studio.
meditation or yoga class
Gifting a meditation or yoga class is another great way to give the gift of relaxation and stress reduction – especially if you know the person you’re buying for loves stuff like this but often don’t treat themselves to it.
skincare
Who doesn’t like to treat themselves to some skincare self-care time? Purchase a couple new products (we love Toronto-based company Wildcraft - get 15% off with our link - or Malibu company Osea for clean, vegan, eco-friendly products), or simply make time to use products you already have at home that often get forgotten.
essential oils
Essential oils are super versatile – they can be used for baths, morning and evening yoga and meditation rituals, in DIY wellness products, or can just be diffused in the background to evoke specific feelings.
For Valentine’s Day, consider getting essential oils that revolve around peace, love, and relaxation. I’d recommend lavender (one of the most common oils for evoking calm and a great starting point), spearmint (a stimulating scent but is great for slowing down and relaxing your body), or rose (magnetic energy that brings in love).
And, if you/they don’t already have a diffuser, I’d recommend getting one from Saje – I have this Aroma Om Diffuser in white and absolutely love it.
other ways to practice love and self-love
colour
Colouring is such a great way to connect with our inner child and our inner creative. Pinterest is a great place to search for beautiful colouring pages if you don’t have a colouring book! Or consider checking out your local second-hand shop to see if there are any lightly used colouring books.
bath
Draw a bath for yourself and be sure to include bath salts, essential oils, and/or some dried flowers or dehydrated fruit to upgrade the experience.
Having some products on hand like a body scrub (you can buy this or DIY it with some brown sugar, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, etc.) and moisturizer (coconut oil works great on its own for this) can also be great ways to upgrade your experience.
(P.s. make sure you also have a cup of cold water nearby to sip on while you’re bathing as hot water can be very dehydrating!)
Finally, I’d suggest setting the mood with some candles and relaxing music, and grabbing your favourite book.
at-home spa
There’s no need to spend a ton of money at a spa if you don’t have it! Instead simply take some time to pamper yourself at home.
Consider setting up a facial station (boiling some water in a pot, adding some optional essential oils, and then safely holding your face overtop with a towel over your head and inhaling deeply – being careful not to get too close), doing a face mask, showering, using a body scrub and moisturizer, and sitting down with some tea.
read
Because we rarely seem to make enough time to read and yet it’s something so many of us say we want to do more often! Set aside some uninterrupted time with a new or favourite book, a cozy blanket, and your favourite warm drink.
cooking or ordering take-out
Either trying something new or preparing a meal you know and love! Or, in contrast, if you’re always cooking, consider taking the night off and relieving some pressure by ordering take-out.
watch a fave show
Sometimes all you need is a night off to watch back-to-back episodes of your favourite Netflix special with no judgement. And we’re here for that.
walk in nature
Connect with the outdoors; without your phone, without responsibilities, just mindful walking.
burn incense and do some mindful breathing
Burning incense is one of many beautiful ways to experience the effects of aromatherapy.
Pick a scent that correlates with your intention (for example lavender for relaxation, cedar for grounding, or spruce for refreshing), and invite the energy of the scent into your breathing practise and environment as a whole.
movement
Go to a hot yoga class or another workout class to get some energy in your body flowing!
do a mini life edit
Show yourself and/or your space some love by taking an audit of some of the things in it: people, physical objects, clothes, food, your online presence, etc. Ask yourself what is no longer serving you and take this as an opportunity to clear space.
massage
We’re always into this idea. While self-care doesn’t need to involve spending money, if you have the means to do so, booking an appointment like a massage, facial, or manicure can be a great way to treat yourself in a new and exciting way.
Or, simply give yourself a massage to connect with yourself a little more deeply.
journal
Consider doing a gratitude or self-love journal practise: what are 10 things you love about yourself? What are 3 things you love about your life? What are 5 things you’re grateful for? What can you do to bring more happiness to your day.
Looking for a daily journal practise? Check out this post on morning pages (it includes a guide + writing prompts for beginners).
meditate
There are so many forms of meditation it’s incredibly easy to find one to speak into any feeling you may be experiencing.
If you’re looking for something related to love, try a metta (loving-kindness meditation) practice! The general idea of this practice is to connect with your heart and offer love to yourself and others through a mantra meditation.
You can find these guided online or consider guiding it yourself by following this basic structure.
First, sit in a comfortable position, sitting upright, lengthening your spine (but not so much though that you’re uncomfortable) and relaxing your body.
Focus on your breathing and bringing awareness to your breath.
Think of a happy memory. Conjure up the feelings associated with this happiness, and the love you felt. These are the feelings you want to send out during your meditation.
Connect with the person you are sending the love and kindness to by holding their image in your mind. The general structure for this type of meditation is to send love to yourself first, then someone who has shown you kindness, then a family member or friend, then someone neutral (i.e. someone you have no feelings towards), then a person you actively dislike, and then all beings on the planet.
As you call up their image, repeat a mantra like “may they be well, may they be happy, may they be healthy, may they be at peace.” Imagine yourself extending your love to these people.
Take your time with these. Then when you feel you’ve completed, slowly bring your awareness back to your body, back to your breath, back to the room, and slowly opening your eyes.
Whatever you decide to do this Valentine’s Day, I hope you use it as an opportunity to connect through love with yourself and others. Share below how you’re spending your day so we can all get some inspiration from you. 💛
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about the author
Hey there! I’m Jasmine, founder of the Sustainable Bliss Collective, a Certified Meditation Teacher, and lover of all things self-care, slow-living, and personal development.
I believe that ambition and self-care can coexist, and as such I hope to encourage and inspire you to take care of yourself, breathe deeply, connect with who you are, manifest your dreams, enjoy the blissful moments of each day, and make an impact in this beautiful world we call home.
Connect with me on Instagram here!
