3 Ways to Bring More Love and Connection into your Life!

“They say love is the best investment: the more you give, the more you get in return” – Audrey Hepburn

Do you want more love in your life?

February can be a tough month for some of us, where all we want to do is bundle up, stay in and hibernate. But with Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to talk about love!

Our health and wellness are influenced by our sense of connection to others. Human beings are social beings, and research shows that those who feel like they are part of a community tend to live longer, healthier lives.

So what can we do? Pick one (or more) of the following tips to focus on this month:

1. Love yourself

This is so important but often hard for a lot of us. We are frequently our hardest critics but how can we expect others to love and support us if we don’t love and support ourselves?

Things you can do:

1. • Treat yourself regularly, whatever that means to you – maybe it’s a nice warm bubble bath at the end of the day, savouring a warm beverage, or reading a good book.

   • Write yourself a love letter. Write down things that you love about yourself, or if you find that challenging, things you’ve done that you’re proud of. Keep this letter handy and look at it when you’re feeling down.

2. Spend time with your tribe

When life gets busy, it’s easy to lose touch with our friends. And juggling many roles, like motherhood, family life and work life, can make it even more challenging to find the time to see our friends.

Things you can do:

1. • Reach out to a friend that you haven’t talked to in a while. Schedule a phone call, FaceTime or Skype, or coffee date to catch up in person.

   • Schedule regular outings with your friends. My group of friends organizes regular girls’ nights at restaurants where we get to catch up while discovering new restaurants and eating delicious food. Think of something you’d like to do with your friends and make it a regular habit!

Looking for new friends? Join a class doing something you love or try something new. Whether it’s a book club, art lesson, or yoga class, you’re likely to meet like-minded people and bond over the activity you’re doing together.

3. Nourish your relationship with your significant other

It’s so easy to take each other for granted. I’ve been with my husband Sean for 11 years now, and since we’re raising a family together and busy juggling two careers, life can go by without us taking the time to connect. But it makes such a difference when we take the time to slow down and spend quality time together.

Things you can do:

1. • Write down all the things you love about your partner to remember why you fell in love with them in the first place. This is even more powerful if you both do it and share each other’s lists!

   • Organize a fun activity to do this month – whether it’s cooking a nice meal together once the kids go to bed, cuddling on the couch and watching a movie, or going out for a fun activity. Mark it in your calendar and make it non-negotiable.

Which tip will you try? What are some things that you do to ensure you have lots of love in your life? Let me know!