Did you know that today is International Friendship Day? The time to call your bestie and tell her how important she is to you.
Spending time with my friends is the way for me to take care of myself.
Of course I love a fresh bouquet of flowers in the house, some me-time in the bathroom, disappearing into a good book... These are all small moments of pampering, good for an instant feeling of happiness. But real self-care requires more!
My ultimate self-care tip? Spending time with my friends.
Good friends make life more beautiful and fun. Friendship also has an impact on your health. According to an American study, those who have a rich social life are more active and suffer less from stress. I can agree with that, although I personally believe more in quality than quantity. Better a handful of real friendships than 20 superficial friends.
Invest in 1 on 1
Of course I love pleasant evenings with a group of friends around me. But honestly? I enjoy an evening of 1-on-1 attention for each other even more. There are no taboos between my very best friend and I. We tell things as they are, without disguising them. Everything is negotiable. When I need to refuel or have a self-care moment, I know she is always there for me.
Don't forget to smile
And then of course there are my besties. Open a bottle of wine and each other... that's all we need for an evening full of fun. Conversations about the fun (and less fun) things in our lives, discovering that we all actually have the same questions (and no one is perfect) and above all... laughing at each other's jokes and blunders. Humor is often really the best medicine. Tip: whoever laughs first in a group gives the others a feeling of relief and perhaps makes them laugh themselves. Give it a try!
Be yourself
True friends want to know you for who you really are. So don't pretend to be anything other than who you are. Don't fake a good mood if you're sad deep inside. True friends don't walk away from you when things don't go well. In good days and bad, that's what friendship is all about! My friends make me feel incredibly accepted in everything I do. That feeling is priceless.
Dankjewel, merci, thank you!
Deep down, your girlfriend hopefully knows how important she is to you. Still, it's always nice to hear that from you. Tell your girlfriend you like her. Thank her for those kind words when you were down, brighten her day with a funny WhatsApp message or send a sweet card in which you mention what makes her so special.
Because we didn't want to let the day of friendship pass by and we have had to miss our friends far too often in recent months, we designed these super fun SELF friendship cards. We give you a free set with every order. Ideal to surprise your bestie! (promotion valid until 31/8)
A small gesture of gratitude that really makes a big difference!
To friendship!
love,
Team SELF
