This Valentine’s Day, let’s shift the focus from external gifts to the most vital relationship you have: the one with your own body. Forget the temporary fixes; true self-love is about neurological self-care. Use these five pillars to stop "getting through the day" and start giving your nervous system the attention it deserves.

1. Daily Movement: A "Love Note" to Your Spine

In chiropractic, love is a verb. Our bodies aren't built for a sedentary life; sitting for hours causes the nervous system to down-regulate.

• The Practice: A 10-minute walk or morning stretch isn't a chore—it’s a signal of safety to your brain.

• The Why: Movement lubricates joints and tells your biology: "We are safe, mobile, and alive."

2. Quality Rest: The Soil of Healing

If movement expresses life, sleep integrates it. During deep rest, your body performs essential maintenance: balancing hormones, flushing toxins, and recalibrating pain sensitivity.

• The Practice: Set boundaries with blue light and honor your sleep cycle.

• The Why: Choosing sleep over your "to-do list" prioritizes your "healing list." Give your brain the 7–8 hours of restorative peace it’s begging for.

3. Nourishment: Information Over Fuel

Food is more than fuel; it is instructions for your cells. Every choice either promotes inflammation or encourages repair.

• The Practice: Prioritize whole foods and consistent hydration (essential for water-heavy spinal discs).

• The Why: You wouldn't put low-grade fuel in a Ferrari; don't do it to the only body you’ll ever own.

4. Stress Awareness: Emptying the Cup

Chronic stress keeps you locked in "fight-or-flight," leading to shallow breathing and physical bracing. Self-love means noticing when your cup is overflowing before you hit a breaking point.

• The Practice: Use breathing exercises, therapy, or adjustments to reset your tone.

• The Why: You cannot heal a body that doesn't feel safe. Acknowledging mental health is a physical necessity.

5. Chiropractic: Caring for the Master Controller

Your nervous system dictates how you move, digest, and recover. Physical stressors, like "Tech Neck," force your body to work overtime just to fight gravity—like driving with the parking brake on.

• The Practice: Proactive chiropractic adjustments to restore motion and remove mechanical interference.

• The Why: An adjustment isn't a "magic fix"; it removes the "static" so your body can do what it was designed to do: heal itself.

The Bottom Line: Self-love isn't selfish; it’s foundational. When you invest in your long-term function, you show up better for the world. Be proactive, be bold, and trust your body's incredible ability to heal.

Your brother in Christ,

Gabriel M. Anastasio