Self-Love: 5 Ways to Love Yourself
Often, we spend more time taking care of others, putting our loved ones first, and doing whatever we can for everyone else while putting ourselves last. There is a benefit in taking care of others; however, the lack of self-care and self-love catches up with you.
You may find yourself feeling stressed, irritable, and frustrated all the time. With all of life's distractions and obligations, the key to self-love is valuing your desires, wants, and needs. You must make sure you have time to build yourself up.
What Does Self-Love Look Like?
The practice of self-love doesn't have to be difficult. Self-love can be as simple as setting boundaries for yourself. Self-love looks like, if you want to say no, say it, and don't feel guilty about it. Or self-love can look like taking a day off work just to reset.
There are several ways to practice self-love. Here are five ways to help you get started.
1. Improve Your Self Talk
What we say to ourselves, we tend to believe, and from time to time, we've all been guilty of negative self-talk. Make a conscious effort to notice negative thoughts and turn them into positive ones.
Leave positive affirmations around your home or write positive notes about yourself to help you think more empowering thoughts. A couple of good examples of a positive affirmation or note, "I believe in myself" or "I love myself for who I am."
2. Practice Self Care
Daily self-care is an essential part of loving yourself. You want to make time to take care of your mind, body, and soul. Here are a few examples of self-care:
Healthy eating
Exercise 30 minutes a day
Pamper yourself
Go on a vacation
Meditate
Learn something new
Spend time with people you enjoy (friends, family, etc.)
Make a list of things you love to do or choose the examples above, focus on them, and notice how good they make you feel.
3. Rest/Sleep
With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can be difficult to simply get enough sleep. Allow yourself a day of rest. When your body doesn't get enough sleep, it can open the door to health and mental challenges.
When your body has enough time to sleep, it can heal and refresh itself. Your immune system gets a chance to fight off inflammation, and your brain can process the day.
4. Go After Your Dreams
Focusing on your goals and going after them is an act of self-love. The key is to think about what you want and then plan how to reach that goal. The next step is to put the plan into action.
As you continuously take the steps needed toward your goal and start making progress, you will feel good about yourself and want to keep going. No matter big or small, your determination and focus will help you succeed.
5. Treat Yourself the Way You Treat Loved Ones
Treat yourself like you would treat your mother or significant other. Check-in with yourself to see how you are doing. Give yourself compliments. Try practicing loving yourself in your love language. Buy flowers or something nice for yourself. Look in the mirror and say, "I love you."
We all have a particular way of showing love. How do you show love to your loved ones? Nurture the relationship with yourself the same way you do with others. The most important relationship you will have is the one you have with yourself.