“Loving yourself isn’t vanity; it’s sanity.” – Katrina Mayer
I agree with the above statement. Loving yourself is not about vanity or even narcissism, it is about retaining yourself and recharging yourself after a distressing time. We are often told that it’s important to take care of others, love others as you would yourself, but then why are we not told ‘how to love yourself?’
It’s not wrong to love and care for others, the problem comes when we forget to love ourselves before we love others.
Self-love is a simple concept. Loving yourself means caring for your needs, wants, and desires first. Many of you will say that isn’t it selfish?
My answer; absolutely not!
Instead of being selfish, the act of self-love is about making sure you’re taking time to recharge yourself before you can be there for your loved ones. If you’re not loving yourself, how will you help others or love others?
Why Does Self-Love Matter?
Self-love isn’t complicated, at all. It’s as simple as reframing your self-talk. It can mean being kind to yourself when you make mistakes or it can mean taking a few days off to do things you love.
Self-love is about loving yourself before you love others. Did you know that loving yourself can have many benefits, including:
Improved sleep
Better eating habits
Stress management
Improves resilience
And even though loving yourself is important for your overall wellness, people hardly practice it. Below, I’ve listed 20+ things to do to love yourself more each day.
“How To Love Myself?” 20+ Ways To Love Yourself
1. Take A Break
It’s common for people to become emotionally drained when caring and loving others. And while loving others is commendable, you need to be able to care for yourself as well. Take breaks to recharge your emotional energy. Sleep in, watch your favorite movie or read uninterrupted. That can be self-love for you!
2. Therapy Is Self-Care Too
Taking care of yourself, mentally, is sometimes the best love you can give yourself. Working with a therapist can help you improve your weaknesses, create new (and better) strategies for self-care, and improve your mental health.
3. Nature Is A Healer
Nature is therapeutic, and spending time in the fresh air with people you love (or in solitude) can put a smile on your face. Try to go on a hike with your friends, bike ride alone, or just sit and be present in nature.
4. Adopt A Pet
Not only do you gain a family member, but you also get unconditional love from your pet in return! So many shelters have pets that need a good, loving home. Bring a pet home. If you can’t adopt one, try to volunteer in a pet shelter or babysit a friend’s pet.
Test Your Personality By Taking this Test Pets And Personality | What Does Your Pet Say About You
5. Cozy Home Equals Cozy Hearts
Home is your sanctuary where you can lay your head down and feel all the stress vanish. Try to fill your home with things that bring you joy. Add some plants, some pictures, some memories, art you love, etc. A cozy home is all you need to love yourself sometimes.
6. Go On A Digital Detox
Go on a digital detox by putting your phones in ‘do not disturb’ mode. Try to avoid mindless scrolling through your social media. Be aware of what content you’re consuming and how much. Once in a while, switch off your notifications and be present in more than just a screen.
7. Say ‘No’ When Needed
You can’t say yes all the time. Sometimes saying ‘no’ is the act of loving yourself that you deserve. You are not obligated to do something you can’t handle. If you are not comfortable with doing something, say ‘no’.
8. Eat Mindfully
Yes! Meals are another way to show how much you love yourself. This doesn’t mean that you eat all unhealthy meals, either. Mindful eating is much preferred. Take time to enjoy the food you’re eating, the taste, the texture, the scent, etc.
9. Read, Read, Read
It’s very easy to tell ourselves that we don’t have the time for reading, but this simple activity can be a great escape. Just reading one chapter a day can be considered as an act of self-love.
10. Exercise Can Be Good
Taking out a few minutes every day to exercise – physically or mentally – is another simple self-love activity. At first, you may find it hard to exercise every day but once you make it a daily habit to go for a walk (30 minutes would do), you’ll find exercising a lot more fun!
11. Remind Yourself That You’re Worth It
So you might be caught in negative self-talk and it’s ok. All you need to do to improve your self-talk is to remind yourself that you’re worth it and nothing is wrong with you. You deserve all the love in the world and you need to remember this. You can try to stick some positive affirmations around the house to better remind yourself.
12. Meditate
Meditation has many benefits including improving self-awareness, self-compassion, and promoting self-love. All you need to do is close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and let your thoughts be. Check out this LKM meditation for beginners!
13. Organize Your Clutter
A cluttered space equals a cluttered mind. I know that cleaning up might not be something you would want to consider as a ‘loving myself’ activity but having a clutter-free space will help you improve your focus and destress.
14. Self-Care Is Self-Love
Did you know that self-care acts such as going for a massage, pedicure, or even a haircut counts as loving yourself? Next time, you need something to love yourself, go ahead and pamper yourself. It will feel great, trust me.
15. Set Boundaries
You are entitled to your personal boundaries and no one can say otherwise. Setting boundaries is not only self-care but self-love too. You don’t always have to say yes or go with what others ask you to do. Sometimes saying no is what needs to be done.
16. Write It Down
What are you most grateful for? Write it down. The little things that bring you joy, be grateful for them. Write down the things that anger you, frustrate you, or even disappoint you. Penning your thoughts is a great way to express care and love.
17. Soak In A Bubble Bath
Bathing in a warm bubble bath can be a stress reliever. Light some scented candles, dim the lights and use some bath bombs. If you’re up for a bathing meditation, go for it. Try to block out the distressing thoughts and focus on the water temperature, sounds, and feelings.
18. Go On A Date… With Yourself
Spending quality time with the ones you love is great, isn’t it? Instead of planning a night out with others, go on a date with yourself. Enjoy your company, do something you truly love, and enjoy. Focus on yourself for once.
19. Engage In Your Hobbies
What is it that makes you feel good? Writing, reading, creating music, painting, sculpting? Whatever they are, find time to engage in your hobbies. Your hobbies are a great way to say that you’re taking time to do something that you love.
20. Just Breathe
Conscious breathing or mindful breathing is another way to love yourself. By practicing this, you’re making sure that you’re focused on yourself and your surroundings if you’re stressed. You can try other breathing techniques such as box breathing or 4-7-8 breathing.
21. Try Something New
It might not sound like a good self-love act but challenging yourself can be rewarding. Try to find an activity that is new to you and that challenges you. For example, if you like cooking, you can try to find a new recipe to try!
22. Connect With Your Inner Self
If you’re a spiritual person like me then you might find solace in finding and nurturing your spiritual side. Pick a book on spirituality, talk to people who share your spiritual beliefs, or connect with your spiritual community. It’s a great way to love yourself. All of yourself – mind and soul.
23. Cry Your Feelings Out
Okay, I know that it might not sound like it’s a good way but crying your heart out is a great way to love yourself. Not only you’re letting your feelings out but you’re also allowing yourself to bond with your loved ones.
Did you know that crying is good for us? Find out here!
24. Phone A Friend
I know that when I feel alone or stressed, calling my friend or a loved one improves my mood, immensely. Whether you believe it or not, calling a friend is a way of loving yourself. In this way, you’re allowing yourself to share your concerns with a loved one and hear their advice.
25. Get A Good Night’s Rest
Again, one of the most important ways of self-love is to allow yourself to get a good night’s rest. Sometimes, we often feel anxious and distressed because of the lack of sleep. Sleeping in can help restore your body’s balance.
Don’t just read these self-love tips, but try to implement them in your daily life. You deserve to love yourself every day. Instead of trying everything, try to pick the easiest of these ideas first and see how well you commit to them. If they feel comfortable enough, try to employ them in your daily life.
Loving yourself is an approach where you can’t go wrong. There’s no right or wrong, no black or white when it comes to loving yourself.So if you’re wondering, “How do I love myself?” look no further!
I hope the above-mentioned simple ideas can help you to love yourself more. For more, you can always reach out to us at info@calmsage.com or follow us on social media to stay in touch!
Loving yourself more than others is not selfish but rather a way to remind yourself of your self-worth.
Love yourself, always!
Take Care.
The post Fall In Love…With Yourself: 20+ Simple Ideas To Start Loving Yourself More! appeared first on Calm Sage – Your Guide to Mental and Emotional Well-being.