It’s easy to put all of your energy into cultivating love for others, especially around Valentine’s Day. But this year, to truly embrace the season of love, let’s take some time to look at what Self-Love means, and how it can improve your life, because Self-Love is the root of all love.
You’ll soon find, as you put more effort into building your Self-Love, the more love you will have to give and share with others.
And while building a simple practice that improves your relationship with yourself, it also supports your physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being.
You’ve probably seen articles, videos, workshops and other resources promoting Self-Love, and our Wellness Experts couldn’t be more excited to share their favorite ways to bring this practice into your daily life.
HERE ARE 7 WELLNESS EXPERT-APPROVED WAYS YOU CAN BEGIN PRACTICING SELF-LOVE TODAY:
Before you get started, know that Self-Love is a practice that evolves and shifts with time. It doesn’t require you to be perfect or rigid. You just have to show up with an open mind and an open heart, give yourself grace and make sure to set aside just a little time for yourself.
Nourish Your Body
Simple choices like drinking enough water, eating fruits and veggies, and taking supplements can make a huge difference not only in how you feel physically, but how you feel about yourself. When you choose to nourish yourself, you become more healthy, but you also affirm that you deserve to feel your best.
Proper Sleep
Have you heard the term, “revenge bedtime procrastination”? People delay going to bed in order to engage in enjoyable activities that they don’t have time for during the day. Getting proper sleep is one of the most restorative choices you can make for your overall well-being. Create a simple 15-minute bedtime ritual to do something you enjoy, like read or drink a special cup of tea, to give you a reason to get into bed and get a full night’s sleep.”
Take Restorative Breaks
Instead of scrolling on your phone, watching TV, or browsing YouTube, when you find you have a few minutes of free time during the day, enjoy a restorative break. Even if you’re just taking a few minutes to walk outside, or you’re enjoying a quiet moment to sit in a sunny spot, taking restorative breaks will help your nervous system reset while you relax instead of zoning out.
Become More Mindful of Yourself
Start by sitting quietly and asking yourself, “What do I need in this moment?” We’re so focused on being productive that sometimes we forget to think about what we need or want. If we’re not careful, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by external demands for our time, attention, and effort. Self-Love means taking time to be aware of your own needs, too.
Prioritize Your Needs
When you have a family, a job, a pet, or any other relationship and responsibility, you’re going to have a long list of needs you need to fulfill each day. Prioritizing your own needs doesn’t mean neglecting your responsibilities, but it does mean that you take responsibility for yourself. Learning how to set boundaries around your time, attention, and energy can be very simple and effective. One example is setting a time allowance on your phone to limit app usage, so you’re freed up to spend more time exercising or reading.
Be Kind To Yourself
Who do you love unconditionally? Your parents? Your child? Your pet? Who do you love so much that you don’t try to change them, don’t judge them, and don’t think they are inherently bad or broken? Think of someone you accept, just the way they are. You know they aren’t perfect, but you love them anyway because you see so much goodness in them. Self-Love means accepting that you’re not perfect, but you are good, and you deserve compassion, patience, and acceptance.
Learn To Say “Yes” & “No”
Saying yes or no from an authentic place isn’t easy, because we’re trained to please people even when that means going against ourselves. Saying yes when you really mean no, or saying no when you really mean yes creates tension and confusion in your body. Practicing only saying yes or no when you feel good about it feel uncomfortable at first, but it grows your sense of Self-Love.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS BLOG POST:
- Building a simple practice that improves your self-love and your relationship with yourself also supports your physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being.
- Self-Love is a practice that evolves and shifts with time. It doesn’t require you to be perfect or rigid. You just have to show up with an open mind and an open heart, give yourself grace and make sure to set aside just a little time for yourself.
- Nutrition is a key component to self-love – find supplements and vitamins that can help you feel your best.
As we all set the intention and make the effort to love ourselves, we inspire others and give them permission to do the same.
At New Leaf, we believe in Living Healthy, because ti improves our lives on a micro level and also helps us begin to contribute to the improvement of our environment, our communities, and our world in ways we can’t always imagine.
Visit your local New Leaf to discover solutions to Live Healthy and make this year YOUR most love-filled year!