There are so many ways that we can show ourselves a little self-love. It can be as simple as being mindful to what we allow our thoughts to be, how we choose to wake up in the morning, pausing for a breath, going to yoga, enjoying a relaxing bath, going for a walk, etc. I believe that taking the time to show your self some love is imperative to your well being. In its’ simplest form, self-love is being kind to yourself. When we are kind to ourselves, we become more optimistic, create better habits, and hopefully feel a little less stressed out. If you feel unsure of how you can show yourself some self-love I’ve put together a list of my go-to acts.
Treat yourself as you would a friend
The amount of love you give to your friends and family is the same amount that you should be showing yourself. Encourage yourself just as you would your best friend. Hold space for your emotions to release like you would hold space for a friend who needed a shoulder to cry on. Remember that at the end of the day you are with yourself more than anyone else. You are with your thoughts, judgments, attitudes, and actions every moment. So think about how you would want to be treated and do that for yourself.
Time in the morning
I’ve come to realize that when I take time for myself in the morning to get ready, I am in a much happier mood throughout the day. Think of it as: if you don’t have enough time for yourself in the morning why would you feel like you have time to give to someone else. Creating time for myself is something I struggle with because I stay up late working yet need to be out the door by 6:45 am to be at work on time. When I make myself get out of bed with enough time to enjoy a shower and snuggle my cat I am 10x more pleasant to be around.
8 hours of sleep
Honestly, I do not get 8 hours of sleep every night, but I try to have a couple of nights a week where I set the alarm to go to bed on time. I feel like I don’t need to really lecture anyone on the importance of sleep. We all know we need quality sleep for our health. To promote better sleep, you can rub lavender oil on the soles of your feet and enjoy some reshi hot cocoa or a herbal tea with honey. Other things that help me fall asleep are Olly’s Restful Sleep gummies or listening to a nighttime meditation like Calm’s Sleep Stories. My favorite is the story Wonder narrated by Mathew McConaughey
Skincare
There is something about taking the time to treat my skin that is so therapeutic. Whether it’s taking a bath with my Lush bath bomb and Epson salt, an at-home facial, or dry brushing, nurturing your skin is an act of love. I have found some of my favorite skincare products through self-care subscription boxes like La La Life Box. They introduced me to OSEA, Orgaid sheet masks, Reves de Sabine Petal lip and face polish, Yuni moisturizer and my first jade roller. For me, it is essential that the items I chose to put on my skin are clean beauty items. When a brand has taken the time to create products that are good for your skin intentionally, they usually take the time to consider their impact on the environment during production and delivery as well. Plus, skin is the largest organ of the body, and it absorbs everything that you put on it. So don’t you want to feed your skin with as much care as you feed yourself?
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Mindful Movement
We each have our unique way of moving into a meditative state. For me, it is flowing with my breath in yoga until the motions become a moving meditation. For others, it is going on a run, dancing, boxing, etc. Mindful movement is what brings us into a state of stillness where thoughts can drift away, and you can feel present in the moment. All you need is a few minutes.
Intuitively you know what you need to feel loved because you have everything you need within yourself. We are each unique so the acts that I do to fill my cup will probably be different than what makes you feel full. I would love to know what some of your favorite ways to show self-compassion are in the comments below!
*This post does contain affiliate links. If you chose to purchase from one of the links I do make a small profit which helps me pay my bills.
