Learning to love and take care of yourself isn’t actually that hard
Your life will change for the better in an instant if you fall in love with taking care of yourself. Your mental health is better. You’re focused on what matters. You’re feeling better. You reject the insignificant. You don’t have time for negativity.
You are entirely focused on your success. You will become the best version of yourself. You leave difficulties behind. You act kinder. You’re in a happy place. You’re thinking more clearly. You calm down. You allow yourself and your life to evolve into something more fantastic.
What if you took the time to care for yourself, knowing that everything good begins and ends with you?
The amount of joy and pleasure we allow ourselves determines how happy we are. It’s time to stop expecting others to make you happy; you can do it yourself. You are the most important person in your life. Once you understand that, you’re on a path of deep healing.
Whatever way you invest time and money in yourself, you will learn about yourself.
If you truly engage in the activities that your soul yearns for, you become more passionate every day, and the desire to live to your full potential becomes more consistent.
The right opportunities and people will come your way, and the reality around you will change exactly as you want it to.
You don’t have to wait for the new year to change your life and start taking care of yourself. You can do it right now. It’s really important because before you take care of others, you have to take care of yourself.
Now I’ll show you how to have a healthy relationship with yourself. Take a deep breath and let’s get started!
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Now let’s talk about the basics—what exactly you can do to take better care of yourself
1. Understand the difference between self-development and self-care
Before you learn to fall in love with taking care of yourself, you must recognize that self-development and self-care are not always synonymous. Although our desire to grow spiritually and strongly is a positive one, self-development is often a bit difficult.
Self-care, on the other hand, allows us to take a breather. Learning how to develop and improve ourselves is extremely important and beneficial, but we are in the self-care business, so we must allow our minds to rest and be present with our bodies.
2. Give your mind a “shower” by meditating on a daily basis
We shower our bodies every day, but we often overlook our minds, which also require regular cleaning. It’s beneficial to begin the day with meditation or to end the day with it before going to bed.
When we meditate, our brain waves shift from beta to alpha or theta, allowing our monkey-hopping mind to calm down and process the information we received throughout the day. Meditation is an amazing tool for stress relief.
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3. Learn how to say no
I know it’s difficult at times, but you deserve to be cared for and respected. There are times in our lives when we face challenges and the expectations of our fellow humans are high, but at the end of the day, it’s still necessary to take ample time for ourselves.
Here’s how you can learn to say no without explaining yourself all the time.
4. Consider your support network
If there’s no stressful situation at the moment, it’s a good time to consider your support network: who can I call and communicate with if I need help?
Which days of the week and months can I take off from my regular job to rest and recover? Do I know what activities help me unwind? Can I switch off completely, or do I have to keep worrying?
5. Practice gratitude every day to increase your energy levels
Gratitude is a great daily habit to help you find joy even on the most difficult days. We should be eternally grateful just for being alive, breathing, and having enough food and shelter. We can consciously focus on what we want at any time.
6. Make your living space more appealing
Small changes, such as flowers on the table, can improve your mood. I pour my pineapple juice into a fancy glass before drinking it because it seems more enjoyable that way.
If you focus on how to make your daily life more enjoyable, you’ll notice that these small but significant changes have a noticeable impact on how you feel. Examine your surroundings and ask yourself, “How can I make my living environment more pleasant?”
7. Don’t forget your skincare routine
Examine the products you use in your skincare routine. Do you know why one or the other is required? And, perhaps most importantly, is it beneficial to your skin?
In addition, apply a good sunscreen like this one to your face first thing in the morning. It’s also critical to avoid overtreating your skin. To fall in love with taking care of yourself, listen to your skin’s needs rather than taking care of it for the sake of taking care of it.
8. Start a positivity journal
We can become so preoccupied with our daily lives that we lose sight of what we enjoy about them. Make it a habit to write down what you are grateful for and what brought you pleasure that day in your journal every night.
Nothing is too insignificant here, whether it’s a good snack you had or a tender moment with your loved one; in any case, write it down. This way, you can bring more joy into your life and appreciate all that is good and beautiful around you.
9. Get some exercise
Why should you get some physical activity as well? There are numerous responses to this question. The simplest answer is to be more attractive, healthier, active, and capable. Your body must feel physical exertion in addition to mental strain.
Your physical health will improve even if you work out for only 15 minutes per day. Therefore, it’s really important to take care of your body.
Instilling and expanding the habit of movement is important, and the simple principle of “less is better than none” works to some extent.
If you’re a beginner, you can do some light workouts at home using affordable resistance bands, or you can also go to a local yoga class.
10. Get away from social media and the news
You’re already aware that the news can be filled with violence, hypocrisy, and tragedy.
Because you easily absorb other people’s energies, even when watching TV or reading the news on the internet, the simplest way to love and care for yourself is to take regular breaks from watching the media in order to stay emotionally and energetically balanced.
What about social media platforms? Facebook and other social networks are great for passing the time and avoiding boredom, but they aren’t so great for expanding our minds. Taking breaks is a great way to combat your phone addiction.
RELATED: 5-minute self-care activities you can do instead of scrolling your phone
11. Increase the size of your “joy bubble”
Whenever you have a free moment, whether you’re walking, waiting for someone, or doing something else, think about something that makes you happy, makes you laugh, or makes you grateful.
Focus on this and feel this positive emotion in your body, allowing the energy of happiness to spread.
To fall in love with taking care of yourself, do this as frequently as possible. The more we are under the influence of this happiness energy, the more wonderful things begin to happen in our lives.
12. Spend more time in nature
Have you heard that the forest helps people heal? Mother Nature truly provides us with a lot of vitality and support to heal naturally. Simple things like hugging trees, walking in the park or on the beach, or going for a hike can be very effective.
13. Do nothing (or do little)
We spend so much time rushing around and carrying out the daily tasks that we forget to rest, even when we are exhausted and overwhelmed.
Instead of pushing yourself to go faster and do more, take a moment to admire nature and relax. Try anything that makes you feel relaxed—and do it for no reason.
14. Make everyday activities more enjoyable
When doing your daily chores, ask yourself, “How can I make it more enjoyable?” Cleaning, for example, is much more enjoyable when I listen to my favorite music.
Try to be enthusiastic about everything! The best way to do this is to think about how relaxing it is to hold a hot cup of tea in your hands. Close your eyes and face the sun, allowing the warmth to wash over your soul.
Being mischievous and childish does not lower your IQ. Optimism doesn’t imply naivety.
We can finally notice and embrace the light and love that have always been around us when we free ourselves from the barriers that prevent self-care and pleasure and begin to recognize both ourselves and all the good that surrounds us.
Then a truly miraculous change occurs, not only in our hearts but also in our bodies.
15. Drink plenty of water
On the surface, it appears to be a simple recommendation, but think about it: how many glasses of pure water do you drink per day? Coffee, juice, beer, and Coca-Cola aren’t included in the daily water requirement.
Here’s a motivational water bottle to help you up your daily water intake.
16. Pay attention to your sleep
Too many of us don’t get enough sleep, and it’s past time to change that. It’s also critical to consider how we spend our sleeping time.
According to research, the light from computer screens, digital reading devices, and television can disrupt our sleep, so we should turn off the television and all digital devices at least an hour before bedtime.
Instead, keep a gratitude journal like this one or read a book or magazine.
Your skin also regenerates itself in the evening, which is why getting enough sleep is critical for the skin. You could also buy a good silk pillowcase like this one, which is great for your skin and hair.
17. Keep an eye on your diet
You are what you eat. Regardless of our dietary preferences, each of us should make an effort to consume as much fresh, varied, and natural food as possible. To stay healthy and vibrant, our bodies require fresh food as well as adequate vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
Avoid taking supplements, eating junk food, and eating genetically modified foods.
How you eat is just as important as what you eat. The ancient Asians had a very wise saying: “Don’t eat when angry.” Eating should be done with calm, joy, mindfulness, and a generous heart. Feel thankful for delicious and nutritious foods.
18. Moisturize your hands
Constant hand washing and disinfection cause our hands to become extremely dry, so it’s critical to moisturize them thoroughly. It’s best to apply a moisturizing hand cream to your hands immediately after washing them.
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19. Check if your basic needs are being met
During a stressful period, sleep, eating, and general self-care can all go wrong. You may not be able to fall in love with taking care of yourself right away if you are dealing with major concerns, but if at all possible, you should sleep regularly, eat healthily, get some fresh air, and exercise.
Besides, taking care of your most basic needs aids in stress management.
20. Make a conscious effort to recharge your batteries
It can refer to a variety of things. Take a walk in nature, read a good book, or spend time with friends, for example. If you’re an overworked person who needs rest, solitude, or relocation to a different environment, you can benefit from doing nothing for an extended period of time.
21. Purchase a humidifier
You may notice that your skin is drier than usual when you are at home. This can be caused by the room’s low humidity, which dries out the skin.
To alleviate the situation, you can either purchase an affordable humidifier like this one or use home remedies to humidify the air.
You can place boiling water in a heat-proof bowl near the radiator or place a wet towel on top of the radiator. This helps to increase humidity, but be careful not to over-humidify the room. Overwatering can lead to mold growth, which you do not want in your home.
Self-regulating humidifiers are available in stores. As a result, when the desired humidity level in the room is reached, the device either turns off or switches to a lower mode.
A hot shower also has a drying effect on the skin, so I recommend avoiding it as well. If you can’t avoid a hot shower, at least avoid putting your face under running water.
22. Ground yourself daily
Yoga, standing and walking barefoot on the grass, and breathing exercises all help you ground yourself. Dancing is another excellent option. The only thing to keep in mind is that you’re doing something you enjoy. Don’t force it.
23. Stay away from other people’s drama
We can’t expect people to change if they’re unwilling to change. There are energy vampires and negative energy people among us, so we must recognize that we can’t always give our all without limits. We need to protect our mental space.
The ability to separate yourself from other people’s mind games and manipulations is essential here.
24. Make yourself attractive
It’s not vanity if you take time for yourself every day to put on clothes that make you feel good and paint your eyes and lips; it’s an important way to care for yourself and enjoy your beauty. We’re letting ourselves down if we hide in ill-fitting clothes and don’t take care of our hair.
Spending five or ten minutes every morning in front of the mirror to fix your hair, make-up, and clothes will give you positive energy for the rest of the day. It’s an expression of self-love and respect to recognize and emphasize your own beauty.
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25. Practice daily affirmations
If you’re looking for ways to improve the quality of your life through self-care practices, this is it. Practicing positive affirmations is an essential step toward living your best life.
Affirmations are statements that you can repeat to yourself regularly to reinforce positive beliefs and counteract negative thoughts. Our inner critic can be pretty harsh, so it’s important to give ourselves some positive reinforcement!
For example, you could try starting each day with a positive daily affirmation like “I am worthy of love and care.” Or, when you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts about yourself, you could counteract them with a positive affirmation like “I am capable and strong, even on a hard day.”
By regularly using positive affirmations, you can start to shift your mindset and better cope with the negative thoughts that might have been holding you back your whole life.
26. Step out of your comfort zone
Yes, the first step is usually the hardest. It requires you to actually step out of your comfort zone and do something that might seem new or unfamiliar.
Stepping out of your comfort zone allows you to experience new things and meet different people, which can lead to many good things in your life.
For example, you could try joining a new social circle or group that shares similar interests. It might take a little time and hard work to get comfortable with new people, but the important part is that you get to make new connections and broaden your perspective.
Remember, taking care of yourself is a journey, and it’s important to do it at your own pace. You don’t have to make huge changes overnight; even small steps toward good care can make a big difference in the long run. So, be kind to yourself and take little steps outside of your comfort zone.
Now you see that it’s not that hard to fall in love with taking care of yourself
How have you learned to love self-care on your own journey? How do you usually take care of yourself? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts!