Self- love is a very important part of taking care of yourself that many of us overlook or are not aware of. Self-love is not a simple concept—each and every one of us have our own interpretation of it. I encourage you to take some time to think about how you can show yourself some love and appreciation. It can be as simple as cooking your favorite meal, or as extravagant as saving up to buy that designer bag you have saved to your Pinterest about 50 times.
A statement that I firmly believe is that having a clean home will help you to have a clear mind. Take an afternoon, or three, to deep clean your living space. Break out the vacuum and crack open a tube of Clorox wipes. Finally clean off that one chair that always has a pile of clothes on it and wipe down your mirrors so you can actually see your beautiful face. Something that always motivates me to clean is a great playlist. Blast some tunes and get to cleaning. Trust me, walking around without stepping on anything or seeing old takeout containers will make you feel all kinds of happy.
With all of these gadgets and gizmos everywhere, we often forget the importance of the hand-written word. A really easy way to give yourself some much-needed appreciation, is to write down a list of all your best qualities. This list is for you, nobody will ever need to see it. You can put it through a paper shredder after you finish if that’s what you want. We have all had that moment where someone asks what we like about ourselves or what aspect of our self we are most proud of. This question is almost always followed by a series of awkward umm’s and I don’t know’s. Nothing bad will come out of you making a list that proves how amazing you are. If you are feeling especially mushy, invest in a gratitude journal. Don’t put pressure on yourself to write every day; we need to set realistic goals for ourselves. A few times a week, fill out a page and then look back at what you have previously written. This book will become a great pick-me-up for those days when you need a little extra lovin’.
Another statement that holds a lot of truth is, “When you look good, you feel good.” We all know this one. A fool-proof way to setting yourself up for a good day is to leave the house feeling confident. There have been countless days where I leave the house feeling unsure about my appearance and it has put a damper on my entire day. This may seem superficial, but it is very true. Make sure you do your laundry, so your favorite shirt is clean as often as possible, always shower and keep your breath smelling minty fresh. These simple things will allow you to focus on more important parts of your day, rather than constantly wondering if the girl behind you in lecture can tell you didn’t wash your hair.
Last but not least, get some fresh air! Ask some of your best friends if they want to join you for lunch al fresco, take your dog to the beach in winter or to a nice hiking trail, go explore a new neighborhood or walk to a café to get your morning coffee instead of making it at home every once in a while. It’s old news that fresh air is good for the soul, but we still seem to do a rubbish job at getting outside. Appreciating your surroundings will allow you to appreciate yourself. If you have perfect attendance, or have yet to use your personal days, take a day off and go to that museum you keep hearing about, or take a pasta making class. Don’t use your free time to lay in bed and think of things to do without ever doing them. Go out and see what there is. You never know what you might find.
These are just basic ways to get started on your path to self-love. I hope that by implementing these small adjustments to your daily life, you will be able to appreciate who you are and feel proud of yourself. Remember that everyone goes through a rough patch every so often, and that it is ok to not be 100% all of the time. Even if it is only for five minutes, take the time to recognize your worth and show yourself the love you not only need, but deserve.