From a very young age, one has associated the emotion of love with other people, animals, and superficial things. In the process of growing up, we have loved many people: our family, our grandparents, our friends, our pet dog and sometimes we have also fallen in love with petty things, like that dress which you believe fits you perfectly or the gift you received from a loved one.
We all are human beings and we all crave love. We get hurt and devastated in the process because we seek out love from others. We put our burden of expectations on someone else’s shoulders and despise them when they fail to fulfill them. Sometimes the way we want someone to love us is just not supposed to be like that. I know it sucks but you can’t always have things go your way. Loving yourself should not be anyone else’s duty but yours.
Things are supposed to go wrong sometimes and it is fine. You will not always get good grades, your friends will hurt you sometimes, your family will not always understand you, you might get heartbroken, you might get rejected in an interview, life might not go the way you planned it, but it is important to hold on to it as you are the most important thing in it.
I know no one taught us to love ourselves but indulging in self-love then and now is important. It will help you rejuvenate and deal with all the shortcomings. You deserve to be loved not only by those around you but by the most important person in your life — YOU.
If you are not in a good state of mind or are dealing with something which is making you anxious, here is a list of things to do to indulge in self-love. You’re always with yourself, so you might as well enjoy the company.
- Let’s go shopping
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Go on a shopping spree and take advantage of all the holiday sales. Take your savings that could be spent on dates and gifts to get a new wardrobe. Get your hands on the items you wanted for a long time but didn’t have for whatsoever reasons. You deserve dresses which make you feel beautiful and good about yourself. Also, having some extra dresses never hurt!
- Pamper yourself at a spa
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Give yourself some needed pampering by indulging in great spa time. Give your body the relaxation it needs, let your skin rejuvenate and allow your body to indulge in some soothing massage.
- Catch up with old buddies
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Friends are always an integral part of our life, but sometimes we tend to lose touch with them due to our busy schedules. Yet we do miss them, don’t we? So let go of your hesitation and call your old buddies, get back some nostalgic moments and create some fresh memories, because nothing can be more therapeutic than catching up with the one with whom you lost connection.
- Write a letter to your ex and burn it
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Dealing with some heartbreak and anger? Or didn’t get the closure you deserved and hence it’s preventing you from moving on? Write out all your feelings on a paper with all the names you want to call him and burn it. You will feel much better.
- Cook yourself a nice dinner
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Sure, it’s cute when someone makes you dinner, but it’s satisfying when you do it for yourself. Get your hands on all the ingredients from the grocery store and try the recipes you always wanted to make. And if it doesn’t come out the way you want it to be, fill your stomach with cheese Maggie, the comfort dish to fall back on!
- Write yourself a letter
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Pull out your notebook and remind your future self to remain optimistic and happy. Tell yourself that you are proud of who you are. Remind yourself that you love being ‘you’.
- Move your body
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One of the main steps to self-love is to be active. Your body needs to get rid of all the toxins — a sure way to self-love is working towards a healthier body. Make a step toward a healthier lifestyle, go for a morning walk or sign up for the yoga classes or get a gym subscription just to get your body moving.
- Put down your electronics and unplug for an hour every day
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There is so much happening on the Internet and Social Media these days, and it is exciting and engaging. But it is also very addicting, so it’s important to turn it off and unplug it for a while. Focus and do something else. Read a book, chat in person or call a loved one, draw, go for a walk outside, and spend time with nature.
- Eat right and have a good diet plan
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How can you expect to be the best version of yourself if you feel terrible? Paying attention to your diet is an important part of self-care because it contributes to how you feel as well as affects your energy level. You can exercise as much as you want, but if all you eat is junk, there is no chance that you’re going to feel good or be in good physical health.
- Get the me-time you deserve
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If you feel lazy and tired just cuddle yourself under the blanket with a box of cookies and sleep or watch movies. Because sometimes we just don’t have the energy to indulge in any productive processes, so just give yourself time and get ready to bounce back real quick!