How To Love Yourself – 32 Simple Ways To Practice It

Taking care of yourself should always be a priority. You should love yourself and put your well-being above everything else. If you struggle to understand how to love yourself, this article could be just the thing you need. Self-care brings peace and happiness in life. It helps you face the challenges bravely and come out of them successfully. It provides you with renewed vigor to achieve new goals in life.

Self-care doesn’t only mean bodily care; while it is a part of it, it also includes things like taking care of your mental health, physical health, hobbies, and much more. The moment you stop taking care of yourselves, you start losing happiness and peace in your life. As a result, you will struggle to achieve things. This article lists a few effective ways to show yourself some love. We hope you try them and see the results. Keep scrolling!

32 Ways To Practice Self-Love

Self-love doesn’t need to be difficult. It could be as basic as changing how you communicate with yourself or showing the same compassion towards yourself as you would to a loved one. It could also be more complicated, such as taking a break from work to recharge. You just need to feel that you love yourself the same way that you love other people.

Jenna Ryan, a blogger, shared her journey toward self-love. It was marked by a profound realization that the fulfillment she sought externally was, in fact, an internal process. She expressed, “All I wanted was love. All I did was long for it. I did not know what love was (i).”

There are myriad ways to practice self-love. Listed below are some fantastic ideas you can employ to show your body, mind, and soul some TLC.

1. Take A Break!

It is not unusual to feel tired as you try to satisfy the needs of others, especially when you are a caregiver. When your dependents reside in your home, it may be even more difficult to make time for yourself. But it is essential to take a break. Just sleep in, watch a movie, or eat without interruption — you deserve it.

2. Schedule A Therapy Session

Your therapist can assist you in identifying areas where there is a need to boost your mental health and develop strategies to achieve it. Book a session and vent if you need to.

3. Enjoy In Nature

Fresh air can be a great source of relaxation, and outdoor activities with loved ones will boost your morale to a great extent. Go on a hike with your partner or a bike ride with your children. You can even plan a solo weekend in the countryside just to lie back and enjoy.

4. Adopt A Pet

There are many animals who need caring homes. The unconditional affection that we receive from our furry friends can be a real happiness booster. However, if you are considering adoption, ensure you are committed to housing the pet for its full lifetime, which could be years or decades.

If you are not equipped to adopt at this moment, volunteering can be a viable alternative.

5. Buy Things That Bring You Joy

Home is your safe space, your place of refuge. Make sure you fill it with things that bring you joy, such as photos of happy times, living plants, or some artwork that you have made.

6. Go Screen-Free

Stop focusing on your screens all the time and switch your phone to ‘do not disturb’ mode in the evenings. Replace binge-watching web shows with healthier hobbies like gardening or birding.

7. Learn To Say ‘No’

It is impossible to please everybody. Once you learn to say ‘no,’ it allows you to accept the tasks that you can manage and turn down those that may stress you. However, if you decide to say ‘yes’ to someone, don’t forget to set healthy boundaries.

Did You Know?

Individuals with a strong sense of self-love are more likely to form healthier relationships and navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience.

8. Eat On Your Own

Take the time to eat on your own — whether it is your favorite dessert or a complete meal. Don’t share your meal with anyone. Mindful eating is a way to make this process more revitalizing. Reduce distractions by turning off the television and mobile phone.

9. Indulge In Reading

It is easy to convince yourself that you don’t have time to devote such a simple pastime. However, leisure reading can be an excellent escape from the not-so-great reality. So, push yourself to read just one chapter a night.

10. Sweat It Out

Regular exercising yields amazing results for your mental and physical health. What’s more? It is not necessary to exert yourself. A 30-minute walk will be perfect to reap all the benefits.

11. Lock The Door

If you live with a spouse or children who barge in unannounced, try locking the doors whenever you need to. You are entitled to some alone time.

12. Avoid Negative Self-Talk

We are often too hard on ourselves for things we might have easily forgiven others for. However, this negative self-talk needs to stop. To create a positive environment, you can post notes all around your home, mentioning things you admire most about yourself.

13. Splurge On Shopping

It is difficult to decide to spend money on yourself, especially in times of financial stress. However, small (and sometimes large) expenditures can make us all a little happier. It could be as simple as getting that coffee that doesn’t qualify as an economical purchase.

Did You Know?

The practice of self-love has ancient roots, with historical figures like Aristotle and Epicurus advocating for self-care and appreciation as essential components of a fulfilling life.

14. Meditate

A good way to start your day is to find a comfortable and tranquil spot at your home and meditate for 10 minutes. Relax your eyes and concentrate on your breath, heartbeat, and the goals you set for the day. If you do not have the habit of meditating, start by spending just a minute every day and then gradually increase the time until you build the habit of meditating for 10 minutes.

15. Take Out Time For Little Things

Pampering yourself is a form of self-love. Get your nails or hair done from the salon or have a lavish lunch with a friend. If you are budget-conscious, pamper yourself with a homemade facial mask, DIY manicure, or a massage at home. Just unwind and relax!

16. Organize Your Space

If you are stressed out due to clutter, try to get rid of it and enjoy the benefits of having an organized and clean space. If you are not in the mood to invest enough time, commissioning a professional to take care of it isn’t a bad idea either.

17. Ask For What You Want

Depending on your loved ones for assistance, space, and time is also an act of self-love. Whenever you need something, do not hesitate to speak up and ask.

18. Set Boundaries

You are free to draw your boundaries and adhere to them. There’s no obligation to explain things to people or allow them the opportunity to bargain.

19. Maintain A Journal

Make time to document your thoughts, disappointments, frustrations, and emotions. Write the things you are grateful for, the goals you would like to achieve, or the things that make you smile. Sometimes, penning our thoughts down on paper is among the best healing activities we could do.

20. Run A Bath

Turn on cozy lights, bring out the scented candles, and sprinkle some Epsom salt into your warm bathwater. Your bathtub is another ideal spot to indulge in some peaceful ‘me’ time. If you are looking to do some meditation during your soak, consider engaging all your senses to pay attention to the way that water feels, looks, and sounds.

21. Scroll Through Feeds

For certain people, social media may be a source of discontent. For others, however, it could provide a respite from the world and a moment of unfocused entertainment. If the latter is the case for you, explore the space for some zero-guilt leisure.

22. Cut Down On Social Media

In case the explosion of mindless content annoys you each time you log in, you might want to consider temporarily disabling your social media accounts.

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), meeting the minimum recommended levels of physical activity would help prevent 11.5 million new cases of non-communicable diseases by 2050. This included nearly 1 million cases of type 2 diabetes, 3.5 million cases of depression, and 3.8 million cases of cardiovascular diseases.

23. Revive Connections

Spending time with those we cherish can be rejuvenating. Make plans for a night out with your friends or your partner. Focus on chatting and enjoying the time together.

24. Dance It Out

Put on your favorite songs, open your windows, and move that body! Dance the woes away!

25. Make Time For Hobbies

Painting, writing, editing photos, gardening, or solving puzzles — you should consider putting an hour aside specifically for the activities that drive your passion.

26. Try Mindful Breathing

With one hand resting on your stomach and the other resting on your chest, feel your breath flowing through your body. Focus on your breathing whenever you experience stress, feel overwhelmed, or want to clear your mind.

27. Set Goals

There are things that we all would like to achieve. But sometimes, taking notes and thinking about the steps required to accomplish the goals can make them appear more feasible and achievable.

28. Cook A New Dish

Even if you are not a fan of cooking, search for a recipe that sounds appealing to you. Then set aside some time to create it on your own. Hands-on activities like cooking help you spend some time alone and whip up the most exciting rewards, too!

29. Address Your Spiritual Needs

To help your soul rejuvenate, choose a book on a spiritual subject. Read it every morning and reflect on it throughout the day.

30. Cry It Out

As it turns out, crying may have certain advantages. It enables better emotional regulation and facilitates bonding with your loved ones. In addition, a good cry helps you feel light and stress-free.

31. Get Some Shut-Eye

One of the basic forms of self-care is giving yourself the rest you require. Getting a good seven to eight hours of sleep will help you wake up rejuvenated, ready to take on the day.

32. Daily Affirmations

Start your day by speaking out positive affirmations loudly. You can say anything positive standing right in front of the mirror, such as “You are beautiful! You have got this!” to “I am confident! I am enough! And I deserve to be happy!” These affirmations can help you develop a sense of compassion and kindness for and confidence in yourself. They can also combat the self-sabotaging behavior that usually makes you hate yourself. You end up feeling energetic, upbeat, and motivated to kickstart the day. Most importantly, they lower anxiety and stress, improve your self-esteem, and prepare you for the challenges ahead. It is good to always remind yourself to love yourself out loud, as it makes it more real.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I love myself?

Thinking negatively about yourself, comparing yourself with others, and not realizing your worth can make it difficult for you to love yourself. These old, negative mental habits might have served you well early in life to impress your parents or to achieve more at school. However, now the constant inner criticism isn’t helping you like it used to. It has outlived its original purpose.

What happens if I don’t love myself?

If you do not love yourself, you will gradually start blaming yourself for everything that does not happen right in your life. Your personal and emotional development gets affected by such a mindset and you may develop insecurity too, attracting more people to your life who love you as little as you do

Watch the following video to uncover the art of practicing self-love. Explore some practical tips, and ways to foster a deeper, more compassionate relationship with yourself.