Love Yo’ Self & Treat Yo’ Self

How to practice self-love and self-care - MP Edition 024

Practicing self-love and self care will help you on the road to happiness. However, it can be challenging because it often feels selfish to focus on ourselves but practicing self-care and self-love does not mean you’re self-absorbed or narcissistic. It’s about getting to know what you need in order to improve your well-being and ultimately, happiness. The importance of self-love is about feeling confident in your own skin, and practicing self-care helps you recharge your energy and refocus your brain. 

Without self-love or self-care, you may experience:

• Constant tiredness and fatigue

• Irritability 

• Poor sleep 

• Muscle tension

• Chronic illnesses 

• Anxiety

• Paranoia

• Reduced time with loved ones 

• Feelings of depression 

• Low self-worth

• Insecurity

While self-care and self-love go hand in hand, there’s a nuanced difference between the two, and we’ve compiled some ways you can practice both. 

Self-love

Self-love is about nurturing and developing both gratitude and acceptance toward yourself -  both physically and emotionally. Self-love is accepting yourself for who you are and committing to your personal growth. At its core, self-love is simply loving yourself, deeply and unapologetically. 

1. Reframe your thoughts in a positive way

2. Accept your flaws and see the beauty in them

3. Stop comparing yourself with others

4. Celebrate wins, both big and small

5. Establish boundaries

6. Start saying no

7. Put yourself first when making decisions

8. Take time for yourself - it’s ok to not go out and stay in

9. Stop apologizing 

10. Practice self-care (more on that below)

It’s important to note that while sometimes practicing self-love is mind over matter, these techniques are not meant to replace medical advice. If you are ever unsure or feel you might be depressed, please consult your doctor.

Self-care

Think of self-love as the foundation. The next step in your happiness journey is self-care. Self-care means looking after your physical, emotional, and mental needs. These days, everybody has a side hustle or a second job. This means that burnout is very real which makes taking the time to take care of yourself is more important than ever. 

Without self-care, you can often be stressed, sick, and tired. Without taking the time to care for yourself, you’ll also miss out on important things, like spending time with your family and friends or doing what makes you happy. 

1. Put on a sheet mask and jade roll

2. Go to a yoga class

3. Meditate 

4. Read a new book

5. Clean your house 

6. Spend time with loved ones

7. Try something you’ve never done before

8. Get outdoors and enjoy nature

9. Exercise 

10. Get a mani-pedi

11. Unplug from technology 

12. Spend time alone

13. Journal

14. Take a walk

15. Take a bath

16. Get a massage 

17. Binge watch a show 

18. Take a nap

19. Eat your leafy greens

20. Indulge in a guilty pleasure snack

These are just suggestions on how to practice self-care. It’s important to remember that everyone is different. What is considered self-care to you, may not work for someone else. It’s definitely not one size fits all. Spend some time trying out the suggestions above and finding out what’s important to you, and most importantly, what makes you happy.