Love Yourself: Self-Care Inspiration for 2022
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Happy Valentine’s Month!
Love is all around, and we are big fans of spreading love, in all its forms, to the world around us. We can assume that you are too (it’s easy to show love and kindness, right?) and yet so many of us struggle with the idea of loving ourselves. Why is that?
‘Loving yourself’ can be a loaded phrase for some people. It might look different for each person based on how they were raised and what was modeled for them in their relationships. But loving yourself is more than just giving yourself a hug, or a pat on the back, or saying “I love you, (insert name here”).
Love for others starts with self-love. And self-love starts with simple acts of self-care.
Love is all around, and we are big fans of spreading love, in all its forms, to the world around us. We can assume that you are too (it’s easy to show love and kindness, right?) and yet so many of us struggle with the idea of loving ourselves. Why is that?
‘Loving yourself’ can be a loaded phrase for some people. It might look different for each person based on how they were raised and what was modeled for them in their relationships. But loving yourself is more than just giving yourself a hug, or a pat on the back, or saying “I love you, (insert name here”).
Love for others starts with self-love. And self-love starts with simple acts of self-care.
What is self-care?
It might be good to first explain what self-care is not. Self-care is not the same as being selfish or self-indulgent. It’s also not in the same category as basic personal hygiene, getting some sleep or even taking the odd holiday.
Self-care means taking care of all of your needs - your physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, and mental needs - so that you can take care of others. We often talk about the importance of keeping your “tank” or “cup” filled. That’s exactly what self-care does. And it helps you be and become the best version of yourself. Not only do you deserve it, but you need it.
A lifestyle of self-care should be planned, prioritised and pursued with the help of healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle.
Self-care means taking care of all of your needs - your physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, and mental needs - so that you can take care of others. We often talk about the importance of keeping your “tank” or “cup” filled. That’s exactly what self-care does. And it helps you be and become the best version of yourself. Not only do you deserve it, but you need it.
A lifestyle of self-care should be planned, prioritised and pursued with the help of healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle.
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Here are some simple ways to prioritise self-care in your daily routine
1. Love your body
Slow down
The main idea here is to know your limits and remind yourself that you are (surprise!) human. Try and create a habit of setting aside a block of time (ideally 24 hours) where you simply rest. No work, no errands, no meetings, no running around, no chores, no busyness - nothing that you can’t get done any other day of the week. This can be difficult at first if you’re used to going, going, going. But your body needs this.
Slowing down could look like:
Exercise
Moving your body is such a good way to feel good. Vitamin D is an added benefit to being outside, and you can exercise alone, with a partner or even in a group for added motivation. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to exercise. Don’t run if you hate running. Decide what kind of movement feels good for your body and the season of life that you’re in, and do that. Exercise should be fun!
There are many ways to work in a workout:
Eat nourishing food
You’ll be amazed at just how changing the way you eat can make a difference to the way you feel. Eating more whole, healthy,
utritious foods and less junk can do wonders for your digestive system, blood sugar, energy levels, and mood. You’ll feel less bloated, more alert, have more stamina, and just feel lighter and more yourself.
There is also an important link between the health of your gut, your mood and your mental health, so be sure to eat a diet rich in fibre and nutrients and low in sugar and processed foods.
Here are just some ways to nourish your body better:
The main idea here is to know your limits and remind yourself that you are (surprise!) human. Try and create a habit of setting aside a block of time (ideally 24 hours) where you simply rest. No work, no errands, no meetings, no running around, no chores, no busyness - nothing that you can’t get done any other day of the week. This can be difficult at first if you’re used to going, going, going. But your body needs this.
Slowing down could look like:
- Going to bed early
- Sleeping in
- Taking a nap
- Sitting outside with a cup of tea or coffee
- Reading a book in bed
- Watching TV
- Doing breathwork or meditating
Exercise
Moving your body is such a good way to feel good. Vitamin D is an added benefit to being outside, and you can exercise alone, with a partner or even in a group for added motivation. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to exercise. Don’t run if you hate running. Decide what kind of movement feels good for your body and the season of life that you’re in, and do that. Exercise should be fun!
There are many ways to work in a workout:
- Go for a walk or a run
- Do a weekend family bike ride or hike
- Head to the beach and do a long walk along the shore
- Take a class like Zumba, Pilates or yoga
- Do some lengths in the pool
- Take the stairs instead of the lift
- Have a dance party with your kids
- Take dance lessons
- Play your favourite sport
- Join a local action sports team or five-a-side soccer team
Eat nourishing food
You’ll be amazed at just how changing the way you eat can make a difference to the way you feel. Eating more whole, healthy,
utritious foods and less junk can do wonders for your digestive system, blood sugar, energy levels, and mood. You’ll feel less bloated, more alert, have more stamina, and just feel lighter and more yourself.
There is also an important link between the health of your gut, your mood and your mental health, so be sure to eat a diet rich in fibre and nutrients and low in sugar and processed foods.
Here are just some ways to nourish your body better:
- Eat really good snacks like nuts, seeds and dried fruit
- Eat lean meats like chicken, fish and turkey
- Enjoy a smoothie or freshly squeezed juice
- Eat wholegrains like seed bread, brown pasta
- Add veggies and legumes to anything you can
- Take a daily probiotic
- Try extra nourishing foods like bone broth and soups
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
2. Love your mind
Unplug
When last did you completely switch off from the ‘noise’? We live in a fast-paced, overstimulating world, where thousands of things compete for our attention. Looking after your mental health and peace of mind is essential to your wellbeing. So unplugging from your devices on a regular basis is a good place to begin. Your social media feed is usually an illusion - it’s a highlight reel of incomplete stories. If what you consume is making you feel bad, it’s time to change your digital diet.
This is an area where you would need to evaluate how ‘connected’ you are digitally. You know yourself and your limits better than anyone else, so you would need to decide what you need at that moment. Social media and other apps can be addictive, so limiting all that endless scrolling will take practice. It’s a good idea to have something to replace it, like reading a book or exercising.
Here are just a few ideas that could help you ‘unplug’ in the digital age:
Unwind
Allowing yourself to decompress is one of the best acts of self-care you can give yourself. If you pause long enough to catch your breath, and really tune in to your body, you’ll soon become aware of how much stress and tension your body might be holding.
Shallow breathing, a tight jaw, stiff back and shoulders, poor posture, strained eyes, dull headaches, feeling ‘wired’ or highly strung… all these are physical signs of stress. Prioritising self-care will help you manage and relieve stress.
Ways to decompress and unwind:
Declutter
If you need order and structure to function and thrive, then regular decluttering and organising is a good habit to nurture in your life. More and more people are adopting minimalist lifestyles because of the way that order and simplicity makes them feel.
Have you ever felt the urge to clean a room or the house before you feel ready to start a simple project? You’d be surprised at how overstimulating and triggering clutter can be from a sensory perspective. There’s something about working through small decluttering projects that can leave you feeling satisfied, organised, clear-headed, accomplished and de-stressed.
Here are some ideas to help you start decluttering:
When last did you completely switch off from the ‘noise’? We live in a fast-paced, overstimulating world, where thousands of things compete for our attention. Looking after your mental health and peace of mind is essential to your wellbeing. So unplugging from your devices on a regular basis is a good place to begin. Your social media feed is usually an illusion - it’s a highlight reel of incomplete stories. If what you consume is making you feel bad, it’s time to change your digital diet.
This is an area where you would need to evaluate how ‘connected’ you are digitally. You know yourself and your limits better than anyone else, so you would need to decide what you need at that moment. Social media and other apps can be addictive, so limiting all that endless scrolling will take practice. It’s a good idea to have something to replace it, like reading a book or exercising.
Here are just a few ideas that could help you ‘unplug’ in the digital age:
- Switch off your phone for a block of time (half a day, 24 hours, a whole weekend)
- Switch your phone to flight mode during times of rest, reflection, or silence
- Delete social and news apps that drain you
- Do a social media and news app ‘fast’ or take a break
- Maintain work communication boundaries
- Drive in silence
- Remove work email from your phone
- Use an alarm clock instead of your phone
- Have a TV-free weekend
- Read a book
Unwind
Allowing yourself to decompress is one of the best acts of self-care you can give yourself. If you pause long enough to catch your breath, and really tune in to your body, you’ll soon become aware of how much stress and tension your body might be holding.
Shallow breathing, a tight jaw, stiff back and shoulders, poor posture, strained eyes, dull headaches, feeling ‘wired’ or highly strung… all these are physical signs of stress. Prioritising self-care will help you manage and relieve stress.
Ways to decompress and unwind:
- Meditation, silence, prayer
- Focused breathwork
- Closing your eyes
- Sitting in silence
- Stretching
- Gentle exercise
- Mindful eating
- Journaling
Declutter
If you need order and structure to function and thrive, then regular decluttering and organising is a good habit to nurture in your life. More and more people are adopting minimalist lifestyles because of the way that order and simplicity makes them feel.
Have you ever felt the urge to clean a room or the house before you feel ready to start a simple project? You’d be surprised at how overstimulating and triggering clutter can be from a sensory perspective. There’s something about working through small decluttering projects that can leave you feeling satisfied, organised, clear-headed, accomplished and de-stressed.
Here are some ideas to help you start decluttering:
- Organise your workspace or office desk
- Re-organise your pantry or food store cupboard
- Clear out your wardrobe or closet
- Declutter the drawer of ‘random stuff’ (yup, we all have one)
- Organise items in uniform containers, and label according to colour, size, etc.
- Clean out and re-organise your fridge
- Pack away things that aren’t used regularly
- Find a place for everything
- Give stuff away that you don’t need or no longer use
- Sell unwanted items online
- Have a garage sale
- Start recycling
- File away all documents and paper-based items
- Clear and organise your email inbox and computer files
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3. Love your soul
Pursue your passions
Before you were a wife, husband, an employee, a partner or a parent - you were a person. A person with passions, a personality, dreams and interests. Of course, life happens and sometimes those things get pushed aside for a while. But you owe it to yourself and to your family to pursue the things that make you feel fully alive. Having a passion and purpose will make you a better parent, spouse, partner and friend.
Start by reflecting on who you were, who you are, and who you are becoming. What fills your tank? What gets you excited about life? What makes you think to yourself, “I was made for this!” If you’re not sure, ask those closest to you - they’ll help you remember. Don’t overthink it - just do it!
How to start pursuing your passions:
Pursue healthy relationships
We were never meant to do life alone. No matter what our culture says is most important, people will always be the key to living a happy, healthy life. Your relationships are like plants - they need to be nurtured and watered so they can thrive. Life gets busy and hectic, but you will always see fruit when you sow good things into your relationships.
How to nurture good relationships:
Pursue personal growth
When regular self-care eventually becomes a habit, you might come to a place where you are challenged to grow, to take a step forward, or even take a leap of faith. Whatever personal growth looks like for you, start with something that is easily achievable. Make a list of a few areas where you want to see significant growth or change in your life. Then start with one.
Here are some personal growth ideas to get you started:
We hope this blog inspires you to prioritise the things that make you happy, healthy and fulfilled. You deserve it.
Before you were a wife, husband, an employee, a partner or a parent - you were a person. A person with passions, a personality, dreams and interests. Of course, life happens and sometimes those things get pushed aside for a while. But you owe it to yourself and to your family to pursue the things that make you feel fully alive. Having a passion and purpose will make you a better parent, spouse, partner and friend.
Start by reflecting on who you were, who you are, and who you are becoming. What fills your tank? What gets you excited about life? What makes you think to yourself, “I was made for this!” If you’re not sure, ask those closest to you - they’ll help you remember. Don’t overthink it - just do it!
How to start pursuing your passions:
- Schedule it in: book that appointment, save the date, reach out to that friend
- Buy the stuff: order those art supplies, buy that book, save for those running shoes
- Get ready to do the things: prepare your space, lay out your supplies, dust off that instrument
- Then… do the things: Go! Play! Write! Read! Run! Repeat!
Pursue healthy relationships
We were never meant to do life alone. No matter what our culture says is most important, people will always be the key to living a happy, healthy life. Your relationships are like plants - they need to be nurtured and watered so they can thrive. Life gets busy and hectic, but you will always see fruit when you sow good things into your relationships.
How to nurture good relationships:
- Prioritise one-on-one time with your family
- Have coffee with close friends regularly
- Do group walks, hikes or bike rides
- Check in with friends who are struggling
- Look for opportunities to be generous
- Look people in the eye
- Be a good listener
- Make an effort with things that matter to people
- Make time for date night
- Try to build bridges, not burn them
- Apologise when you’re wrong - especially to your kids
- Work on being approachable
- Look for ways to connect
Pursue personal growth
When regular self-care eventually becomes a habit, you might come to a place where you are challenged to grow, to take a step forward, or even take a leap of faith. Whatever personal growth looks like for you, start with something that is easily achievable. Make a list of a few areas where you want to see significant growth or change in your life. Then start with one.
Here are some personal growth ideas to get you started:
- Learn something new
- Go to therapy
- Know your strengths, weakness and limitations
- Make a list of goals
- Start a journal
- Read every day
- Say ‘no’ when you want to say ‘no’ - no matter what
- Take a course
- Take steps to overcoming a fear
- Write a letter to your future self
- Ask for help and feedback
- Learn from people who are where you want to be
- Avoid negative, toxic people
- Start a personal blog
- Start a side hustle
- Have a hard conversation
- Do a 30-day challenge
We hope this blog inspires you to prioritise the things that make you happy, healthy and fulfilled. You deserve it.