There are all kinds of love in this world, but nothing is as great as self-love. No, I’m not being a narcissist here, but we all know how often we overlook our needs just to please others. Before we expect anyone else to love us, we need to get familiar with our inner being. If you don’t know who you are, how can you expect someone else to be with you for the years to come? In order to let someone else fall in love with you, you need to start loving yourself. This is not an option, but a necessity in today’s fast-paced world.
If I ask you to name the things you love the most, what would be your reply? You would rather say you love your partner, your best friend, parents, and other loved ones in your life. You would come up with a list of a few tangible things like your phone or car. How long will you go on and on and name almost everything else in this world before counting yourself?
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This is the most bizarre thing about humans. We don’t really value our own worth and compromise on our personal needs just to be accepted by someone else. It is high-time you put yourself as your biggest priority. To help you embark this journey, we have come up with some creative and simple self-care strategies that would come in handy. Try to include them in your routine by taking one step at a time and maintain a perfect balance in your life. Start by those small little things and focus on the bigger picture to get inspired.
1. Go for a walk every morning
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Walking is genuinely one of the most nurturing and productive things that one can do. Most of us simply check our mails and messages the first thing in the morning. Before you plug yourself to all those gadgets, get a timeout and go out for a walk. It won’t take more than 30-45 minutes to refresh your mind. Your body would be filled with oxygen and will help your brain and heart to function seamlessly all day long.
Go for a walk tomorrow for a few minutes before commencing your everyday schedule and you will see the difference. Your body would feel more energized and your efficiency will increase exponentially. This will also help you clear your mind and come up with a rough schedule for the day. You will get more time to think while filling your lungs with some oxygen.
2. Declutter your space
No one likes to work in a cluttered space. Whether it’s your home or your work space, make sure that you only have the kind of stuff that you essentially need in your life. Too often, we keep preserving things without any motive. Make sure that your space is organized and well-arranged. It would be an ongoing process. You should do it every once a month to keep your life decluttered. It will help you save your time and efforts.
3. Move out of your comfort zone
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Because nothing great can happen to you if you will stay in your comfort zone for the rest of your life! Try to experiment things and cross the line every once in awhile. Learn a new language, join the gym, travel to an unexplored place, and take a leap of faith. Meet new people and try to have a conversation with them. This will help you see your world from a whole new perspective. Don’t confine yourself in a box. You have more than four sides.
4. Develop a hobby
Without being passionate about something, you would just spend your life doing all those mundane everyday activities. After when you will develop a hobby, you would realize how driven you could be at times. You would be more passionate about it and will try to be better in that specific field. It could be anything at all from writing to drawing or collecting bottle openers to playing an instrument. Go out and develop cloud watching as your hobby if it makes you happy. But do something for yourself – it will make you feel alive.
5. Know yourself on an intimate level
I strongly believe that we should know who we are on an emotional and physical level. You should always know how you are going to react to a certain situation and what triggers your emotions. At the same time, you should also know each and every part of your body as well. Your body is like a roadmap to you and you should travel to every place to know where your sensitive areas are. Explore your body on an intimate level and make love to yourself. This will help you release your stress and be more confident.
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6. Pick healthy food choices
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It is acceptable to treat yourself with some junk food every once in awhile, but don’t make it a habit of yours. It might be a little tough to choose healthy and nutritive food in the beginning, but it would definitely be worth it in the long run. You would feel more comfortable in your body and will see a visible difference in your lifestyle. This is one of the most important self-care strategies that no one should overlook upon.
7. Maintain a journal
Just write it down without getting judged by anything. Focus on both – the good and the bad. Too often, we suppress our feelings and don’t channel our emotions. This might cause some serious issues in the future. Don’t be like one of those people who simply ignore their feelings or suppress their anger. Feel everything and shape your emotions into words. Make some time to read your journal as well. You would be amazed to see how far you have come!
8. Go on a date with yourself
This is one of those self-care strategies that no one can resist. Instead of going on a date with someone else, why not take yourself out to your favorite restaurant and have a lavishing meal. Go on a movie date with yourself or simply make some time to read your favorite book. Take a break this coming weekend and visit an exotic place all by yourself. Don’t be afraid of your company. There is no such thing as loneliness. Start enjoying your company and treat yourself every once in awhile.
9. Reduce noise
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I can say this from a personal experience that it can get quite tricky for some people to say “no”. We keep accepting more responsibilities just to please others. It took me a while to learn why letting go of a few things could be our best option at times. If you are not comfortable doing something, simply say no to it.
It is of utmost importance that you prioritize your life. Chances are that you would be asked to let go of a few people in the process as well. As hard as it might seem, it would be the right thing to do. Sometimes, holding on can hurt more than letting go! Cut the noise and liberate yourself.
10. Talk to your loved ones more often
Life is pretty fragile and what you have right now might be gone tomorrow. Make some time for the people you love in your life, else you would regret it in the future. Your family and friends can help you grow and teach you countless of things. There is nothing in this world that can replace family. Let your parents know how much you care for them. It will help you make peace with yourself, knowing that you are doing the right thing.
11. Groom your body and mind
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Without continuously grooming yourself, you won’t be able to grow. Take care of your body and maintain a hygienic routine. Don’t neglect your mind by falling into a vicious circle. Read the most thought provoking books and give your mind something to ponder upon. Take care of your skin and hair and be sure that you are treating your body nothing less than a temple. After all, it is where your soul is seated.
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12. Maintain a schedule
We have saved the most significant one for the last. Without having a schedule, you won’t be able to focus on any of these self-care strategies at all. Coming up with a schedule might take only a few minutes, but it can change your life upside down.
You would figure out the things you need to let go of and can prioritize everything according to your needs. Drafting a schedule is quite easy but implementing it might be a task in itself. This is where you need to remind yourself about your own needs. There is nothing wrong with putting yourself before others at times. Be a little selfish every now and then and make time for yourself.
At the end of it, you won’t remember the time you spend working for hours or finishing a deadline. You would only recall the moments spent with your loved ones and by yourself while pursuing your passion. Wake up from your slumber and get moving. Treat yourself the way you want others to treat you. Put yourself first and know that nothing else in this world can be more powerful than the love you have for yourself.
Featured image source: Pixabay, under Creative Commons License
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